Recently, the foreign media Printweek announced that according to the Dusseldorf Exhibition Hall, the 11-day Drupa (Drupa2024) exhibition, which closed on June 7, attracted a total of 170,000 visitors.
While this number is down nearly 35% from Drupa 2016's 260,165 attendees, or just over 90,000, and below the 200,000 mark expected before the show, many exhibitors were disappointed with the quality of attendees and the amount of business done at the show. Expressed great recognition, especially in the context of industry integration and changes since the 2016 exhibition.
Messe Dusseldorf said that 1,643 exhibitors from 52 countries ultimately participated in the event. International audiences accounted for 80%, coming from 174 countries, a record high. After Europe, Asia is the most representative region, accounting for 22%, followed by the Americas, accounting for 12%.
According to Messe Düsseldorf, major exhibitors including Bobst, Canon, Fujifilm, Heidelberg, HP, Horizon, Koenig & Bauer, Komori, Konica Minolta, Kurz and Landa reported signing contracts that significantly exceeded their expected.
Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf, commented: "Drupa has consolidated its position as the industry's leading trade fair and its unique appeal in an extraordinary way."
Messe Düsseldorf said some 96% of visitors said they had fully achieved their goals for their visit. More than 50% of them come from the printing industry, followed by the packaging industry, whose share has increased significantly, which is also the growth driver that many exhibitors are paying attention to. Automation takes center stage at Drupa this year, with a focus on artificial intelligence and intelligent workflows, including software, robotics and sustainability.
Ms. Sabine Geldermann, Director of Drupa at Messe Düsseldorf, said: “At Drupa 2024, we experienced first-hand the relevance and resilience of this industry. We welcomed around 50 large delegations from different countries, many active globally of associations and organizations choose Drupa as the ideal venue for their meetings. ”
Simon Eccles, a writer for Printweek, said: “The decline in numbers is due to multiple factors. Perhaps some people question the necessity of holding a large-scale exhibition; it may also be due to the eight-year gap that some newcomers to the industry did not realize that Drupa is What; it may also be due to cost and other reasons.”
However, the exhibitors are basically satisfied with the effect of this exhibition. In their view, it would take several months for Drupa's true impact on the business to become apparent. Although the number has declined, the quality of the visitors is very good and the industry still needs such a global exhibition. Innovative events online or at open houses have taken hold over the past few years, and Drupa has had to evolve to adapt to our new world.
The next Drupa event will be held in 2028, although the exact date has not yet been determined.
