Here we are again: 365 days until drupa. The new date of April 20 – 30, 2021 is now firmly established in the international calendar. The decision to postpone was difficult, but the only right choice for everyone involved. Following are some statements from the industry confirming loyalty to the trade fair and emphasizing the importance of direct interaction with existing and new customers made possible by global trade fairs. The industry hopes for a quick end of the pandemic and is counting on a strong drupa 2021.

 “We are glad Messe Düsseldorf decided to postpone drupa to 2021,” says Giacomo Farnè (Sales Representative) of Italian exhibitor Pentabox. “drupa is the industry’s key event everyone is waiting for. That’s why it is so important that the trade fair can function without restrictions, that many visitors come and that we can exchange ideas intensively for 11 days.”

Hiroaki Shimosaka (General Manager of Graphic Systems Business Div.) of Fujifilm Corporation, agrees: “We were already in the final stages of preparing for drupa 2020. However, given the current exceptional situation, we believe the decision to postpone was both right and unavoidable. The announcement in March has minimized the economic damage to exhibitors and we are grateful that the decision was made before the impact could become even more drastic. However, while the Coronavirus is causing social-distancing and general caution, the communication infrastructure provided by the printing industry, and the role of print remains unchanged. We are therefore preparing for drupa 2021 to be successful, when the extent of the Coronavirus has subsided.”

Of course, the postponement goes hand in hand with adjustments, but it also offers opportunities: Some exhibitors plan to make the most of the additional time and complete and redevelop further innovations – and thus have a greater presence at the trade fair in 2021. In the meantime, drupa invites its community to take advantage of the website’s various features to present themselves, publish company and product information free of charge and keep up to date via the newsroom and social media channels. These services can bridge the current need for presentation and visibility as well as provide the industry with targeted information and interaction

There are also positive comments from countries with strong representation at drupa which are heavily affected by the Coronavirus such as China and Italy – for example from the Italian Paper Flow Group: “Due to the pandemic, we need to give people and companies the time to regain their strength and wait for confidence to return as the driving force for private and business life. We believe that the postponement of drupa gives everyone the opportunity to regain balance on which to build the future,” says Stefano Monfredini (Sales Director), Technomac Italia.

Loretta Sellecchia, Marketing & Export Manager at SCS Atomaberg, is equally hopeful: “Although it will take some time to get back to normal, we are confident that drupa will be the solution to give the printing industry a new boost.”

drupa is an indispensable platform for industry participants, providing orientation, impetus and, above all, meeting the demand for face-to-face meetings to a high degree. “At the first drupa in 1951, Bobst sold 43 machines. 70 years later, in 2021, we will be shaping the future of the packaging world at drupa by actively driving change in the industry,” says Jean-Pascal Bost, CEO of Bobst, “sharing our vision in a changing world is essential, and drupa 2021 will be the right place to do so.”

Claus Bolza-Schünemann, CEO of Koenig & Bauer, adds: “drupa is the leading trade fair and the highlight of an entire industry. We at Koenig & Bauer have already put a lot of energy and passion into drupa. We would like to share this with you – also in 2021 – and of course on the way there. Stay tuned, it’s worth it!”

Therefore, 365 days before the start of drupa, the team is working hard to support  the exhibitors in their efforts to remain successful in the market even after the effects of the Coronavirus. “After the storm comes a rainbow”, believes Guanghui Wu, Chairman of Shanghai Yoco Printing Machinery. Wei Huang, Chairman of UP Group, adds: “We are looking forward to April 2021 to meet at the most important global meeting place for the industry – drupa!“