In short
drupa is the print industry's four-yearly showcase, and its visitors want to see output. A drupa stand works when it runs real jobs on real substrates, lets people handle the finished samples and turns the press into a story about what a printer could sell. Start a custom stand about 12–18 months ahead and confirm dates, height limits and rules in the exhibitor manual.
Key points
- Where and when: Düsseldorf, every four years in Düsseldorf.
- The audience is mostly commercial and packaging printers.
- Live output and samples to take away.
- Application stories rather than specifications alone.
- Plan a custom stand about 12–18 months before the show.
drupa for exhibitors
With so long between editions, drupa carries a lot of launches. Large press manufacturers build halls within halls. Smaller exhibitors compete on one clear application, such as labels, packaging or wide-format, rather than trying to cover everything.
| drupa | |
|---|---|
| City | Düsseldorf |
| Venue | Messe Düsseldorf |
| Sector | Print and packaging technology |
| Cycle | Every four years in Düsseldorf |
| Main stand activity | Working machinery |
| Custom stand lead time | 12–18 months |
Who you are designing for
Commercial and packaging printers, converters, brand owners, press buyers and software buyers, who usually bring print samples and hard questions.
What matters most on a drupa stand:
- Live output and samples to take away.
- Application stories rather than specifications alone.
- Space to discuss workflow software.
- A quiet room for capital-purchase talks.
Layouts for working machinery, by stand type
Most drupa exhibitors build around working machinery. How that works depends on how many sides of your plot are open. If you are unsure which type you have, see exhibition stand types.
| Stand type | Open sides | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Row (inline) | 1 | One machine side-on to the aisle so its working side is visible, with a screen showing it in use. |
| Island | 4 | A hero machine centred with at least 1.5 m of walk-around space, demo times on a screen and meetings to one side or upstairs. |
Stand ideas for drupa
- A sample wall showing the same job on ten substrates.
- A timed run with a presenter, ending with handouts of the printed job.
- A software demo fed by the press next to it.
Planning, approvals and logistics
Presses are heavy and need power, extraction and consumables. Agree delivery and service plans early, and check what the hall allows for running noise and odours.
Allow about 12–18 months for a custom stand. The exhibitor manual sets height limits, open-side rules and service deadlines; see venue approval and technical drawings.
Where the budget goes at drupa
Consumables, operators and service engineers are easy to forget, and they run for the entire fair. Budget for paper, ink and sample packing as well as the structure.
Mistakes we see at drupa
- Showing a press that isn't running.
- Printed samples that run out on the second day.
An example drupa brief
A 12 × 12 m stand with one digital press running a short packaging job, a substrate wall, a finishing bench and two closed rooms for capital-purchase talks. Printed samples are refilled twice a day.
Replace the size and the zones with your own. The plot and height limit come from your contract and the exhibitor manual.
Try your drupa layout in 3D
ExhibitionBase Studio turns your plot size, open sides and a brief about working machinery into an editable 3D stand for 5 credits, renders it and exports a plan for your builder. New workspaces get 5 free credits.
Frequently asked questions
01How often is drupa held?
It has run about every four years in Düsseldorf. Check the organiser's site for the next edition.
02What should a smaller drupa exhibitor show?
One clear application with real samples. A small stand can't match the giants on scale, so it has to be more specific.
03How early should I start designing a drupa stand?
For a custom stand, about 12–18 months ahead: long enough for design, organiser approval, production and shipping. Shell scheme stands can be planned in weeks.
04Can I reuse my drupa stand at other shows?
Often, if it is modular. Design the core (walls, counters, working machinery area) to work on several plot sizes, and swap graphics per show. See [modular vs custom stands](/guides/modular-vs-custom-exhibition-stands).
Put it into practice
From a client brief to a 3D stand concept in minutes
An editable 3D exhibition stand concept from a written brief and the brand's website, at your exact size.
Guidance here reflects common practice. Venues, organisers and countries set their own rules: always check the exhibitor manual and work with a qualified stand builder and engineer for structures.
