Drupa to carry on with four-year cycle

- Despite rumors, next Drupa will take place May 31 to June 10, 2016

 

- Show to run for 11 days and only over one weekend

 

Drupa will remain as the “Olympics of the printing industry” by sticking to its current four-year cycle, albeit over a slightly shorter 11-day period.

 

Rumor had been rife that the show was about to switch to a three-year cycle, with the next Drupa moving to 2015.

 

However, it has been confirmed that the show will continue with its four-year cycle, with the next leg taking place in 2016 as planned. The decision was taken by the 20-member Drupa committee at its constitutive session held on November 2.

 

A key factor in the decision was the international trade fair calendar that is built around the four-yearly cycle of Drupa as the world’s most important trade fair for the print and media industry.

 

Kai Büntemeyer, chairman of the Printing and Paper Technology Association (Fachverband Druck- und Papiertechnik) within the VDMA (German Engineering Federation), and president of Global Print, said: ‘Many innovative exhibitors and their successful customers would very much like a more frequent event.

 

‘However, the supplier industry plans its entire trade fair marketing activities within a global concept. Dependable planning is of the utmost importance here in view of the current economic climate and the situation in international sales markets.’

 

At the same time, the Drupa committee decided to shorten the length of the fair to 11 days, with the next show now taking place from May 31 to June 10, 2016.

 

Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, chief executive officer (CEO) at Messe Düsseldorf, said: ‘Visitor structure at Drupa has changed. While in the past large groups travelled to the fair – preferably at the weekend – Drupa is now increasingly developing into a B2B fair with a high proportion of top decision-makers.

 

‘At this year’s Drupa 78 percent of the international visitors and 52 percent of German visitors came from top management; respectively this is four and five percentage points more than in 2008.

 

‘This makes running over two weekends unnecessary. With 11 days – one weekend and nine working days – we perfectly cater to the needs of both supply and demand.'

 

In addition, Claus Bolza-Schünemann (pictured, top), CEO of Koenig & Bauer (KBA) has been selected as the chairman of Drupa 2016. KBA has previously provided the Drupa chairmam in 1995, 2000, 2004 and 2008. Bernhard Schreier of Heidelberg was chairman of Drupa 2012.

 

Bolza-Schünemann said: ‘I am delighted to assume the presidency at such an exciting time. Our sector is developing at a rapid pace and Drupa 2016 will represent a key milestone on the path into the future.’

 

Dr Jürgen Vutz, CEO at Windmöller & Hölscher, was confirmed as vice chairman and thus chairman of the admissions committee and Rolf Schwarz, president of the German Printing and Media Industries Federation (Bundesverband Druck und Medien), was confirmed as the second vice chairman of Drupa 2016.

 

Read more on Drupa here

Read more on KBA here

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