Brazil 
American Latina 
France 
Germany 
Italy 
Portugal 
North America 
United Kingdom 
Finnish 
Norway 
Polish 
South Africa 
As the print industry gets back to the day job after drupa 2024, we look at the trends, developments and big deals signed at the landmark event.
As the first drupa since 2016, expectation was high for this key event in the print calendar. Companies such as Canon, Fujifilm, Koenig & Bauer, Konica Minolta and Landa had booked vast amounts of space to show off their latest machinery and delegates were queuing up to experience new levels of print innovation and productivity.
And the chequebooks were out in force. Despite visitor numbers being lower than the previous event, many large companies reported signing contracts that exceeded expectation, with digital printing proving to be the driving force for such activity.
“At drupa 2024, we experienced first-hand just how relevant and resilient this industry is,” said Sabine Geldermann, Director of Drupa and Portfolio Print Technologies. “The community is determined to set the course for the future together. Exchanging ideas with people from all continents and from all areas of the industry was extremely enriching and inspiring.”
Two Sides’ Role
Along with digital technology, another key trend at the event was sustainability, with the vast majority of exhibitors placing the environment at the heart of their new launches. “Sustainability was everywhere,” says Jonathan Tame, Managing Director of Two Sides. “It was front and centre of every company’s marketing, with messages about resource efficiency, reducing waste, energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.”
Jonathan was at drupa to deliver a presentation on Two Sides’ work and promote the sustainability of paper and paper-based packaging. As well as Jonathan’s presentation, Canon also printed copies of the Two Sides Myths & Facts booklet and the latest issue of The Page magazine in their exhibition space.
“The whole show was very upbeat,” says Jonathan. “It was all about innovation, and the people I spoke to reported very positive engagement, with many companies coming to make decisions about new equipment. They weren’t just there to kick the tires, they were there to invest, so it was an important event for organisations to showcase what they were doing.”
Event Horizon
The next drupa won’t be for another four years, but there are plenty of opportunities to see Jonathan and the rest of the Two Sides team in 2024. On the 17th-19th of September, the organisation will be supporting The Print Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham, and Jonathan will be presenting at the 2024 UK Corrugated Industry Trade Show at Telford international Centre on the 7th-8th of October.
Then, of course, there’s the Two Sides Power of Print seminar, held at Stationers’ Hall in London on November 5th. This iconic event brings together some of the leading experts and thought leaders in the print, paper, publishing, packaging and environmental sectors to discuss and debate paper’s key role in marketing and sustainability.
Save the date – you won’t want to miss it.
Watch the interview with Jonathan Tame at drupa 2024 as he shared insightful perspectives on the evolving landscape of print and paper industries.
For more information about drupa 2024, go to drupa.com
