Technical editor Sean Smyth shares his thoughts after drupa is postponed until April 2021

Perhaps one of the least surprising developments was the announcement that drupa (and interpack) are postponed by nine months  or so. We can only hope that by then the COVID-19 crisis is complete and the ramifications have settled down.

Of course, this is a totally new scenario that we have never faced before. My first drupa was back in 1986, which was impacted by the Chernobyl explosion that reduced visitor numbers (if I had seen the TV series I would have stayed in Norwich). It seemed pretty crowded with business as usual to me. I don’t think the 2021 show will be the same. The economic situation afterwards will be different, probably a major downturn that will impact the ability of many print suppliers to make investments. For those in a position to invest, the show will help them cement a competitive advantage.

Printing and packaging may be a small part of the world but its total value is some $800 billion in 2020, with probably around $600 billion in direct consumable, substrate and equipment sales. Several million people are directly employed globally. Add in creative and design, and the total approaches some $2 trillion, although the coronavirus effect will mean a downward revision. Total world GDP in 2019 was $87.27 trillion, according to the World Bank. So print and packaging makes up some 2.3% of all economic activity (oil and gas, healthcare, global IT, automotive are larger but there are few other larger ones), so how it performs does matter beyond the industry.

Investment is the lifeblood of the printing sector, and healthy and innovative suppliers of workflow, printing and finishing are vital for the future of the sector. drupa is their showcase. Exhibitors invest a lot of money in their personnel and stands, a show with few visitors and few orders will be disastrous whereas a delay is hopefully salvageable for the hard-pressed supply side.

drupa provides the opportunity to show concept machines, getting verdicts and opinions on potential developments quickly from printers and so-called experts. For printers it is the opportunity to get out of the daily pressures and think about the future, to see new technology and different approaches and to network with new suppliers and competitors. This will be more difficult as the economic shocks play out.
It is impossible to visit drupa and not take back valuable ideas and improvements. So the decision to postpone for nine months is regrettable but necessary in the current uncertain times.

Hopefully it will take place next April and exhibitor and visitor numbers will be healthy, if a little lower than originally expected. By next April the vendors will have fewer surprises (I know several significant launches that I am not allowed to talk about) meaning visitors can have a more organised and planned experience. Hopefully providing a much-needed boost to the sector.

Keep well and carry on printing!