New president drives drupa into 2012

drupa may not be for another four years but new president Martin Weickenmeier is already putting the plans in place for the world's largest print fair.

Weickenmeier was appointed president following the committee's meeting this week. Albrecht Bolza-Schunemann, president in 2000, 2004 and 2008 reckoned he'd had enough and decided not to stand for re-election.

This is good news for 54-year-old Weickenmeier (pictured), who has been vice president and chairman of the Admissions Committee since 2004.

"I am delighted to assume the presidency at such an exciting time," he said. "Our sector is developing at a rapid pace and drupa 2012 will once again be a key milestone."

The Committee also unanimously voted Dr. Jürgen Vutz, CEO Windmöller & Hölscher KG, vice president and chairman of the Admissions Committee. Rolf Schwarz, president of the German Printing and Media Industries Federation, was confirmed in his capacity as second vice president.

The 23-member drupa committee is responsible for the key policy decisions on the print media fair . It is made up of representatives from the exhibiting industry and represents the entire technology spectrum from pre-media through to printing up to further processing, packaging production and paper processing. The users' side is also represented on the committee through the most diverse media service-providers.

In addition to these personnel changes, the committee also set the key dates for drupa 2012. The public countdown to the preparation for the 15th drupa will begin this November in connection with the All in Print in Shanghai.