Crawford: focus on what the industry needs

Ipex organiser Informa Exhibitions has hit back at Drupa's possible move to a three-year cycle from 2015.

Speaking last week, director of Drupa Manuel Mataré said that he would be recommending that Drupa moved to a three-year cycle from 2015 at a meeting of the Drupa Committee on 2 November, when a final decision will be made on the timing and frequency of the next event.

Ipex event director Trevor Crawford said that while he appreciated the cycle change was only a proposal at this stage, he believed that if Drupa did switch from 2016 to 2015 then it would be a decision borne out of Drupa-owner Messe Düsseldorf’s desire to synchronise three of its major shows, plastics event K, Interpack and Drupa, and not the best interests of exhibitors or visitors.

This claim is dismissed by Drupa – which highlighted the fact that it had been gauging opinion on the move for several months and that the final decision rested with the 22 strong Drupa committee, which is made up of predominantly German trade associations, exhibitors and visitors.

Speaking last week Mataré also said that this was not the main driver of his recommendation.

"That is not the main point. We have managed for very many years to have Drupa and K, or Drupa and Interpack in the same years," he said.

However, Crawford said that no one he had spoken to in the industry was supportive of Drupa moving to three years, as highlighted in PrintWeek’s briefing in today’s magazine.

"Organisers should focus on creating compelling attractive and valuable events, and avoid planning events that are based on the convenience of their event portfolio and add cost to exhibitors. We need to focus on what the industry needs, not what we want as organisers," said Crawford.

He added that Ipex in 2014 was set in stone, but on the prospect of Drupa moving to three year cycle he said "it's too early to say what our response would be".

"All of our efforts and energy have to be based on delivering a truly exceptional event in 2014. Only at that point can we start to look at the show calendar and what’s right for the market.

"I truly believe that we are more consultative, more collaborative than any other trade show out there, we’re not dependent on German manufacturing legacy. We’re focussed purely on the needs of exhibitors and visitors."

In a statement released after PrintWeek’s interview with Mataré, Drupa reiterated that any decision would be as a result of consultation with the industry and would have to be approved by its committee.

"The industry is aware that we have been consulting with a selection of Drupa exhibitors and visitors on how the event may be developed to their benefit. One of the topics discussed was whether Drupa should be changed to a 3 year cycle," the event’s organisers said in a statement.

"As you would expect, an issue as fundamental as this, with a far-reaching impact and profound implications, has been treated with the utmost diligence. The process has not been rushed, nor will the decision be hasty or pressurised."