drupa 2023 Focuses on Key Future Topics with Special Forums

As the largest and pioneering trade show for printing technologies, drupa stands for innovations and new approaches. Five special forums are planned again next year, which will become the hot spot for new technologies, applications and ideas. The drupa cube, drupa next age (dna) as well as touchpoints packaging, textile and sustainability will all address global mega trends, future technologies with growth potential and best practices covering a comprehensive range of topics. drupa, No. 1 for printing technologies, will take place from May 28 – June 7, 2024 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Experts among the partners include DITF Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf (German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research), epda (European Brand and Packaging Design Association), ESMA (European Specialist Printing Manufacturers Association), The Marketing Cloud UK as well as VDMA (German Engineering Association).

“In times of continuous change, disruptive processes and the resulting new business models, our Special Forums provide important guidance and are indispensable for the sector. Jointly with our partners we bank on impressive industry expertise and on the topics defining the future for our target groups,” said Sabine Geldermann, Director drupa, Print Technologies Messe Düsseldorf.

drupa cube

The drupa cube stands for Thought Leadership and will also serve as the central stage for pioneering content in 2024. Keynotes, expert panels and workshops ensure knowledge transfer and interaction. The conceptual and strategic partner is the British agency The Marketing Cloud, which was already responsible for implementing the program at the previous editions. 

drupa dna

The Special Forum drupa dna will be the innovative technology driver for connecting industry newcomers, young talents, start-ups and well-established companies. dna will offer space for networking at eye level and give a preview of tomorrow’s technologies setting the pace for the industry. Focal themes will include:, Additive Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, New Materials, Platform Economy, Predictive Maintenance, Printed Electronics, Remote Services, New Business Models, and Process Design.

touchpoint packaging

touchpoint packaging (tpp) will focus on visionary packaging solutions and introduce brand owners to designers, material suppliers, print service providers and converters. The involvement of students and young talents such as NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (New Academy of Fine Arts Milan) in partner projects with exhibitors promises to deliver smart packaging solutions for folding boxes, labels, flexible packaging and corrugated cardboard. In addition, important questions regarding such focus topics as sustainability or e-Commerce will be discussed. The participating companies will represent the complete process chain.

Responsible for the Special Forum is the European Brand and Packaging Design Association (epda), Europe’s leading association of brand and packaging design agencies. MINTEL Germany, an innovative company in the consumer research field, will be the content partner of this project and is guaranteed to provide insights into consumer trends and their impact on the industry. The tpp is also supported by the EHI Retail Institute Cologne as a representative of the retail sector.

touchpoint textile

The textile industry offers cross-industry technologies for many sectors –touchpoint textile will bring  these companies together providing a space for cross-sector cooperation, new projects as well as product and manufacturing ideas. In cooperation with industry partners, DITF (Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf), will set up a digital textile micro factory at drupa and, hence, a fully connected, integrated process chain ranging from the buyers’ requests and design to large-format digital textile prints. Many exciting projects such as the efficient, personalized production of sportswear and outerwear from sustainable materials in one consistent digital workflow or a creative competition for young and upcoming designers are on the agenda. touchpoint textile is supported by renowned partners such as Assyst, Brother, d.gen, the Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, KURZ, Luxion (KeyShot), Mey, Mitwill, Multiplot, Vaude and Zünd.

Another partner responsible for the lecture program at touchpoint textile is ESMA. Speakers from research, development and industry will address issues related to print and finishing technologies, workflows, market developments and sustainability. The focus will also be on trends and applications that are constantly opening up new potential through the interaction of digital printing and textile substrates.

touchpoint sustainability

touchpoint sustainability will be THE place to go to learn more about the circular economy and sustainable print production. As a long-standing partner of drupa, the VDMA is responsible for the special show. Visitors can look forward to best-practice examples as well as innovative solutions associated with the sustainability topic: How can energy and resource consumption be reduced by using optimized techniques in manufacturing processes? How are materials and printing inks reduced to a minimum in new low-threshold areas? And how is finishing applied in an environmentally friendly manner? For these and many other questions touchpoint sustainability will provide a central platform and stage for high-caliber knowledge transfer.

Interested exhibitors can still apply. For further information, visit www.drupa.com.