DIP@DRUPA 2016: Future vision demonstrated in six theme parks

Once again the drupa innovation park 2016 (dip) will be the focal point for the industry’s latest inspiring and creative developments. The six theme parks will display current trends and topics along with business cases associated with process-oriented print and publishing solutions. drupa is all set to open its doors from May 31 to June 10, 2016. Visitors to the drupa innovation park (dip) will find trend-setting innovations, solutions and business cases in one centrally and clearly laid-out platform. They can enjoy opportunities from dip trademarks like the integrated communication concept on the presentation stage and in the “dip energy lounge”. As an orientation forum and community meeting point, these areas will help promote interactive dialogue between everyone involved. Covering an area of more than 3,000 square meters, once again the drupa innovation park can be found in Hall 7.0.

Sabine Geldermann, director of drupa, explains the intention behind dip 2016, “The dip is a fantastic way for young companies and startups as well as global players with forward looking solutions and applications to present themselves. Since its first appearance at drupa 2004, the ‘dip’ has made a name for itself in the industry as a pioneering technology and solution platform for the international print and media industry and we are building on this success.” Geldermann continues, “In line with the strategic restructuring of drupa 2016 and its focus on highlight topics, the drupa innovation park, with its six themed areas, will provide an opportunity for visitors to acquire insights into the technologies of the future. We believe this opportunity will give our industry an indispensable tool to support strategic business decisions.”

DIP 2016 will be split into the following six theme parks:

1. Sabine GeldermannMultichannel publishing & marketing solutions: This area covers topics such as management of cross-media content/ assets, web & app publishing, database publishing and marketing and brand management solutions. Also potential applications and trends such as augmented reality, NFC applications or customised mass production.
2. Web-to-media & e-commerce: This area focuses on solutions for web-topublish or web-to-print, E-commerce & shop platforms, cloud publishing and web editors for design/print and HTML 5.
3. Process optimization & automation: Visitors to this area can expect to find solutions and innovation on the following topics: management information systems, enterprise resource planning, print automation with JDF/JMF, workflow management from pre-press to finishing, process and quality control systems, industrial robots and automation technologies
4. Added value in print: The focus here is on finishing, further development and the advanced added-value of print products, including innovative substrates, new finishing methods, packaging, labelling printing & displays, green printing and secure printing
5. Innovations in printing technologies: Modern printing and process technologies will be presented in this theme park and visitors will find applications for functional printing, printed electronics, 3D printing, solutions for prototyping, visualisation & workflow.
6. Business models: Alongside technological changes, new business concepts and models have an ever more important role to play. These and strategic cooperation and marketing platforms, finance concepts and franchising and licence models are the subject of this innovation park.

In 2016 an international team of experts will again be responsible for designing and communicating the drupa innovation park. “The dip is a platform for all visitors to drupa 2016, sharing knowledge and providing an insight into future communication developments in the print and media industry,” says Frank Romano, Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology.

Peter Sommer, senior vice president of the Elanders Group, adds, “drupa has always been synonymous with technical innovations. But what has been lacking is implementation in successful business models, especially in relation to competition in the online and mobile segments. The drupa innovation park is a beacon in this respect and does what the name suggests. Ideally, it will turn the drupa slogan ‘Touch the future’ into reality.”

Messe Düsseldorf has once again authorised the marketing, communications & events agency Winter Consulting with realising and coordinating the drupa innovation park. For more than 14 years, Winter Consulting has been designing and implementing exhibition concepts for innovative trade fairs and conferences. Owner Sandra Winter has been actively involved in marketing, communication and sales in the IT, print and media industry since 1992 and oversaw 2004, 2008 and 2012.

After 2016, drupa will switch to a three-year cycle

-running in May of 2019, 2022 and 2025

drupa, the world’s leading trade fair for print and cross-media solutions, will switch to a three-year cycle after 2016, when it runs from May 31 to June 10, 2016. This decision was taken by the drupa committee in Düsseldorf. “The entire print process chain has changed radically because of the Internet and digital technologies. New applications and solutions are developing and opening up new fields of business. At the same time, there is more focus on innovative technologies, such as 3D printing, printed electronics and functional printing,” explains Claus Bolza-Schünemann, chairman of the drupa advisory board and president Koenig & Bauer Group. “It’s more important than ever before that our customers have an overview of the latest technology and are also inspired to use new business models and solutions. drupa is the only specialist trade fair in the world to offer this – and will do so every three years in the future.”

One positive side-effect of this change is that drupa will no longer run in 2020, the same year as Interpack, the world’s most important trade fair for the packaging industry and the closely related process industry. “The drupa exhibitors who specialise in packaging printing would have found 2020 an incredibly stressful year so the change will clearly benefit customers,” emphasises Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, president & CEO Messe Düsseldorf.

The precise dates haven’t yet been finalised, but it’s clear that drupa will take place in the traditional drupa month of May in 2019, 2022 and 2025 in Düsseldorf.