Business

Drupa, the print media trade fair, ended yesterday (11 June) after an estimated 391,000 visitors passed through its gates in two weeks.

Organiser Messe Düsseldorf said 97% of visitors gave the show a "positive" rating and the average stay was 3.2 days.

Two-thirds of visitors came from overseas, which Messe Düsseldorf chief executive Werner Matthias Dornscheidt described as "a remarkable success given the difficult economic climate".

There were 1,971 exhibitors from 84 countries displaying their products at the show.

Gallus used the show to launch its ICS 670 mid-web cartonboard printing and converting machine which produces die-cut boxes from a roll of material in a single pass.

"There was a lot of people interested in the machine and there should be some exciting follow-ups for us. It was amazing the number of people who came back to the stand to have a second look," said senior marketing manager Stefan Hagn.

Printing giant Heidelberg followed the launch of Linoprint at Interpack by dedicating an entire hall to packaging and large format printing.

Kilian Renschler, vice president for product management in folding cartons, said: "Packaging will be one of our growing segments. We already have a good customer base and are extending our portfolio."

The next Drupa will take place from 3-16 May 2012 at the Messe Düsseldorf.