Preparations are well underway for virtual drupa, April 20 to 23. 2021. Like the live drupa event, the online drupa will explore the future of printing technologies and markets. Exhibitors and experts will address questions such as:
- What changes can we expect in the future?
- How will global changes and megatrends affect the printing business?
- What recent and emerging innovations will change the markets for print?
Attendees can register free of charge at https://virtual.drupa.com/. According to show organizers, 6,000 visitors from 130 countries have already registered.
(Photo: Maximilian Beck)
Exhibition Space
Exhibitors will set up online showrooms for product launches, offer video and live presentations, and schedule virtual meetings with drupa attendees.
“Drupa is not taking place physically but this is not a reason to stop sharing information. Virtual drupa provides an opportunity for all traditional exhibitors to share their vision for the industry and to outline major innovations helping printers and converters to better answer the needs and pledge of brand owners,” says Francois Martin of drupa exhibitor Bobst Group. “The way brand owners design, pack and distribute goods is evolving at a tremendous pace. Printers and converters need to adjust to a new reality changing faster than expected. By meeting with all the exhibitors, they will be able to understand where the industry is going and which new solutions to deploy to remain competitive.”
Other key players exhibiting at virtual drupa, include KURZ, DuPont, EFI, Kodak, Komori, BlueCrest, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Mueller Martini, Kyocera, Esko, WIndmoller & Holscher, Mimaki, Xeikon. Koenig & Bauer.
Conference Area
The Conference Area of virtual.drupa will feature a world-class, English-language program focusing on the global trends of Artificial Intelligence, Circular Economy, Connected Consumer; and Platform Economy. International industry experts, brand owners and speakers from vertical markets will provide valuable knowledge transfer through best cases, keynote speeches and panel discussions.
Photo: Maximilian Beck
Two parallel live streams will offer visitors the opportunity to participate flexibly in the conference presentations between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm Central European Time. For participants around the world, these sessions will also be available on-demand in a video library.
Each of the four days of the conference will start with keynotes from three top international speakers.
April 20: Keynote: Small Steps and Giant Leaps for Your AI in a Circular Economy
Michael Gale, a Wall Street Journal best-selling author and consultant, will make two presentations related to artificial intelligence. He will share where companies can use digital potential, how to make it accessible to everyone, and how to activate business growth with the help of AI. His second presentation is April 23.
April 21: Keynote: The Creatives Business Model of Tomorrow. The Cusp of Another Revolution
Designer James Sommerville, former VP of Global Design for The Coca Cola Company will illustrate the great importance of product design in driving innovation and fostering growth. In 2018 James departed the corporate world to start what he believes will be the next revolution in the creative agency world. His new firm, the Known Unknown uses a 100% distributed talent model in which unknown creatives are invited to help known brands respond to global brand challenges
April 22: World Earth Day Keynote: Implications of the Climate Megatrend for Printing Industry
Dr. Gabrielle Walker, founder of director of the Valence Solutions consultancy, will address sustainability issues. The lecturer, author and climate expert will discuss global challenges with a special focus on sustainability, energy consumption, circular economy and climate change. As a strategist, she advises companies on topics such as future investments and process optimization, as well as on the impact that changing business models can have on a company’s corporate identity, its external impact and acceptance.
April 23: Keynote: The AI Opportunity: A Dawn of a New Age for You with the Right AI Schematic
Michael Gale
Inspiring Presentations
The morning keynotes will be followed in two streams by the English-language daily program of the five drupa special forums:
“drupa cube” offers content to motivate, entertain and inform. Stay up to date on key trends as well as the future of management thinking, digital transformation and printing technologies.
“touchpoint packaging” presents inspiring visionary concepts. Meet packaging experts to learn more about future challenges and opportunities. The Hot Spot covers different printing technologies and packaging types for different markets and welcomes brand owners, designers, material suppliers, converters and all other packaging industry experts
“touchpoint textile” brings together companies from different textile markets and offers space for cross-industry collaboration, new projects and product and manufacturing ideas. The ongoing digitalization and cross-sectional technologies for numerous industries are drivers for innovation.
“3D fab+print” focuses on 3D applications in printing, paper machine construction, and applications for media and packaging. For example, consider how additive-manufacturing could be used to make machine components, prototypes, or an on-demand spare parts supply for printing presses. 3D fabrication and printing can also be used to make unique advertising props and products or unusual packaging solutions
“drupa next age” is the innovative heart of drupa. It’s about disruptive developments. What major challenges the print industry? Industry-established companies present their innovative products and forward-looking ideas here.
For the latest details on the full program, visit: https://virtual.drupa.com/en/Conference_Area/Conference_Area.
Networking Plaza
From now until October 21, exhibitors and visitors can connect in the Networking Plaza: https://virtual.drupa.com/en/Networking_Plaza/Matchmaking.
With drupa’s intelligent matchmaking tool, companies and contacts that are relevant to your business can get in touch with you even before the trade show starts. If you would like to be contacted, activate your participation in the “Matchmaking” service when you submit your registration. Then, you will be asked to submit more details about your specific interests. If you fill out your profile fully and accurately, you will receive a list of drupa exhibitors and experts who match your interests.
Through that list, you can choose who you would like to chat with or schedule a virtual meeting with during the exhibition. You can scroll down and watch video demonstrations of the matchmaking process on the Networking Plaza page of the virtual drupa website.
If you discover interesting products and services while exploring the Exhibition Space or attending one of the exhibitor’s Live Web Sessions, you can contact exhibitors directly to arrange a virtual meeting.. Companies and contact persons can be found quickly and easily in Matchmaking via a search field function. There is also the option of targeted communication via the exhibitors’ online showroom in the Exhibition Space.
For information on visiting or exhibiting at virtual.drupa 2021, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; Telephone: (312) 781-5180; E-mail: [email protected];
Visit https://virtual.drupa.com/ and www.mdna.com;
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