The print industry is rapidly transforming, driven by technological innovations, changing customer demands, and environmental challenges. Print professionals must keep an eye on the future trends and opportunities that will shape the industry in the coming years to stay ahead of the curve.

One of the best ways to do that is to attend Drupa 2024, the world’s leading trade fair for print technologies, which will take place from May 28 to June 7, 2024, in Düsseldorf, Germany. Drupa 2024 will showcase the latest developments and solutions in pre-media, print, packaging, post-press, and future technologies and provide a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and inspiration.

In this blog post, we will highlight some of the key themes and highlights that will be featured at Drupa 2024 and what they mean for the future of printing.

Special Forums: A Deep Dive into Tomorrow’s Print and Packaging Industries

Drupa 2024 will feature five special forums focusing on the top trends and challenges in the print and packaging industries and connecting technology leaders, newcomers, and users. The special forums are:

Drupa cube: The Drupa cube will serve as the central stage for thought leadership and knowledge transfer, featuring keynotes, expert panels, and workshops on sustainability, digital transformation, customer experience, and innovation management.

Drupa Next Age (DNA): The Drupa Next Age forum will be the innovative technology driver for connecting industry newcomers, young talents, start-ups, and well-established companies. DNA will offer scope for networking at eye level and preview tomorrow’s technologies, such as artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, new materials, and platform economy.

Touchpoint packaging: The touchpoint packaging forum will focus on visionary packaging solutions and introduce brand owners to designers, material suppliers, print service providers, and converters. The involvement of students and young talents such as NABA and Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (New Academy of Fine Arts Milan) in partner projects with exhibitors promises to deliver smart packaging solutions for folding boxes, labels, flexible packaging and corrugated cardboard.

Touchpoint textile: The touchpoint textile forum will explore the potential of digital textile printing for various applications, such as fashion, home textiles, and technical textiles. The forum will also address sustainability challenges, circular economy, and digitalization in the textile industry.

Touchpoint sustainability: The touchpoint sustainability forum will showcase the best practices and innovations in environmental and social responsibility for the print and packaging industry. The forum will cover carbon footprint, recycling, biodegradability, and social impact.

Future Technologies: A Glimpse into the Next Generation of Printing

Drupa 2024 will also present cutting-edge technologies and solutions that will revolutionize the print and packaging industry in the near future. Some of the highlights include:

Artificial intelligence (AI): AI will enable smarter and more efficient printing processes, such as predictive maintenance, quality control, and workflow optimization. AI will also enhance the customer experience by enabling personalized and interactive print products, such as smart labels, augmented reality, and voice assistants.

Additive manufacturing (AM): AM, or 3D printing, will open up new possibilities for creating complex and customized shapes, structures, and functionalities, such as printed electronics, bioprinting, and 4D printing. AM will also reduce material and energy consumption, enabling on-demand and decentralized production.

New materials: New materials, such as nanomaterials, biobased materials, and functional materials, will offer new properties and performance for print and packaging products, such as conductivity, biocompatibility, and self-healing. New materials will also improve the sustainability and circularity of print and packaging products by enabling recyclability, biodegradability, and compostability.

Platform economy: Platform economy, or the online exchange of goods and services, will create new business models and opportunities for the print and packaging industry, such as cloud printing, print-on-demand, and mass customization. Platform economy will also foster collaboration and innovation among the print and packaging stakeholders, such as suppliers, manufacturers, and customers.

Exhibition Booth: A Key Factor for Success at Drupa 2024

To make the most of Drupa 2024, a professional and attractive exhibition booth must be essential to showcase your products and services and attract more visitors and potential customers. A well-designed and built exhibition booth can also help you stand out from the crowd and create a lasting impression on your target audience.

However, designing and building an exhibition booth can be challenging and time-consuming, especially if you cannot become more familiar with the local regulations, standards, and suppliers. That is why it is advisable to hire a professional and experienced exhibition booth designer and builder who can take care of all the details and ensure a smooth and successful trade show experience.

Drupa Expo 2024 is the ultimate event for the print and packaging industry, where you can discover the latest trends and technologies, network with the global community, and gain valuable insights and inspiration for the future of printing. To make the most of  Drupa 2024, you need a professional and attractive exhibition booth design to showcase your products and services and attract more visitors and potential customers.