DRUPA REVIEW
Super drupa The international print sector descended on Germany recently for the drupa trade fair, where more than 100,000 people saw a range of new and innovative products from leading players from across the globe.
For the first time in eight years, leaders in the international print industry met at drupa – one of the world’s biggest trade fairs for the sector. drupa was held in Dusseldorf over 11 days, from May 28 to June 7 featuring 1,643 exhibitors from 52 nations, demonstrating a range of the latest innovations in the sector. There were more than 170,000 attendees over the duration of the fair coming from 174 countries – a record figure, according to drupa. After Europe, Asia was the most strongly represented region with 22%, followed by America with 12%. Asia as well as Latin America and the MENA region are markets with great growth potential, which was reflected in the significant increase in exhibitors' presence and order books. Many key players in the sector such as Bobst, Canon, Fujifilm, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, HP, Horizon, Koenig & Bauer, Komori Konica Minolta, Kurz and Landa were present and reported having signed contracts that significantly exceeded expectations. This demonstrates how the print sector is thriving internationally after some difficult years during COVID. Major trends At drupa, automation took centre stage, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and smart workflows, including software solutions, but the fair also showed that digital and analogue technologies complement and benefit from each other. Traditional industry leaders presented a range of digital solutions, while digital pioneers integrated conventional components into their offerings. In addition, Robotics played an important role in the exhibition halls and illustrated the path towards the smart factory. “AI was a significant topic of discussion at drupa this year, and it will play a crucial role in the future of the industry,” says Denis Slavin, national business development sales director, partner channel, Ricoh UK. “We are already
seeing it integrating into several new products, for example Ricoh’s new ProTM vc80000 digital colour high-speed inkjet webfed press, uses innovative AI capabilities.” drupa also highlighted other major trends in the market. “One notable development is the introduction of inkjet technology to the cut sheet market, representing a significant shift
in the industry's direction,” says Denis. “While toner-based printing retains its relevance, particularly due to ongoing challenges inkjet faces with substrate
compatibility and lower-end market pricing, the exceptional image quality achievable with some inkjet technologies is undeniable. However, integrating this level of quality into compact printing devices remains a distant goal. “Another critical trend is the emphasis on automation. Reducing manual touchpoints and minimising the potential for human error are becoming increasingly crucial. Despite the apprehension among many print providers, automation remains essential for long-term survival in the industry.” Sustainability and the circular economy was also a focus for many at drupa, and technology is often the key to achieving sustainability goals. Exhibitors at drupa illustrated this with numerous practice-orientated developments and concrete solutions. In addition, Touchpoint Sustainability from the VDMA, the German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers’ Association, showcased current state of the art innovations, presented best-practice use cases and gave an outlook into the future of a sustainable printing industry. Product launches There were also many product launches at drupa. For instance, Kyocera Document Solutions revealed its vision for inkjet commercial printing alongside its leading TASKalfa Pro 15000c with the launch of the new TASKalfa Pro 55000c and with a sneak peek at the future through the FOREARTH
Denis Slavin national business development sales director
ricoh.co.uk
Jon Hiscock head of production and industrial printing
konicaminolta.co.uk
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