drupa 2016 is a resounding success; India has the largest number of visitors from Asia.
The atmosphere at drupa 2016, the world’s biggest and most important trade fair for print and crossmedia solutions, can hardly be topped: the investment climate is 
extremely good and has far exceeded all expectations. As the 11-day trade fair draws to a close the 1,837 exhibitors from 54 countries unanimously reported excellent business deals, extremely promising contacts and a positive spirit for the global print industry. The re-positioning of drupa and its focus on future themes with strong growth potential – such as 3D printing, functional printing or packaging printing – proves to be a real asset. Be it publication, commercial, packaging or industrial printing – printing technology offers matching solutions for all of these applications while opening up new lines of business and business models at the same time. “The print industry is constantly re-inventing itself and offers a wealth of high-potential facets. And this is precisely what drupa 2016 has very impressively proven. We were able to experience a highly innovative industry here in the 19 exhibition halls, one that has succeeded in moving out of the “valley of tears” and grasping the future by the neck,” explains Claus Bolza-Schünemann, Chairman of the drupa Committee and Chairman of the Board at Koenig & Bauer AG.
Some 260,000 visitors from 188 countries and some 1,900 journalists from 74 countries travelled to Düsseldorf to learn about technology innovations, further developments and new business lines. The development in visitor attendance (2012: 314,248) reflects the worldwide consolidation occurring in the industry. This is why visitors’ high decision-making competence produced a particularly positive effect. Totalling 76%, the percentage of international visitors is up 16% from four years ago. 17% of international visitors came from Asia alone (2012: 13.6%). And here India accounted for the largest share with 5%, followed by China with 3%.
Positive verdict for technical side events
Meeting with high demand was the programme of accompanying expert events with its three pillars drupa cube, drupa innovation park, 3D fab + print, touchpoint packaging as well as Printed Electronics and Solutions. One in two drupa visitors were interested in the various special shows and lecture theatres. drupa cube, the event and congress location, was received particularly enthusiastically. Almost 3,500 drupa visitors flooded into the cube over the eleven trade fair days in order to find out about a plethora of topics. In particular high demand were the keynotes by Frans Johansson (founder and CEO of The Medici Group), Silas Amos (founder of Silas Amos Ltd. Design Thought) and Shane Wall (Chief Technology Officer HP And Global Head of HP Labs). The Creative Day organised by Messe Düsseldorf in cooperation with W&V which addresses marketers and creative workers in particular, was even sold out. And the C-Level Sessions specifically targeting executives were also fully booked.
Meeting with a very positive response was the drupa innovation park that focused on innovative business models in addition to technology innovations from renowned exhibitors. On display were ready-to-market applications for Augmented Reality in field service and in advertising but also successful examples for multi-channel campaigns. The crucial insights from the content-driven dip 2016: print creates content and added value!
drupacity: an experience for all
And drupa does not stop at the gates of the exhibition centre. Instead, Düsseldorf presented itself with a versatile programme as an attractive trade fair destination for all things drupa: be it an exhibition or 3D event, discussion forums or a “rolling lab”: drupacity allowed thousands of interested visitors to experience the trade fair themes – live and hands-on right in the city centre – providing both drupa visitors and exhibitors with tangible added value and a concept that is truly “one of a kind” worldwide. “Our concept of bringing the drupa themes to the city thereby making it possible for people to understand and experience technology has paid off 100%. Thanks to numerous city-centre activities Düsseldorf citizens and visitors were able relate to the trade fair themes. drupacity proved an experience for all,” reworked Boris Neisser, General Manager at the trade association Destination Düsseldorf, which organised the drupacity programme, who went on to say: “The many multipliers from all over the world felt welcome in Düsseldorf and will return to their home countries with these positive impressions. This is “city marketing live” representing a locational advantage not to be underestimated for our city.”
As announced at the midpoint of drupa, the event will stick to its four-year cycle meaning the next drupa will be held from 23 June to 3 July 2020.
