German printing press builder Manroland Sheetfed has announced it is pulling out of participation in Drupa 2021.
Although Drupa, the world’s biggest exhibition of print equipment, is now not taking place until April 20-30 next year – having been postponed from 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic – Manroland nevertheless says it still “makes no sense” to join in, even with several months in hand.
“Exhibiting at Drupa, or any other trade fair for that matter, makes absolutely no sense during the current Covid-19 pandemic,” said Rafael Peñuela-Torres, group managing director at Manroland.
“It is regrettable, as we would have been exhibiting with live demonstrations of both our recently launched Roland 900 Evolution press and the new Roland 700 Evolution Elite, but unfortunately it is just not practicable in the current circumstances.
“Instead we will be holding a series of live webinars in the fall.”
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG also recently announced that it would not be participating in Drupa 2021 or any other trade fairs next year.