The trade show that dwarfs all other trade shows (at least in the packaging and printing industry) is set to open its doors in late May, and the international flavor of the attendees and exhibitors proves that the scope of this market continues to expand.


The flexible packaging industry, like most others, has industry events all the time, throughout the year, throughout the country and throughout the world. But none of these events hold quite the same impact, reputation and cache as Drupa. Held just every four years, Drupa is where most packaging and printing companies unveil their newest and most innovative products and technologies. 2008 will be no different.


In 2004, Drupa - held at the Düsseldorf Fairgrounds in - boasted 393,654 attendees from 122 countries (55 percent from countries other than ) and 1,862 exhibitors from 52 countries. The presence was also felt, as 38 companies exhibited at the 2004 show.


This year, Drupa 2008 will feature a North American Pavilion offering exhibitors in the following product categories:

  • Prepress and Premedia Systems, Appliances, Software
  • Printing Machinery, Appliances, Accessories
  • Bookbinding and Print Finishing Machinery, Appliances, Accessories
  • Paper Converting, including Package Production Machinery, Appliances, Accessories
  • Materials and Consumables 
  • Services

Drupa has been called the trade fair to for attendees to see the latest developments and to place orders, but it is also a confidence barometer for the entire print media and packaging industry itself.

The range of the products on display at Drupa will be impressive, featuring both traditional and pioneering technologies for pre-press and pre-media, printing (machinery, appliances and accessories), book binding and print finishing as well as paper converting services including packaging production, materials and consumables. Drupa 2008 will again be the meeting place and networking destination for global experts in all the markets related to the flexible packaging industry.


Exhibitor Registration Reflects Industry

Four months before the start of the 2008 event, the exhibitor registration reflects the international market situation and industry developments. Consequently, the leading technology producing nations will be the most strongly represented countries at Drupa 2008 (countries listed by trade show floor square-footage):

Germany (745,100 sq. ft.), Italy (148,200 sq. ft.), United States (142,600 sq. ft.), Switzerland (130,500 sq. ft.), Netherlands (99,100 sq. ft.), Japan (89,200 sq. ft.), the UK (80,000 sq. ft.), Belgium (70,800 sq. ft.) and Spain (68,600 sq. ft.).


With more than1,800 exhibitors and more than 1.8 million square feet of exhibit space, 400,000 expected visitors and some 3,500 journalists from around the world, Drupa 2008 will be larger than ever.


DRUPA 2008 SHOW INFO

Dates:  May 29 – June 11, 2008
Location: Düsseldorf Fairgrounds -
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. daily; 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays