Strategic reorientation with new members in the committee; technology trends and innovations in focus; course charted for the future of the world-leading trade fair
Dr. Andreas Pleßke, CEO at Koenig & Bauer AG, has been re-elected as Chairman of the drupa committee, with Wolfgang Poppen of Freiburger Druck GmbH & Co. KG as Deputy Chairman.
“It is a special honour for me to continue to actively help shape the development of drupa as chairman of the drupa committee. The world is changing rapidly – both in technical and political terms. Together with the committee we will ensure that drupa constantly develops further to also assert its pole position as a world-leading trade fair for print technologies in future and to orient the industry for the future,” explains Dr. Andreas Pleßke upon his re-election. His deputy Wolfgang Poppen also stresses, “drupa is the centrepiece of the industry, a place of innovations and technology launches. The coming months will be used intensively to further sharpen the profile of drupa’s position in 2028.”
Strategic Reorientation and New Members in the Committee
As part of the further development of the world-leading trade fair, the strategic process towards drupa 2028 was already initiated. drupa intensely works on an innovative concept that aims to particularly leverage new target groups in a constantly transforming industry and to promote high-calibre knowledge transfer. Alongside the proven trade fair format, innovative formats are being developed with a view to enabling even stronger networking within the industry. Here the focus will increasingly be on brand owners and multipliers.
Due to succession planning and personal changes, four new members were included in the committee. These include Markus Hoffmann, Executive Senior Vice President, Business Area Industrial Products and Application, LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG & Chairman of Printing and Paper Technology Association in VDMA; Marcel Martens, General Manager Industrial Print EMEA Direct, HP Industrial Print; Thomas Heininger, CEO, MBO Postpress Solutions GmbH & CEO, Komori Europe; and Peter Voigt, Managing Director, Perfecta Schneidemaschinenwerk GmbH.
Technology Trends and Innovations in Focus
A central component of the new strategy is the identification and presentation of relevant technology trends that determine the future of the print and packaging industry. Topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, sustainable printing processes, and digital transformation continue to be centre stage in all this.
Highly committed and with a clear vision, drupa and the committee are preparing the groundwork for key decisions to be taken for drupa 2028. In some twelve months’ time, the trade fair will kick off its exhibitor registration again, highlighting the innovative power of the industry for all to see.
Sector-relevant Further Development of the Trade Fair
The drupa committee was founded on the occasion of the first drupa in 1951 and its members are made up of equal numbers of exhibitors and visitors. Its task is to consult Messe Düsseldorf on the conceptual and sector-relevant further development of the leading trade fair. The personal dialogue with key experts and multipliers on the part of manufacturers and users in this industry is of particular relevance in times of ongoing change in the industry. At present, the committee members represent six industry associations, viz. Fachverband Druck- und Papiertechnik (Printing and Paper Technology Association) in VDMA; Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V. (BVDM) (Federal Association of Printing and Media); Wirtschaftsverbände Papierverarbeitung e.V. (WPV) (Paper Processing Industry Association); DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE e.V. (The Paper Industry); Verband der deutschen Lack- und Druckfarbenindustrie e.V. (VdL) (Association of the German Paint and Printing Ink Industry); and DFTA: Flexodruck Fachverband e.V. (Flexographic Printing Association).
