Two of the biggest names on the Drupa lineup, Bobst and Xerox, have pulled out of next year’s event. “We have started to virtualise the customer experience with live streaming demonstrations across all equipment in our existing Competence Centers providing an engaging customer experience with less traveling constraints,” Bobst said in a statement.
“Bobst is reducing its presence at industry tradeshows and thereby dramatically reducing the environmental impact. As a result, we have decided not to attend drupa and other industry trade shows in 2021, while maintaining limited participation in Asia.” The Swiss manufacturer said it would provide more information about its plans for new ways of engaging with customers soon, and that its Competence Centers would be evolved “to the next level”.
Meanwhile, Xerox said in a statement: “Given continued uncertainty around holding large events during a pandemic and our own schedule for product introductions, Xerox has decided not to participate in the Drupa 2021 trade fair.” With a raft of expos postponed or awaiting fresh dates, the next show on Drupa organiser Messe Dusseldorf’s calendar as it stands is Caravan Salon, billed as the world’s largest trade fair for motorhomes. This is set to take place from September 4-13 in the German city.
In its most recent update for exhibitors and visitors, Messe said it was working with all relevant authorities on plans for how trade shows can operate in a time of Covid-19, and said the health of customers, guests and employees were “always our top priority”. It said: “Following the agreement of the Federal Government and the States on April 15 to prohibit major events in principle until August 31, we must await concrete regulations from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the City of Dusseldorf and, if necessary, new decisions from the Federal Government. “We are in direct contact with the authorities for this purpose. “At the same time, we must ensure the safety and hygiene standards already in place at the Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre are continuously adapted to the latest findings.