Dr. Andreas Pleßke, CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG, was officially reappointed as chairman of the drupa committee at its meeting on February 5, 2025. Wolfgang Poppen, Managing Partner of Freiburger Druck GmbH & Co. KG and President of the Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V., was unanimously re-elected as deputy chairman.
Dr. Pleßke expressed his honor in continuing to shape the development of drupa, highlighting the rapidly changing technical and political landscape. He emphasized that, alongside the committee, they would ensure drupa’s continued evolution to maintain its position as the leading global trade fair for print technologies and guide the industry into the future. Poppen reinforced that drupa is a central hub for industry innovation and technology launches, with plans to intensify efforts to refine its positioning ahead of drupa 2028.
Looking ahead, the strategic planning for drupa 2028 has already begun. The focus is on developing new concepts to attract emerging target groups and promote high-level knowledge exchange within the industry. Alongside the established trade fair format, new formats are being created to enhance networking, with a particular focus on brand owners and industry influencers.
In line with succession planning and changes within the industry, four new members have joined the committee:
- Markus Hoffmann, Executive Senior Vice President at Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG and Chairman of the Printing and Paper Association within VDMA e.V.
- Marcel Martens, General Manager of Industrial Print EMEA Direct at HP Indigo & Pagewide, HP Industrial Printing
- Thomas Heininger, CEO of MBO Postpress Solutions GmbH and CEO of Komori International Europe
- Peter Voigt, Managing Director of Perfecta Schneidemaschinenwerk GmbH
A central element of the new strategy involves identifying and presenting technology trends shaping the future of the printing and packaging industry. Key topics such as Artificial Intelligence, automation, sustainable printing processes, and digital transformation will be at the forefront.
Drupa and the committee are preparing for the future with a clear vision and strong commitment. In the coming months, exhibitor registration for drupa 2028 will open, showcasing the industry’s innovation and transformative potential.
The drupa committee, formed in 1951, consists of equal numbers of exhibitors and visitors. Its role is to advise Messe Düsseldorf on the conceptual and industry-specific development of the leading trade fair. The personal exchange with industry experts and stakeholders is crucial in these times of rapid industry changes. The committee members represent several industry associations, including:
- Printing and Paper Technology Association (Fachverband Druck- und Papiertechnik) within VDMA e.V.
- German Printing and Media Industries Federation (Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V.)
- Paper-Processing Trade Associations (Wirtschaftsverbände Papierverarbeitung)
- Paper Industry (DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE e.V.)
- German Printing Ink Industry Association (Verband der deutschen Lack- und Druckfarbenindustrie e.V.)
- Flexographic Printing Association (DFTA Flexodruck Fachverband e.V.)
Drupa 2028 will take place from May 9 to 17, 2028, at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre in Germany.
