*This article was published prior to the postponement of interpack and drupa until 2021, which you can read more about here

Editor David Pittman proposes some ‘what if’ scenarios as we move closer to the scheduled drupa start date

We’re less than 100 days away from the opening ceremony of drupa 2020, when the world of print will descend on Düsseldorf in Germany for the ‘Olympics of the print industry’.

That’s the hope anyway. The issue is that in the current climate, and in light of the fast-moving and evolving worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, many in the print industry are unsure if Messe Düsseldorf will be able to complete the current drupa cycle. Exhibitions and events around the world have been postponed and while drupa, and sister show interpack, remain on schedule for their June and May dates respectively, question marks hang over their ability to welcome large and global attendances as would normally be expected. CHILI publish has decided not to participate at drupa 2020 for this reason, citing, ‘public health risks related to coronavirus continuing to grow,’ and, ‘statistics [that] urged the CHILI publish management to revise its attendance at large-scale, international gatherings.’ 

This poses a bigger question about the possible routes that Messe Düsseldorf might take to handle the inevitable disruption to the next instalment of drupa. Below, I have mapped out a handful of possible scenarios, although it is worth noting that these are not based on solid information or insider knowledge:

  • The events (drupa and interpack) are consolidated into one show for this year, dovetailing their exhibitors and attendees to create a one-off packaging ‘mega-show’;
  • The events are rescheduled for later this year; although looking at the autumn calendar, reading long-term projections for coronavirus and seeing Messe Düsseldorf’s own schedule, including already postponed events, it might prove tricky to find suitable slots;
  • Messe Düsseldorf revisits its previous plan to have drupa run on a three-year cycle by postponing the event until 2021 and kick-starting the road to drupa 2024;
  • drupa 2020 is made into a ‘mini’ show for this addition, with a consolidation of halls and an expected decline in footfall better suited to a 5-, 7-, 10-day show; and/or
  • ‘drupa 2020’ becomes more than a show; this is already true in many regards given the amount of time, effort and resources dedicated to R&D, NPD and building stands out of the ground, and this year we may very well see ‘drupa’ emerge as a state of mind, and transcend the show’s four-year cycle and the 11-plus days that we are all planning to spend in Düsseldorf.

To confirm, I have no insider knowledge and the above are mere suggestions at this point. As noted, both interpack and drupa are scheduled to take place as planned on 7-13 May and 16-26 June in Düsseldorf, Germany. In an ideal the world, the above wouldn’t even need considering. I personally look forward to drupa coming around and hope the event does go ahead, in whatever form it takes.

COVID-19 – coronavirus – is obviously not an issue to be taken lightly. Whitmar Publications and I extend our sympathies to the people and companies affected by the developing scenario. We also want to make clear that business and industry must go on through any current and future disruption to supply chains. Sun Chemical and INX International Ink have already made clear that they are planning and preparing to ensure continuity of supply to markets around the world. The same must be noted of our output. Digital Labels & Packaging will continue to be your go-to resource for all things digital labels and package printing, today, tomorrow and in the years to come.

In the current climate, this is even more true than ever before. It is positive to see and report that the supply chain continues to remain buoyant and positive, and is finding ways and means to get the message out. In the first instance, many of the pre-drupa news announcements my peers and I were due to travel to have gone online and are to be delivered virtually via webinars and electronic briefings.

This is generating many leads and news stories that the trade media, such as Digital Labels & Packaging, will be honing in on over the coming weeks and months. HP Indigo has already detailed its plans for drupa 2020, with Xeikon also starting to reveal its plans to the industry, and Heidelberg to dive deep into its initiatives in the near future. My inbox is becoming inundated with a number of other suppliers up and down the digital printing supply chain looking to spread the word about their developments and technological breakthroughs to spearhead the future of digital labels and package printing. Read here for all the latest drupa 2020 news.

This year was expected to be a big one for digital labels and packaging, as I have written multiple times previously. This remains as true today as it was then. The means to deliver this excitement and the next generation of digital label and package printing technology may not be down the aisles of an exhibition centre this year, but you can rest assured that I, and Digital Labels & Packaging as a result, will continue to put the leg work in to make sure you, our audience, are as up-to-date and aware of the latest goings-on and must-know developments as if you were seeing these ‘in the steel’. CHILI publish states that it is ‘currently investigating alternatives to reach and serve the drupa visitor audience’, and might I be so bold as to suggest the trade press – Digital Labels & Packaging – as an optimal means to get your message(s) out, in print and online, to our qualified and engaged audience.

With this in mind, it is important to have registered to receive Digital Labels & Packaging. You can do so easily at www.dlpmag.com/register.

We are in the midst of a campaign to refresh and update our audience, to make sure it is in rude health. To do this, we are currently asking all readers to register/re-register their details to ensure they continue to receive our output, uninterrupted. Even if you currently receive the magazine regularly, you may not continue to do so unless you are registered or have done so in the last two years. If you’re not sure, the next issue – March/April 2020 – will come with a carrier sheet that will let you know. Registering doesn’t take long and ensures that you’ll get to see everything we publish. If you’re a new subscriber, do so too at www.dlpmag.com/register.