Print & Pack Australia and New Zealand managing director Carsten Wendler is not optimistic about attendance at drupa 2021, saying that going by the trend of exhibitors choosing not to exhibit at drupa and travel restrictions still in place, attendance is expected to be weak.
Print & Pack Australia and New Zealand is the local agent for Bobst and Komori, and with both companies opting to exit from drupa 2021 alongside others like Heidelberg, Xerox, and Manroland Sheetfed, Wendler said more manufacturers will be doing the same.
“It’s no surprise that exhibitors are choosing not to attend drupa; it’s a logical step. We will see more manufacturers pulling out now that Heidelberg, Manroland Sheetfed, Bobst, Xerox, and Komori have all pulled out,” Wendler told Sprinter.
“I expect that there will be more to come. Other manufacturers probably have made their decision not to attend, but just haven’t announced it yet. We ourselves made the decision not to attend drupa because our customers told us they’re not attending as well.”
Koenig & Bauer has been the only manufacturer to step forward and show support in its upcoming attendance of the tradeshow.
However, Wendler said with the potential of declining attendee numbers, manufacturers that choose to attend will not benefit as they have done previously.
“Not only are exhibition costs enormous, people attending need to pay to enter. Many businesses are not financially faring well because of the effects of COVID-19 and this is a huge investment to make on their part,” he said.
“Koenig & Bauer is the only one that has said it will be there, but what would be the use if there aren’t any customers going?”
With many businesses already showing off their new products that were meant to be exhibited at drupa 2020 via live streams on the web, Wendler added that new innovation at drupa will be minimal.
“You’re not going to see any new products launched in the next calendar year as all the products are being launched this year anyway. Product development cycles are once in four years as well so what does next year leave us with? Nothing,” he said.
“Even Koenig & Bauer unveiled its solutions that it was meant to show at drupa 2020 via live stream online. Other manufacturers have done or are doing the same.”
Wendler added that there is also the issue of travel restrictions in place to factor in, which may result in drupa 2021 not happening as per planned in April.
“Australia is currently facing travel restrictions; the rest of the world is facing travel restrictions. Even within Australia, we’ve got restrictions on travel across states and regions. What more can we say of international travel? Expecting people to attend drupa exposes everyone to risk,” he said.
“If the travel restrictions remain, Komori or any other exhibitor removing themselves from drupa doesn’t mean anything for printers because they won’t be able to travel to Europe. Let’s see come April who would be travelling.
“I don’t see travel restrictions lifting by then; I expect it to only happen from mid next year. I don’t even see drupa going ahead in April to be honest.”
Wendler mentioned that drupa organisers should cater to the safety of people first and foremost.
“If there’s uncertainty and insecurity, people won’t take a leap of faith and attend. Even companies would not want to expose their staff to that kind of risk – it’s a global pandemic that has not been brought under control yet. Organisers should consider these factors first.”
In response to safety around COVID-19, Messe Düsseldorf has drawn up a Hygiene and Infection Protection Concept.
“Enterprises need platforms now to present themselves and their innovations, to network and jointly chart the course for the future,” Messe Düsseldorf CEO Wolfram Diener said.
“With our leading international trade 2 fairs we deliver second-to-none prerequisites for doing so. Our hygiene and infection protection standards ensure that the safety and health of our exhibitors, visitors, partners and members of staff are protected in the best possible way. We are ready.”
The concept outlines Messe Düsseldorf’s updated arrangements around official distancing and hygiene rules, minimum distancing requirements, seeing to one’s own hand hygiene and hand sanitisaiton, wearing face masks, and ensuring sufficient ventilation at the venue.
It also identifies that tickets will be limited and only available online and that visitors will have to register upon purchasing them as this permits the monitoring of headcount as people enter the venue.
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