Exhibition venue and global organiser Messe Düsseldorf has announced that drupa will no longer be a part of operative management, instead responsibility is moving to President & CEO Wolfram N. Diener. Other non-printing expos in the leisure area have also been reshuffled.
The revised management trio (LtoR) Operations Director Marius Berlemann, President & CEO Wolfram N. Diener and Finance Director Bernhard J. Stempfle
Diener is already in charge of the world’s largest packing trade show, Interpack and other Messe Düsseldorf industrial trade shows in metallurdy and engineering. The next edition of Interpack is in May 2026, two years ahead of the next drupa in 2028.
Diener emphasises the advantages of the reshuffled responsibilities, saying: “Our trade fair portfolios are now organized in such a way to foster the best possible synergies in the coming years. That’s how we’ll reinforce the leading position of our trade shows in Düsseldorf and worldwide – while further driving their growth.”
The actual drupa organisation under Sabine Geldermann will remain unchanged.
The show known as 'K' - the world’s leading trade show for plastics and rubber, will remain under Operations director Marius Berlemann, appointed on August 1st.
Further investment in the fairground
Bernhard J. Stempfle, Managing Director Finance and Infrastructure, will continue to be in charge of the entire finance department as well as of the Digital Strategy & Communication division and the Technology division. Stempfle says: “As we aim to provide the best foundation for the commercial success of our industries, we’re not only continuously evolving our digital services, we’re also expanding investments in our state-of-the-art, highly functional exhibition center in Düsseldorf. This is how we’ll create the best return on investment for our customers.”
Commentary
While drupa 2024 has been hailed as a commercial success with numerous reports of major equipment orders both digital and conventional, the drop in attendance numbers must be of concern to the organisers. Drupa 2016 delivered an estimated 260,00 visitors, drupa 2020 was postponed because of Covid and drupa 2024 delivered about 170,000 visitors - a decline of one-third.
Drupa 2000 attracted 428,000 visitors and each quadrennial show has experience incremental declines in attendance since then, but the 90,000 decrease for 2024 is by far the largest. Of course, the world has changed a lot since 2016 and even drupa itself staged a virtual online exhibition during covid. Some would argue that drupa has also 'attacked its own market' by co-staging major printing expos in China, the largest print market in the world.
Then there is the rise of alternative information sources for technology such as online virtual trade shows, vendor open houses and niche trade fairs that cater for specific sectors of printing such as Labelexpos, FESPA, Signage expos etc. It must be said that global geo-politics must have had an influence too. The Ukraine conflict and regional fracas such as that in Bangladesh, the middle east and beyond and sanctions all serve to dissuade air travel to trade shows.
Another factor that many have commented upon is the expense of both visiting and exhibiting at drupa. It's a common complaint that, despite falling visitor numbers, hotels still try to jack up prives three-four times the normal tarrif. In its heyday, the whole of Düsseldorf was 'Drupa City' with flags and bunting all over town, Trams (U-Bahns) were wrapped in drupa livery and travel on them was free if you held a drupa badge - this time there was no free public transport apart from a 3-day allowance for media - for an 11-day event. Even the famous Aldstadt seemed to be tired and a bit seedy but you could still get a great pork knuckle with sauerkraut. Taxi drivers bemoaned the paucity of passengers and longed for the 'old drupa crowds.'
Speaking of food - where were all the great Würst (sausage) vendors at the fairgound? A good Brat or Knack-wurst was hard to find, restaurants were closed and the usual social ambience between halls was lacking - even the travelator from South to North broke down - and it's a long walk!
For the world media, reporting on the show using the normally highly efficient drupa press office and CCD area was challenging. Many exhibitors elected to try and hold press conferences on their stands - while visitors were there. Some said the high cost of hiring press rooms was the reason. Whatever, to try and attend back-to-back press conferences in the Congress Centre and then walk half a kilometer to the next one a stand, without any dedicated area or forum for Q&A - and then back was madness. Only Landa, with its theaterette, was able to successfully hold an on-stand presser. Heidelberg also, but this was on the day before drupa opened to the public.
So, the fresh management approach and proposed investment in the fairground facilities is most welcome and we look forward to drupa 2028, with Covid long forgotten and a freshened up fairground! And more reasonable hotel rates.
