As the curtain comes down on drupa 2012, we’re delighted to report that the event was a huge success. As expected, drupa cemented its position as the world’s largest, most important B2B trade fair in its sector. And we want to thank all of you who joined the drupa community for making this drupa a successful edition.

During the last two weeks around 314,500 print professionals from 130 countries descended on Düsseldorf to see the latest cutting-edge print innovations on display by 1,850 exhibitors. Against this backdrop we’ve seen a change in the type of drupa visitor – this year delegates were typically top managers. The proportion of business decision makers has grown to 51%, up from 44% on 2008’s figure. The number of foreign visitors underlined drupa’s international appeal, with the event attracting more than 190,000 foreign delegates. The press box was also a very international affair, with around 2,400 journalists representing 75 countries.

One of the most hearting trends to emerge from drupa 2012 is that capital investment appears to be returning to the print industry, as many sales were made during the show. Clearly, many companies believe the worst of the downturn is behind them, and are more confident in investing in the future. Equally encouraging is exhibitors’ reports of the number of strong leads generated. There’s certainly much optimism that many of these leads will be converted into sales in the coming weeks and months.

When it comes to the major themes, drupa 2012 was dominated by automation, packaging printing, digital printing, hybrid technologies, web-to-print applications and environmentally-sound printing. Interesting trends that were also clearly reflected in the great feedback we received on the drupa Cube program and the drupa Innovation Parc. Make sure to check out our compilation video including the drupa team’s favourite highlights.

And now? Well, we’re taking your feedback with us to the 2016 edition of drupa, so we can further tailor the formula to your needs. So shake off the PdSS (Post drupa Stress Syndrome), recharge those batteries and don’t store away the #drupashoes too far. Before you know it, #drupa will be just behind the corner.

Don’t forget that we’re keeping the official drupa social media channels going – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Xing – so you can continue sharing your experiences of what was and will continue to be an amazing show!

And thanks again - it is you (exhibitor, visitor and press alike) who makes the drupa magic happen!

Like every industry, the print world was hit hard by the economic crisis. Even among those businesses that have survived, many are still struggling. But this isn’t just because of the banks withdrawing their financial support – the impact of the internet on traditional printing services has also affected revenue.

Almost all operations have had to adapt to survive. The traditional print business model – price-driven and product-focused – is no longer fit for purpose. Business models have evolved to address the harsh reality facing the industry, with many companies slashing overheads and, unfortunately, cutting staff in order to survive. A key part of this new perspective has involved streamlining business processes to increase efficiency and stretch profit margins. 

Manufacturers are also feeling the pinch, with businesses unable to invest in new systems. They’ve responded by curtailing product development and adopting a new approach to support their clients. Many have become consultants, offering business training and support, helping print houses to implement more effective business models.

Trade associations, too, have being toiling harder to meet members’ demands, particularly as the turnover, number of enterprises and employees in the industry declined. 

Recessions are undoubtedly bruising and claim many casualties, but they’re an inevitable part of the economic cycle. The print industry has experienced economic crises before, and it will undoubtedly weather this one.

Print houses are digging in and looking at different ways to drive revenue – for example, by taking advantage of the digital revolution to broaden their product portfolio, and exploiting the potential of integrated multi-channel communications.

The silver lining for those companies that survive the downturn is that they’ll be stronger and wiser – and will be competing in a smaller market. When the economy finally recovers, these businesses will reap the rewards of their stoicism and adaptability.

How has the recession affected your business? What changes have you made to survive? And have we finally turned the corner in terms of recovery? Read more and have your say – leave a comment!

In previous years, drupa has been defined by an overriding theme. We had ‘inkjet drupa’ in 2008, ‘JDF drupa’ in 2004, and back in 2000 there was the ‘press and workflow drupa’. This year’s show is proving much harder to pin down, not least because the perception of print is changing.

Customers are looking to print houses to add value to print products and help brands differentiate themselves from their competitors. Essentially, they want print houses to be a key part of the marketing value chain.

So, which technologies will steal the limelight? We can expect a far more even spread than previous years. 

Inevitably, digital – and inkjet in particular – will be in the spotlight. But let’s not forget how much printing is still produced using analogue processes, and isn’t ready to go digital.

Much of the focus regarding offset press development has been on improving automation to shorten makeready and changeover times, allowing print houses to get more work out the door.

Similarly, improvements to drying processes are eliminating dead time and boosting productivity.

Web-offset will also see developments to help reduce waste and labour, and ultimately lower the cost per volume of pages. And we can expect to see rapid developments in continuous-feed inkjet.

Ultimately, drupa is defined by what it means to you, the visitor. Whatever area you specialise in, there’ll be no shortage of experts on hand to help your business take a big stride forward.

Can’t wait for drupa? Whet your appetite with this preview on the drupa website.