The drupa trade fair has always highlighted the most important trends in the printing industry, examining and evaluating them from different perspectives in an interdisciplinary manner. At drupa 2024 (May 28 - June 4 in Düsseldorf, Germany), the cube will once again be the central discussion forum for print and packaging leaders. Internationally renowned top speakers will inspire visitors with a visionary range of topics and thought-provoking presentations and panel discussions in line with the motto “Engage, Entertain and Educate”.

Why print is more important than ever in the digital age? Why don’t consumers always see print products as sustainable? And how can you calculate your carbon footprint? These are just some of the topics that will be addressed at the drupa cube. The conference will provide inspiration and expertise in more than 50 sessions. The program includes 5 impressive keynote and presentations focused on increasing business success, circular economy and sustainability the future of the printing and packaging industry as well as sessions and best practice examples on new business models and trends. Speakers will share best practice examples and will discuss the global megatrends that have already influenced and will continue to affect the printing and packaging industry.

Located in the impressive Hall 6 of the Düsseldorf fairgrounds, the cube will be a conference highlight and one of five special forums at the world's largest trade fair for printing technologies. It’s a place for unique knowledge transfer and networking. Speakers will include not only thought leaders from the printing sector but also personalities from advertising agencies, market research, academia, consulting and associations who will each provide in-depth insights into their range of topics in 45-minute sessions. The drupa cube will once again bring together industry experts and visionaries from all over the world.

Some of the top speakers for 2024
The more thought and effort you invest in communicating something, the more convincing the message will be: this is the thesis of Rory Sutherland, one of the headline speakers at this year's drupa. As Vice Chairman of Ogilvy, one of the world's most influential advertising agencies, Sutherland has had a lasting impact on the industry. In the cube program, he will show why print is more important than ever in the digital age. Samir Husni (also known as ‘Mr. Magazine’) will also present on editorial credibility and value in the digital age where truth and validity of social media content is often questionable and has led to a lack of trust among consumers.

Mark Maslin, a renowned scientist and Professor of Earth Systems Science at University College London (UCL), is a highly anticipated speaker. His work is particularly relevant at a time when climate change is a global challenge. In his keynote speech, he will discuss the effects of climate change, the consequences for the future and the responsibility that commercial organizations have in saving our planet. He will also specifically discuss the role of the printing industry in contributing to achieve sustainability goals.

Calvin Lakhan, Ph.D., is a research scientist at York University in Toronto, Canada, and promises to give the drupa cube audience a fascinating insight into his work. He specializes in environmental sciences, focusing primarily on topics such as waste management, recycling and sustainability. Clavin Lakhan is also part of the "Waste Wiki" project, aiming to bridge the gap between academia, industry and government on waste management issues to promote the circular economy.

Another keynote speaker will be James Loudon, a founding Partner of IoT One who consults companies on global business ecosystems. James Loudon will talk about Asian markets as a source of growth and innovation. He spent more than 40 percent of his life in Asia and in the drupa cube will share his insights and experiences of working with multinational companies looking to grow in new markets and new approaches to partnerships in those growth markets.

Four key topics
With "Print and Packaging Futures", "Business Boosters", "Trends” and "Circular Economy and Sustainability", the drupa cube will offer four exciting topics.

The 'Print and Packaging Futures' sessions will focus on visions for developments in print and packaging technologies, with an emphasis on innovation, the circular economy and sustainability, as well as innovations in digital printing. For example, Admir Jonuz, Head of R&D and Innovation at Tresu, will talk about the future of digital and flexo hybrid solutions in the face of transformation pressures whilst Steve Knight, CEO of Digital Direct EU, will discuss the impact of technology on print, from data storage to mixed media applications. With the growth of the packaging market in mind, there will also be a presentation outlining the existing global regulations for printing inks on materials that come into contact with food. In addition, Mark Nixon, EVP Global Sales and Marketing at SCODIX, will talk about the challenges faced by brands in the fight for attention, the requirements for enhancements, but also the sustainability narrative, productivity and efficiency.

The leadership audience at the drupa cube will particularly benefit from the “Business Booster” sessions. These sessions cover a range of topics including sales, marketing and innovation culture, all of which are aimed at providing the audience with practical insights. Robert Norum, ABM & Growth Expert at B2B Marketing, will give an insight into account-based sales and marketing. Frazer Chesterman, Principal at FuturePrint, will explain how ideas are generated and new offerings introduced, discussing the "VUCA world - Volatile, Unpredictable, Complex and Ambiguous" approach. Danna Drion, General Manager, Marketing EMEA at Mimaki Europe, will talk about her journey towards building a diverse and inclusive working environment and the significance of this for future business success. Donna Drion also wants to encourage women in particular to aspire to leadership positions in the industry.

The 'Trends' cube sessions will offer insights on global trends and emerging business models that can help companies with their further development and transformation as part of their strategy. Dario Urbinati, CEO of the Gallus Group, will explain why vision is so important. The focus will be on strategies for tackling current challenges such as the shortage of skilled workers.

This year's program also places a strong focus on the key topics and challenges of the circular economy and sustainability. One of the speakers will be Jonathan Tame, Managing Director of Two Sides, who will share the results of a consumer study on the evaluation of print products in terms of sustainability. The VDMA (German Engineering Federation) panel discussion "Sustainability Enablers in Print" with Thomas Schiemann, Managing Director of the VDMA Printing and Paper Technology Association, and other experts will focus on sustainability as one of the most important driving forces in the printing and packaging market.

The entire program in the drupa cube is included in the ticket price for visitors to the trade fair. All sessions at the cube are held in English.

The program in the drupa cube is constantly updated at www.drupa.com/en/Program  

For information on visiting or exhibiting at drupa 2024, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; Telephone: (312) 781-5180; E-mail: [email protected]; Visit www.drupa.com and www.mdna.com. Follow us on https://www.linkedin.com/company/mdnachicago/ 

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