The list of big printing industry players that are opting out of drupa exhibition just got longer. In the latest round of bad news for drupa Canon and Ricoh also announced that they will not participate in drupa 2021.
Eef De Ridder, vice president, of Ricoh Europe’s Commercial & Industrial Printing Group, commented: “Ricoh has always highly valued the opportunities that Drupa has brought us over the years. However, we have taken this difficult decision to withdraw as the continued health, safety and wellbeing of our clients, partners and staff is our number one priority.”
Canon Europe director of graphics and communications Mark Lawn said: “As a normal course of business, we frequently evaluate the viability of our participation at major trade shows and events. After careful consideration, due to the ongoing uncertainty caused by Covid and the understandable concerns that people have around travel, we have decided that we will not physically be exhibiting at Drupa 2021. We remain totally committed to the print industry supporting our customers’ demands, today, and over the long term. It is a responsibility we take very seriously.”
So far Heidelberg, HP, Xerox, RMGT, Komori, manroland, EFI, Kodak, Fujifilm, Bobst and many others pulled out of drupa. But some heavy weights like Koenig and Bauer, Landa, Windmoeller & Holscher and many small to medium companies still are committed to the show.
Now the million-dollar question is, will drupa still happen in 2021 or Messe Duesseldorf pulls the plug? It pretty much depends on how the current pandemic evolves.
