By now, everyone knows that drupa 2020 has been postponed until 2021 because of the Coronavirus pandemic. This is the second time that the date for this massive print technology expo has been moved. As many of you will recall, the drupa organizers had hoped to set the show on a three-year schedule rather than the traditional four-year cycle, but that idea was not very popular with exhibitors and was soon shelved. Ironically, drupa would not have been impacted by COVID-19 if it had taken place in 2019, three years after the previous event. This must be a frustrating thought for the drupa organizers.
Another likely point of frustration is the pleasant weather that Düsseldorf has seen this June—extreme summer heat has been an issue in the past, but this year, with no exhibition taking place, the weather has been ideal. As the Germans would say, Schade (too bad). With the next event expected to occur in 10 months (April 20 – 30, 2021, Düsseldorf, Germany), some might be wondering if the world will be fully ready to embrace the crowds and travel associated with an international mega-event like drupa. Furthermore, in late-breaking news, Heidelberg announced that it would not be participating in the upcoming drupa event. If other large exhibitors decide to follow suit, this may result in another postponement.
The postponement of drupa 2020 was necessary given current conditions, but I’m not sure the exhibitors were as bothered by the change as the drupa organizers. The exhibitors have another year to plan their booths and make a splash with their announcements. Without drupa, though, we attendees are missing the excitement and phenomenal marketing bluster of the myriad technology demonstrations.