drupa 2024 comes to its conclusion after eleven days. Over the course of the event 1643 exhibitors from 52 nations presented innovations in the Düsseldorf exhibition halls.
The international share of the show was 80%, with visitors from a total of 174 countries attending – a record figure. After Europe, Asia was the most strongly represented region with 22%, followed by America with 12%. Outlined by drupa, company’s such as Bobst, Canon, Fujifilm, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, HP, Horizon, Koenig & Bauer, Komori Konica Minolta, Kurz and Landa, reported having signed contracts that significantly exceeded expectations.
Erhard Wienkamp, managing director at Messe Düsseldorf, commented, ‘drupa has underpinned its position as the industry’s leading trade fair and its unique appeal in a remarkable way. The impressive international flair and, above all, the high decision-making competence of the visitors ensured in-depth and well-founded technical discussions at the trade fair stands on the one hand and many direct investment decisions on the other. Our exhibitors told us about large-volume purchase agreements.’
Dr Andreas Pleßke, chairman of the drupa Committee, added, ‘It [drupa] has been invaluable for generating leads. Nowhere else offers the opportunity to make so many new international contacts from all over the world in such a short space of time in one place.’
Evaluating the key areas, drupa highlighted automation with a strong focus on AI and smart workflows, including software solutions. It added that digital and analogue technologies ideally complement and benefit from each other. Robotics played an important role in the exhibition halls and illustrated the path towards the smart factory.
Sabine Geldermann, director drupa, portfolio print technologies, commented, ‘At drupa 2024, we experienced first-hand just how relevant and resilient this industry is. The community is determined to set the course for the future together. Exchanging ideas with people from all continents and from all areas of the industry was extremely enriching and inspiring. We were able to welcome around 50 large delegations from various nations, and numerous globally active associations and organisations chose drupa as the ideal setting for their conferences and board meetings.
‘Together we are stronger. Many new strategic alliances concluded at the trade fair reflected the opportunities that are only possible in such a concentrated form at drupa: meeting market players from other countries around the world in person, using core competences as synergy effects, forming networks and driving the market forward together.’
In total, 170,000 trade visitors attended drupa 2024.
