There are several days left to run so it is both wrong and impossible to pass judgement on Drupa 2024. Some points though can be made: the technology on show demonstrated a distinct shift towards packaging; automation, both invisible by way of software and visible through robots, is coming fast; and there has been palpable relief that visitors have turned up. This was not universally the case on the first day which, combined with extra wide aisles and vacant stands, created a degree of anxiety in some quarters. This was immediately dispelled on Day 2 as visitors flooded the floor.
Nevertheless walking the floor did seem easier than eight years ago, at least in the halls dedicated to commercial printing. In those halls dedicated to packaging, paper bag making, boxes and so on, usually easy to walk around, the pathways were frequently congested. The Heidelberg stand, judged by a straw poll of Guinness quaffing opinion formers to be best in show, was equally stuffed. This will be welcome news to Heidelberg as reorganisations continue to tumble over each other and a new CEO is sharpening his ideas if nothing else. Heidelberg though was far from the only company hinting that preshow expectations had been exceeded. The sausage sellers were also notching up good business.
And yet. It is too soon to declare the event an unqualified success. It remains eye wateringly expensive to exhibit. The returns need to be substantial and, if not immediate then produced before Drupa 24 fades into memory. Shortly there will be demands on the organiser to provide statistics about the visitors. This will be followed by discussions about the future of the show. Already this includes reducing the duration of the event still further to keep costs under control and there are no new dates for a show in 2028. That might dissuade exhibitors from showing presses, binders and other equipment. We hope that is not deemed necessary as seeing and hearing machines in operation is very much part of the Drupa experience. Don’t mess with it.
Drupa lands on its feet, but unsteadily
There are several days left to run so it is both wrong and impossible to pass judgement on Drupa 2024. Some points though can be made: the technology on show demonstrated a distinct shift towards packaging; automation, both invisible by way of software and visible through robots, is coming fast; and there has been palpable relief that visitors have turned up. This was not universally the case on the first day which, combined with extra wide aisles and vacant stands, created a degree of anxiety in some quarters. This was immediately dispelled on Day 2 as visitors flooded the floor.
Nevertheless walking the floor did seem easier than eight years ago, at least in the halls dedicated to commercial printing. In those halls dedicated to packaging, paper bag making, boxes and so on, usually easy to walk around, the pathways were frequently congested. The Heidelberg stand, judged by a straw poll of Guinness quaffing opinion formers to be best in show, was equally stuffed. This will be welcome news to Heidelberg as reorganisations continue to tumble over each other and a new CEO is sharpening his ideas if nothing else. Heidelberg though was far from the only company hinting that preshow expectations had been exceeded. The sausage sellers were also notching up good business.
And yet. It is too soon to declare the event an unqualified success. It remains eye wateringly expensive to exhibit. The returns need to be substantial and, if not immediate then produced before Drupa 24 fades into memory. Shortly there will be demands on the organiser to provide statistics about the visitors. This will be followed by discussions about the future of the show. Already this includes reducing the duration of the event still further to keep costs under control and there are no new dates for a show in 2028. That might dissuade exhibitors from showing presses, binders and other equipment. We hope that is not deemed necessary as seeing and hearing machines in operation is very much part of the Drupa experience. Don’t mess with it.
Explore more...
Prayers for the future of the print industry
Prayers for the future of the print industry