Ms. Geldermann, the first “real” drupa in eight years will take place at the end of May. The expectations are high. What predominates at the moment: anticipation or nervousness?

Sabine Geldermann: Definitely the anticipation! As part of the drupa World Tour, I exchanged ideas with so many customers and partners about drupa and the industry and the mood was clear: whether in Brazil, India, China or Vietnam - everyone is looking forward to drupa and can hardly wait to finally meet again in Düsseldorf. This direct feedback gives us particular tailwind and a lot of confidence for the final preparations. The industry is looking forward to breakthrough technologies and product launches that will make drupa the premier event for the global printing and packaging industry.

What highlights can trade fair visitors look forward to this year and what is the booking situation currently looking like?

S.G.: Drupa occupies 18 halls, i.e. the entire Düsseldorf exhibition center. Around 1,500 exhibitors from 50 nations have confirmed their participation, including all the important key players in the industry and exciting newcomers. What makes drupa so unique is not just the top-class international exhibitors, but also the extensive supporting program. There will be five special forums: The drupa cube, drupa next age (dna) as well as the touchpoints packaging, textile and sustainability address global megatrends, future technologies with growth potential and best practices in a comprehensive range of topics. Global megatrends such as sustainability, circular economy, advancing digitalization, automation, AI, robotics and more will play an important role in our conferences and on our exhibitors' stages. The focus will also be on digital printing technologies, digital packaging and finishing solutions as well as new materials.

Whether in Brazil, India, China or Vietnam - everyone is looking forward to drupa and can hardly wait to finally meet again in Düsseldorf.

Corona, wars, disrupted supply chains, energy crisis, cost increases, shortage of skilled workers and more: the world and the economy have changed dramatically in recent years. What role can drupa play during this time? Or to put it another way: Is it a signal, a catalyst or both for the industry?

S.G.: In my opinion, drupa is, first and foremost, a strong signal to the industry. It is the benchmark for innovations in the field of printing technologies against which everyone measures themselves. The topics that will shape the industry for years to come are set and discussed here. In this respect, it can also be seen as a catalyst for further development. It is also an industry platform, a hub for knowledge transfer and of course a huge marketplace for numerous business deals. Our clear goal is to provide international exhibitors and visitors with the optimal ROI. To this end, drupa creates the right platform for investments and for tapping into customer potential from new vertical markets. It is always a reflection of the industry. At drupa 2024, the focus is primarily on the topics of sustainability and digitalization; two more catalysts that are having a massive impact on the print industry. Drupa shows how cutting-edge technologies and solutions in all areas of the print and packaging industry as well as future and cross-sectional technologies are being further developed under this influence.

The last virtual.drupa took place in April 2021. Looking back, would you say that this event changed drupa? Which ideas and concepts from 2021 were adopted for drupa 2024 (if necessary in an adapted form)?

S.G.: Virtual.drupa was an important bridge in offering the industry a significant platform even during the Corona pandemic. But it also showed us how important personal exchange is on site at the trade fair stand, in lectures and panel discussions. Drupa stands for a very special atmosphere, for inspiration and an international community that meets in Düsseldorf; It offers an inspiring customer experience full of innovative formats and develops a dynamic that enables spontaneous interactions and, above all, makes machines and technologies tangible. It is almost impossible to recreate this emotional, event-like character virtually 1:1. We invested a lot in the digital presence of the trade fair for virtual.drupa and also on the way to drupa 2024, which of course now benefits us. For example, the matchmaking tool has been established where exhibitors and visitors can network in the run-up to the trade fair. Our drupa blog has exciting content from the industry, the exhibitor and product database is constantly being improved and the exhibitor profiles have also gained new features. Despite all the major challenges that the Corona crisis brought with it, it was also a catalyst and impetus for digital transformation for Messe Düsseldorf.

Drupa also includes a number of forums and touchpoints – drupa cube, drupa next age as well as the packaging, textile and sustainability touchpoints. What can the visitor expect from it and who contributes the content?

S.G.: We were able to recruit top-class, international experts on the partner side for our special forums, all of whom have impressive industry expertise. These are, on the one hand, the German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF), epda (European Brand and Packaging Design Association), ESMA (European Specialist Printing Manufacturers Association), The Marketing Cloud UK and the Printing and Paper Association in the VDMA.

Our clear goal is to provide international exhibitors and visitors with the optimal ROI.

The drupa cube is once again the central conference area at drupa and the contact point for intensive knowledge transfer. The program includes five keynotes by renowned international industry specialists, presentations on topics such as increasing business success, circular economy and sustainability, the future of printing and packaging, lectures and best practice examples on new business models and trends.

The touchpoint sustainability focuses on the role of the printing and paper industry in sustainable transformation and provides an overview of current, medium and long-term developments. Manufacturers, industry players, brands and users will use numerous exhibits at the touchpoint sustainability to show how change can succeed.

touchpoint packaging relies on visionary and intelligent packaging solutions and brings together brand manufacturers with designers, print service providers and processors. The involvement of students and young talents in partner projects with exhibitors promises unique packaging solutions for folding boxes, labels, flexible packaging and corrugated cardboard. In addition, important questions about global megatrends and their impact on packaging production, such as sustainability or e-commerce, will be discussed.

Drupa has created its own platform for newcomers, young talents and start-ups: drupa next age (dna). Here you can network with established companies, find suitable cooperation partners and exchange innovative business ideas. For some participants it is the chance to present themselves to an international expert audience for the first time.

touchpoint textile presents the world premiere of a digital textile microfactory. It shows a fully networked, integrated process chain from digital simulation through design, animation and virtual rendering to production.

What role do you think AI will play in the industry – both in May in Düsseldorf and in general? Where do you see the greatest potential, where are the risks and dangers?

S.G.: AI is one of the most important topics of the future and does not stop at the printing and packaging industry. AI already enables comprehensive automation of processes along the entire printing value chain, from design to production, and opens up numerous new possibilities, for example in the development of tailor-made printing solutions or in quality assurance. Many exhibitors at drupa will bring concrete application examples and show best cases to illustrate the potential for the industry. But of course we should also look at the factors that pose risks. Data protection and security are central concerns, but also issues such as the automation of work processes, responsibilities, transparency and fairness. All players should always carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages so that our industry can make the best possible use of the enormous potential of AI. We will be working intensively on this at drupa.

An event like drupa also puts the local infrastructure to the test, both on the exhibition grounds itself and in the areas of arrival/departure and accommodation. How does Messe Düsseldorf support in these areas?

S.G.: We have our own logistics department at Messe Düsseldorf, which ensures that arrival/departure as well as setup and dismantling at the exhibition center run smoothly. And of course our infrastructure is designed for major events like drupa. But even with the best planning, bottlenecks or waiting times can occur during peak times. We ask our guests for their understanding. We recommend everyone who is able to travel by public transport. This is not only environmentally friendly, but also helps to relieve traffic around the exhibition center.

Drupa is a driving force and will once again demonstrate the global economic importance of the print industry in a unique atmosphere.

Even though there are a comparatively large number of hotel beds in Düsseldorf, the rooms are often booked out quickly or are correspondingly expensive during major events. In order to provide our customers with the best possible advice, we work with the travel agency BCD Travel, which can help with all questions from travel to accommodation. And then you can find a hotel room in Duisburg or Essen at cheaper rates.

A final word? What do you think still needs to be mentioned?

S.G.: We are extremely pleased to finally be able to welcome our international exhibitors and visitors live to Düsseldorf in May and June after such a long time. We do everything we can to make drupa a unique highlight for our guests. Drupa is a driving force and will once again demonstrate the global economic importance of the print industry in a unique atmosphere. It offers the opportunity to actively experience and shape the transformation of the industry with new development potential. And of course, economic success for our customers is also important. We wish our customers the optimal ROI and a good investment climate.

To ensure that drupa is an impressive, relevant and unforgettable customer experience for all visitors, we recommend preparing for your visit to the trade fair - otherwise it is easy to lose track of the many exhibitors and the size of the site. Our website www.drupa.de provides valuable information about hotel and travel arrangements, our drupa app and website keeps everyone up to date on ticket purchasing processes, guided tours, conference program, exhibitors and products.

Ms. Geldermann, thank you very much for the interview! We are looking forward to an exciting drupa 2024!