New and special forum ‘Touchpoint Sustainability’

Around 30 exhibitors at Touchpoint Sustainability (tps) will present pioneering best practice examples from all areas of the value chain, sometimes featuring several exhibits. In doing so, they provide both an overview of the status quo as well as attractive perspectives for the future. The more than 400sqm booth, which is dialogue platform and show room at once, will be hosted and designed by the German industrial association VDMA Printing and Paper Technology.

Many sophisticated technologies from mechanical engineering and plant construction are part of their production. And it is these who also guarantee the quality and safety of processes during production and their sustainability. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) are key factors, not only with regard to the transformation process of the industry, but also for scaling effects. This makes them especially relevant for central goals like increased energy efficiency and improved waste avoidance.

At the special forum, very different stakeholders like manufacturers, scientists or brand owners together demonstrate how transformation can succeed across the industry by using technology that is ready for the future. The spectrum of companies participating in the exhibition and in the programme on stage ranges from industry giants like EPSON, HP, Koenig & Bauer, Kurz, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Müller Martini or Voith down to specialised start-ups.

With regard to sustainability, the joint exhibition by different companies and the high quality accompanying programme on stage make Touchpoint Sustainability one of the highlights of drupa 2024. More than this, it offers young talents seeking passionate and forward-looking employers a valuable insight into the industry – which is investing on a large scale in order to become “enablers” and support customers in managing their challenges and unlocking new potentials on the market.

A discussion forum for new solutions

The exhibition area of the Touchpoint is divided according to the different areas of the added value chain – raw materials, production, usage and recycling – and according to the time factor: What is already available on the market? Where does the development lead? The focus is on related issues such as the consumption of energy and resources during production processes, use of material and printing inks, recycling of colours or finishing processes that do not harm the environment.

Possible approaches for solutions are demonstrated using relevant use-cases. What starts with increased efficiency, digital solutions, climate neutrality and circular economy soon reaches meeting regulatory standards and introduces novel business models.

Young talents & start-ups to present innovative technologies

The special show drupa next age (dna) puts the newcomers and young talents of the print and packaging sectors very much in the spotlight. The ‘drupadna Deep Dive’ interview series already now provides initial insights into this unique special feature at drupa 2024.

Great ideas, small budgets – for many young companies it is not easy to make the right contacts and establish their exciting and pioneering solutions on the market. Specifically for this target group drupa has created a special platform: drupa next age (dna). Here newcomers, young talents, start-ups and established companies can network on a level playing field, find matching co-operation partners and swap innovative business ideas. For many participants this is the opportunity to introduce themselves to an international expert audience for the first time.

New business, networking & discussion

The dna exhibition area in Hall 7.0 provides a global platform for discussions on technologies and tools, as well as with people who are driving the industry forward and opening up unique opportunities for printing technologies along the entire value chain. Especially for newcomers the integrated dna stage featuring presentations, panel discussions and interviews is the ideal forum to win over investors with new business models, product solutions and technologies.

Focal themes of dna include: Additive Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, New Materials, Platform Economy, Predictive Maintenance, Printed Electronics, Remote Services, New Business Models and Process Design.

Each of the eleven days at drupa 2024 offer eight to ten items from the agenda distributed over the entire booth. The total of more than 100 items reflects almost every topic addressed at the trade fair. Last but not least, players from other industries and their applications are to be given a platform that will support cooperation, exchange of ideas and partnerships.