Konica Minolta joins drupa exodus

Digital print solutions developer Konica Minolta is the latest big name exhibitor to pull out of drupa, with the iconic exhibition now looking shorn of much of its star power.

Konica Minolta cited ongoing safety concerns for the decision, Toshitaka Uemura, executive officer, division president of Professional Print Headquarters, Konica Minolta, Inc said, “Our highest priority is always to make sure that our customers, colleagues and all their families stay safe and healthy. And while the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt on a global basis, we have taken a decision to withdraw our physical presence from drupa”

All the major digital print systems developers, bar Xeikon and Landa, have now pulled out of the world's biggest print show, held once every four years. Konica Minolta has joined HP, Kodak, Canon, Ricoh, Screen, Xerox, Fujifilm, and EFI on the digital no-show list.

In addition three of the five offset manufacturers have already withdrawn, with Heidelberg, manroland, and Komori not going, although Koenig & Bauer is committed to the show. Other major players including Bobst will not be there, and the German alliance of finishing equipment manufacturers which includes MBO, BaumannPerfecta, Wohlenberg, Bograma, H+H, and Hohnerwill also be absent.

Konica Minolta said the current uncertainty was its reason for not exhibiting at drupa, due to take place 20-28 April, nor at any other exhibitions. The mega show is six months away, and a second wave of Covid cases is sweeping Europe, with no vaccine yet on the horizon. Major exhibitors are cancelling rather than risking the millions of euros it costs to participate in drupa.

The virus has wiped out the print expo, conference, and awards industry here and around the world; no face-to-face events have taken place in Australia since March, and none will take place before next year. The local trade show PacPrint 2021 is still a year away, it is due to take place at the end of September through beginning of October, at its usual home the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.