drupa Gets Personal
Industry experts share their drupa experiences and look ahead to this year’s event.
April 2008
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drupa is not only the largest print media trade fair in the world, but it also brings together the world’s entire printing industry. Away from all the technology gadgets on display, everyone has a funny, exciting, or interesting drupa experience to remember. Four printing industry experts talk about the changes that have occurred over the years and share useful tips on how best to prepare for the marathon show, being held May 29-June 11 in Düsseldorf.
What do you remember about [your first drupa]?
Klaus Schmidt: [drupa 1990] took place just a few months after fall of the Berlin Wall and shortly before the German unification in late fall. During the show, we were able to meet up with Planeta, a printing press manufacturer based in Radebeul, near Dresden, to discuss a possible joint venture. Dealing with a team of executives from former East Germany was for me very new and unfamiliar. The joint venture agreement was signed before the end of drupa. Today, the sheetfed offset facility in Radebeul is the largest machine manufacturing plant in the new Federal States and one of the market’s top international suppliers.
Richard Elmer: It was a first for me in many respects. Until then, I had never participated in planning, coordinating, organizing, or conducting such a large trade fair or such a large stand with so much technology and staff. It was a very demanding and instructive experience. drupa is like a marathon, and you need to be in good shape to cross over the finish line successfully.
Flavio D’Andria: It was the sheer size of the show that impressed me the most. I was just lost for words at the extent of the trade fair grounds, the stream of visitors, and the dense population of Düsseldorf and its surrounding towns.
Philip Dunn: It was at drupa I learned one of life’s lessons. I was visiting the stand of a major American printing press manufacturer and had already talked my way through to the general manager who had given me a very friendly welcome. After listening to what I had to say, he politely said, “I have no doubt your magazine is very good, but you have to realize that drupa is the most important trade fair for my industry. The success of my company depends on it. So I am here to sell, not to buy.”
What do you remember about [your first drupa]?
Klaus Schmidt: [drupa 1990] took place just a few months after fall of the Berlin Wall and shortly before the German unification in late fall. During the show, we were able to meet up with Planeta, a printing press manufacturer based in Radebeul, near Dresden, to discuss a possible joint venture. Dealing with a team of executives from former East Germany was for me very new and unfamiliar. The joint venture agreement was signed before the end of drupa. Today, the sheetfed offset facility in Radebeul is the largest machine manufacturing plant in the new Federal States and one of the market’s top international suppliers.
Richard Elmer: It was a first for me in many respects. Until then, I had never participated in planning, coordinating, organizing, or conducting such a large trade fair or such a large stand with so much technology and staff. It was a very demanding and instructive experience. drupa is like a marathon, and you need to be in good shape to cross over the finish line successfully.
Flavio D’Andria: It was the sheer size of the show that impressed me the most. I was just lost for words at the extent of the trade fair grounds, the stream of visitors, and the dense population of Düsseldorf and its surrounding towns.
Philip Dunn: It was at drupa I learned one of life’s lessons. I was visiting the stand of a major American printing press manufacturer and had already talked my way through to the general manager who had given me a very friendly welcome. After listening to what I had to say, he politely said, “I have no doubt your magazine is very good, but you have to realize that drupa is the most important trade fair for my industry. The success of my company depends on it. So I am here to sell, not to buy.”
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