For the first time, the Additive Manufacturing Association working group of the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA), will be responsible for the lecture programme at Drupa focusing on 3D printing applications in the print and media industry.
Drupa is the largest printing, media and packaging industry trade fair in the world, held every four years by Messe Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf, Germany. For 2020, the trade show expects to attract more than 250,000 visitors, 1,800 exhibitors from over 180 countries.
The aim of the lectures program is to demonstrate the potential applications of additive manufacturing in the printing and media industry, furthering the adoption and evolution of the technology.
Bringing 3D printing expertise to Drupa
In the five years of its existence, the Frankfurt based Additive Manufacturing Association has grown to around 150 members. These include leading suppliers of AM production technology for processing metals and plastics, suppliers of components, software, automation technology and materials as well as industrial users from various industries and leading research institutes. Notable members include, Additive Industries, Concept Laser, Materialise, ProtoLabs and Siemens.
“Many of our members have been pioneers in industrial 3D printing for many years. They bring with them concentrated practical and theoretical know-how that we want to show visitors at touchpoint 3D fab+print,” said Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of the VDMA Additive Manufacturing Association.
“Since our trade fair appearance at Drupa 2016 met with a very positive response, it made sense to expand our commitment at Drupa 2020 and contribute our know-how.”
A targeted lecture program
The Drupa 2019 program will consist of around 80 specialist lectures spread out over the course of ten days. With a view to the trade fair’s printing and packaging target group, the lectures will focus on 3D printed machine components, prototyping, on-demand spare parts supply for printing presses, the use of additive processes to manufacture individual advertising products and unusual packaging.
The working group will also be organizing introductory lectures on technical processes within additive process chains and insights into current and future applications in the printing, packaging and media industries.
Commenting on the lectures, Rainer Gebhardt, project leader of the working group said, “It is important for us to pick up the drupa visitors where they are in additive manufacturing.”
“Additive design and manufacturing create scope for creativity in many industries. From this point of view, the technology also fits in perfectly with the drupa.”
Gebhardt is also inviting Drupa exhibitors to suggest their own lecture topics, “We are open to suggestions and will find opportunities in the ten-day program to provide a forum for AM applications from the traditional print and packaging industry,” he said.
In 2016 23 3D printing companies ran exhibitions at the Drupa. Among them, was the first public outing of HP’s Jet Fusion 3D printer and Massivit’s 1500 Exploration 3D printer. The companies will be returning to the show next year alongside Siemens AG and others.
Drupa will take place from the 16th to 26th June 2020, in Düsseldorf.
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Featured image shows 3D printers on the inside of a bus which was parked outside the 2016 trade show. Photo via Drupa.
