Don't leave town without your drupa essentials

You won't find it in the Lonely Planet, but a trip to drupa requires a number of 'essentials' and time is running out to buy them.

The essentials consist of a 'drupa bible', the long-awaited exhibitor catalogue which landed in Australia from Germany earlier this week, exhibition entry tickets and, of course, the supa drupa Aussie BBQ tickets.

Printing Industries' national communications and technical services manager, Joe Kowalewski, said the BBQ tickets, which are being issued this week, contain location and transport details for the Mönchengladbach BBQ venue.

"We have also organised the Aussie BBQ Party bus for two pick-up and drop-off points in Düsseldorf for the convenience of people staying in the city," he said.

"Tickets will be available only for about the next week and must be pre-purchased before travellers leave Australia.  This can be done via this link or by contacting Theresa at Printing Industries on (02) 8789 7300 and by e-mail supadrupa@printnet.com.au. They cost $120 for Printing Industries' members and $150 for others."

The drupa 2008 exhibition catalogues arrived in Australia earlier this week and are available for $52 each from the Messe Düsseldorf Sydney representative, Rudi Barth on (02) 8966 9159.

"The 862-page catalogue (only 858 pages if you don't count the covers) contains just about everything you need to know about the exhibition including hall plans, product categories, an alphabetical list of exhibitors, highlight tour information covering computer-to-plate, offset, digital printing, converting, finishing, creation of printed products, web-to-print, inkjet, networked print production, packaging and label production. Information is also provided on the Compass sessions  on digital printing, digital workflow, package printing, pre-media/prepress and offset printing," Kowalewski said.

Exhibition entry tickets should also be pre-purchased before leaving Australia.

"Extensive queues can be expected at the various entrances to the drupa exhibition, so to avoid these expected lengthy delays, travellers should pre purchase their admission tickets now. These cost $62 each for a day pass or $200 for a four-day pass. They are also available from Rudi Barth," he said.