As a central forum at drupa 2024 , from 28th May to 7th June the new 'Touchpoint Sustainability' will for the first time focus on the holistic role of the print and paper industry within the global sustainability transformation. Often overlooked is the fact that the industry has reached major achievements. Around 30 exhibitors in the 400 m² Hall 14 booth will present pioneering best practice examples from all areas of the value chain.
How Sustainability works (wikicommons image)
'Touchpoint Sustainability' will provide both an overview of current achievements as well as attractive perspectives for the future. special drupa feature is both a dialogue platform and show room and will be hosted and designed by the German industrial association VDMA Printing and Paper Technology.
Print and paper remain very important parts of our world and many sophisticated technologies from mechanical engineering, electronics and plant construction are part of production, in order to guarantee the quality and safety of processes while ensuring sustainability. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are key factors, not only with regard to the transformation process of the industry, but also for scaling effects. This makes them especially relevant for central goals like increased energy efficiency and improved waste avoidance.
Describing the importance of the trade fair and the Touchpoint Sustainability feature, Dr. Andreas Pleßke, Chairman and CEO at Koenig & Bauer and also drupa president, says: “Drupa is the industry’s globally leading trade fair. As a platform for the exchange of ideas, discussions and transfer of knowledge, it is the place to find out how sustainability, digitalisation and technological innovations will affect the future of the print and paper industry. Forums that are open to several exhibitors, like the Touchpoint Sustainability, are very special points of attraction."
At the special forum, diverse stakeholders like manufacturers, scientists and brand owners, demonstrate how transformation can succeed across the industry by using technology that is ready for the future. The spectrum of companies participating in the exhibition and in the Touchpoint programme on-stage, ranges from industry giants like Epson, HP, Koenig & Bauer, Kurz, Heidelberg, Müller Martini and Voith, down to specialised start-ups.
Reaching out to the next generations
With regard to sustainability, the joint exhibition by various companies and the high quality accompanying presentations on-stage 
The drupa expo reaches out to all generations, all nations, all important topics such as sustainability (2016 image)make Touchpoint Sustainability one of the highlights of drupa 2024. More than this, it offers to young talents seeking passionate and forward-looking employers a valuable insight into the industry – which is investing on a large scale in order to become 'enablers' and support customers in managing challenges and unlocking new potentials in the market.
Thomas Schiemann, member of the board of management at VDMA Printing and Paper Technology, who is responsible to the VDMA (the 3,600-member Mechanical Engineering Industry Association of German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies), for the project ‘Touchpoint Sustainability’ adds: “With the Touchpoint Sustainability we are dealing with a very important topic for the entire print and paper industry. This is where the VDMA, its members and other important companies in this sector, can demonstrate their great dedication to possible solutions for the numerous challenges. The concept to have students as partners for talks and discussions on the entire booth is intended to make young people more interested in our industry."
A discussion forum for new solutions
The exhibition area of the Touchpoint is divided according to the different areas of the added value chain – raw materials, production, usage and recycling – and according to the time factor: What is already available on the market? Where does the development lead? The focus is on related issues such as the consumption of energy and resources during production processes, use of material and printing inks, recycling of colours or finishing processes that do not harm the environment. Possible approaches for solutions are demonstrated using relevant use-cases. What starts with increased efficiency, digital solutions, climate neutrality and circular economy, soon reaches the meeting of regulatory standards and introduces novel business models.
Well-known speakers from politics and business
Apart from the extensive exhibition of best practices, visitors can expect an attractive accompanying programme. Included are different speakers from politics and business management, product developers, scientists and further experts.
Each of the eleven days at the drupa trade fair offers eight to ten items from the agenda, spread over the entire booth. The total of more than 100 items reflects almost every topic addressed at the trade fair. Last but not least, players from other industries and their applications are to be given a platform that will support cooperation, exchange of ideas and partnerships. The varied programme is divided into different formats like keynotes, lectures and panel discussions.
Highlights include daily interactions in the late afternoon, away from the stage: Here, different experts and representatives answer questions about their personal views on sustainability. Further, there is a special format in which different co-exhibitors are interviewed directly about their pieces on show.
For more information, visit Touchpoint Sustainability at drupa 2024 from 28th May to 7th June in Hall 14 Booth D60 or follow this link: https://www.drupa.com/en/Program/Forums/touchpoint_sustainability.
