With virtual.drupa taking place April 20-23, 2021, exhibitors are starting to design their online showrooms and video and live presentations as well as virtual meeting rooms are also in preparation. 

Exhibitor registration has been open since the end of January 2021 and the current booking status is very positive with around 100 exhibitors from 23 countries as well as 5,000 pre-registered visitors from around the world.

What virtual.drupa has to offer

The Exhibition Space segment of virtual.drupa is now continually providing an overview of registered exhibitors. National and international key players, including Bobst, Esko, Kama, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Müller Martini, Windmöller & Hölscher, as well as Platinum Event Partner Leonhard Kurz and Gold Event Partner DuPont de Nemours have already confirmed their participation. 

Exhibitors can enhance their digital presence in their online showroom where they will showcase their core competencies, technologies, products and innovations.

Also, experts will stage and present them in live web sessions, offering visitors from around the globe the opportunity to interact directly, ask questions and learn more about their products and services.  

For a more individual approach, virtual meeting rooms will be available at the Networking Plaza, where up to four participants will be able to have a more in-depth, personal exchange.

Lead generation, in particular, will be promoted through customizable matchmaking: starting mid-March, visitors will be able to conduct a targeted keyword search to contact exhibitors and make appointments 24/7 during the four-day event and beyond, as the matchmaking function will remain in place until the end of October 2021.

An intelligent algorithm will learn from individual searches and hits, supporting contact searches and offering suggestions for connecting with relevant companies and contacts.

The Conference Area will offer exhibitors and visitors an additional high-quality, 2,160-minute program based on global trends and important industry topics. International industry experts, brand owners and speakers from vertical markets will deliver presentations in two continuous live streams, providing valuable knowledge transfer using case studies, keynote speeches and insights. 

Global best-selling author and consultant Michael Gale and British designer James Sommerville, who has substantially influenced the iconic Coca-Cola brand, will launch each Conference day with inspirational keynote speeches. These will be followed by presentations in the five drupa special forums: “drupa cube”, “touchpoint packaging”, “touchpoint textile”, “drupa next age” and “3D fab+print.” 

The leading themes will be Artificial Intelligence, Circular Economy, Connected Consumer and Platform Economy. Since there is such a broad range of topics on offer, visitors will be able to plan their agenda starting mid-March. Just as they would at a face-to-face event, visitors will have the flexibility to take part in the virtual special shows and then switch to Live Web Sessions in the exhibitor showrooms.

Exhibitors focus on awareness 

Leonhard Kurz registered as exclusive Platinum Event Partner for the virtual event – making a clear statement in favor of an in-depth industry dialogue at virtual.drupa. 

“drupa has been the flagship trade show for the graphic arts industry since 1954. With our participation in virtual drupa 2021, we are taking advantage of its appeal. We look forward to using this platform to bridge the too-large gap between the last real drupa and the next one. Kurz has big news to report that is relevant to the industry right now,” said Walter Kurz, CEO of Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG. “In this context, the international nature of drupa allows us to present our innovations to companies on all continents worldwide. Visitors at virtual.drupa will find, among other things, real, implementable solutions for Circular Economy and PET recycling at Kurz. 

“In addition, we will present groundbreaking developments in digital embellishment. We will show a machine from the Kurz Group that revolutionizes digital embellishment with high-end functions that are very easy to call up.”

“In times when face-to-face events (which we all miss) are not possible, we are very pleased that a virtual platform has been created. These formats offer manufacturers, suppliers, producers and interested parties the opportunity to exchange ideas and shape the future of print together,” said Joerg Hartmann, president and managing director at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Germany and Austria.

“drupa is and remains the international meeting place for the industry. It brings visitors, exhibitors and innovations from all over the world together – even digitally,” said Hermann Veismann, head of the Printing Division at Windmöller & Hölscher. “W&H will present innovations focused around ‘efficient production, sustainable products and Packaging 4.0’ at virtual.drupa. In addition to W&H CI flexo and gravure printing presses, visitors will be able to learn more about the latest automation and assistance systems. We look forward to a lively exchange.”

Added François Martin, head of marketing and communication at Bobst Group: “BOBST’s goal is to demonstrate its vision for packaging applications and present solutions for the industries we serve. We believe that the future of packaging production will be based on four key pillars: Connectivity, digitalization, automation and sustainability. Our presentations and the offering of our virtual showroom will make it very clear to visitors what development and vision we are pursuing.

“virtual.drupa offers all exhibitors the opportunity to share their visions with the industry and to present important innovations that support print service providers and converters to meet the needs and demands of customers and brand owners in a targeted matter.”