Two More Exhibitors Exit drupa 2021

 Two top exhibitors have pulled out of drupa 2021 this week. Both HP, reportedly Drupa’s biggest exhibitor, and Electronics For Imaging (EFI) have decided not to exhibit at the worldwide trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, taking place April 20-28. They have joined a number of major companies making this decision, including Heidelberg, Fujifilm, Komori, Xerox, and Kodak.

Both cited the health and safety of employees and customers as motivating factors.

HP had planned take over all of Hall 17 at the Messe Düsseldorf, according to PrintWeek, as it did at drupa 2016. The company intended to launch its PageWide Web Press T250 HD, an upgrade to its T240, at drupa.

EFI Chairman and CEO Jeff Jacobson expressed some regret over the decision.

“Our company has a long, positive history with drupa, as do I personally, having also run two companies that have been major drupa exhibitors in the past,” he said. “The show has always represented some of the best of what can be accomplished at an in-person event for the global print industry.

“But, with the limited amount of knowledge anyone can have right now about what conditions will be for public gatherings early next year, withdrawing from drupa 2021 is an unfortunate albeit prudent decision,” Jacobson added. “All of us at EFI look forward to future drupa events beyond 2021 – and to other industry tradeshows – once the world has clearly moved past the current pandemic.”

EFI has been hosting and will continue to host remote events and demonstrations for customers and prospects. The company is equipped to hold remote demos every day of the week from its facilities across the globe.

While EFI is committed to participating in in-person events when the pandemic subsides, in the meantime, the company has also established activities such as EFI Engage – a virtual event for customers being held in place of annual EFI Connect users conference. EFI Engage will feature training, education, new technology news and partner developments for EFI customers from January 25 to February 5.