There are already indications that drupa 2008 will surpass the record-breaking drupa event back in 2000. In what respects?
Dornscheidt: drupa's history goes back over 50 years, and since the closing date for exhibitor applications on October 31, 2006, it has been clear that drupa 2008 will be the largest yet. The exhibition grounds are totally booked up, with some 170,000sqm of show space and 1800 exhibitors. There isn't even one square meter of space left in the newly built Hall 8b, next to Hall 8a at the north end of the convention grounds. What's more, we are expecting 400,000 visitors, over 50 per cent of them from outside Germany.
When will the exhibitor numbers be known?
Dornscheidt: We know right now that the current figure of 1800 will increase, partly because a lot of exhibitors are combined in applications from the Ministries of Economic Affairs of individual countries. We can't announce the actual number until September because of the planning and allocation process.
What will be different at drupa 2008 with regard to the exhibitors and the layout?
Dornscheidt: We want to make drupa as clearly structured and visitor-friendly as possible. The halls presenting 'Digital Solutions' play a key role in this context. This area has been expanded since drupa 2004. Hall 8a and the new Hall 8b, as well as the adjacent Halls 5 and 9, are primarily reserved for exhibitors from this field.
The growth of digital technologies is obviously a central theme, so can drupa still be referred to as a print trade fair?
Dornscheidt: More than ever. This is Because people are printing more than ever. We all know digital solutions couldn't exist without conventional print methods. As the leading trade fair for the print and media industry, we are presenting the interaction and co-existence of these technologies. We show the complete range of products and the entire added-value chain, from design all the way to the finished print product. When the demands imposed on the printing industry change, drupa is the very best 'seismograph' for detecting new trends.
What challenges does Messe Düsseldorf face, with just one year before drupa 2008 opens?
Dornscheidt: One of the most important things we have to take care of is the complex planning of the halls, as I mentioned before. We are also progressing with the organisation of the ancillary programme, together with our partners. Various campaigns to attract visitors are likewise being launched. In addition to ad campaigns, mailings and presentations, we have plans to hold some 60 full-scale press conferences on all continents, each tailored to their respective industrial regions. We will be visiting 11 countries in South America alone! Saudi Arabia, Southeast Asia and Australia are other primary targets.
Have the visitor demographics changed in any way, in terms of nationality?
Dornscheidt: The interest level of Asian nations in drupa has been growing steadily over the years, particularly India and China. In 2000, about 10,000 guests came from Asia, just five per cent of the total; in 2004 the number had already jumped to 80,000 - 20 per cent. We expect another increase in 2008. The fact is that drupa is an international trade fair: while the number of foreign visitors made up 20 per cent in 1972, the figure hit 55 per cent in 2004.
What steps are you taking to make drupa more attractive to print buyers?
Dornscheidt: There will be a special programme for print buyers, called The Cube, with events specifically geared to their needs and reflecting the latest trends in the industry. The concept is currently under development and we will have more about the actual content later.
What can visitors expect from the drupa 2008 accompanying programme?
Dornscheidt: These know-how events were a big success at the last drupa, so we want to offer visitors the same type of information and support again this time around. The drupa innovation parc will make another appearance. All of Hall 7 will be dedicated to a forum showing new and innovative technologies, including workflow, publishing, PDF, XML and the like, as well as interdisciplinary themes in the print buyer innovation parc. A JDF experience parc and a new JDF experience theatre will showcase the latest developments in JDF.
In the Compass Sessions the German Printing and Media Industries Federation will hold technical and practical workshops daily from 9-11am. Highlight Tours to the booths of selected exhibitors, organised by Deutscher Drucker publishers, will complete the Compass Sessions by offering hands-on exposure to key trends in the print and media industry.
What advertising measures will be part of the run-up to drupa?
Dornscheidt: Our drupa Podcast is a totally new feature which we will be premiering in summer 2007. It will enable those interested to download drupa presentations on their iPods and iPod cell phones, which should be available by then. Furthermore, we are currently developing a large-scale campaign including advertising in print, on television, billboards and public transport. Three months before the trade fair starts, drupa red will be the dominant colour in and around greater Düsseldorf. And, what would drupa be without a new drupa song? It is currently available for download at www.drupa.de.
What impression do you want visitors to have of drupa 2008?
Dornscheidt: We want them to feel as if they've participated in the Olympics of the print and media industry.
drupa facts |
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Over the past 50 years, drupa has evolved and expanded to match the information requirements of the global print community. drupa 2000 introduced an optimised venue that included the integration of paper converting and packaging production. Printers and managers from around the world come to drupa to discover from the show's extensive range of products and services for every stage of production- from premedia and print, all the way to post processing. A digital infrastructure is the common link in today's production cycle, and drupa 2004 was a global hub for showcasing all the product offerings in the digital process chain. One of the key messages at drupa 2008 is that electronic media are not replacing print media. To the contrary, the internet, video or CD-ROM, online and offline services are delivering new market opportunities and are motivating print to offer new products alongside traditional print media. Drupa 2008 will open with a record-breaking premise of being the biggest show in its 50-year history. The 14th drupa will comprise more than 170,000 sqm in net surface area and feature more than 1,800 exhibitors. The entire fairground, including expanded exhibition areas, is fully booked. This dramatic growth is due to the increased space requirements of the industry's technology leaders along with increasing cooperation with associations in Asia. One important highlight at drupa 2008 will be an expanded presentation of digital solutions that will be housed in two new exhibition halls in the north sector of the fair ground. Hall 8a and 8b, along with the product centers in Halls 5 and 9, will focus on digital solutions from major exhibitors like Xerox, HP-Indigo, Agfa, Fujifilm, Kodak, Konica Minolta, and Ricoh. Drupa is to the printing and paper industries what the Olympic Games are to athletes. Since drupa began in 1951, it has offered a unique opportunity to view all the latest technologies in media production and processing, live and in action. Looking back at drupa's 50-year track record, no other trade fair has such achieved such a significant economic and technological impact as drupa. Year after year, Messe Düsseldorf has made a dedicated effort to continually expand capacity, resulting in an ever-growing number of exhibitors and visitors. Drupa has gained the reputation as the premier international leading fair for the print industry, attracting visitors and exhibitors from around the world. |
