Have you ever attended drupa? I haven’t, but, based on what friends have said, drupa is definitely a leading trade show, worldwide

And, besides that, Germany is an interesting place to visit. Further, inasmuch as the Dollar is currently strong against the Euro – and many in the financial community are projecting that it will stay that way for at least several months - it will cost less to visit Germany this year (until the Euro regains strength, and who knows when that will happen.)

I noticed this press release from HP about HP’s showcase at the upcoming drupa show. Imagine that, a 53,000 sq ft exhibit! I think that one exhibit will be larger than the entire IRgA trade show was last May.

One other thing …. Germany has great beer!

HP to Highlight Print Profit Opportunities at drupa 2012

Friday, January 13, 2012

Press release from the issuing company

At drupa 2012, May 3-16 in Düsseldorf, Germany, HP will showcase new digital printing solutions and applications that help print service providers (PSPs) grow their businesses and deliver higher value to their customers.

HP’s 53,300 square foot (4,952 square meter) stand at drupa – in hall 4 of Messe Düsseldorf – will be drupa’s second-largest exhibit. It also will be the tradeshow’s single-largest exhibit of digital printing technologies, building on HP’s legacy of bringing innovation to market.

Delivering on digital printing’s promise

“This year, we will again raise digital printing performance to new levels, helping customers extend the unique advantages of digital production to more applications and create greater impact,” said Christopher Morgan, senior vice president, Graphics Solutions Business, HP. “Customers also can count on HP to bring to market the innovative solutions we demonstrate at drupa, based on our proven track record of rapidly delivering new technologies announced at previous shows and generating strong market demand. As a result, HP digital press page volume continues to increase more than 20 percent per quarter and fuel profitable business growth for our customers.”

HP’s stand will feature its broad range of graphic arts technologies, including:

— HP Indigo digital presses featuring high-quality liquid HP ElectroInks for commercial, photo specialty, and label and packaging applications

— HP Inkjet Web presses for high-speed publishing, transactional and commercial applications

— HP large-format systems using HP Latex and UV inks for numerous sign and display applications

— HP Specialty Printing Systems inkjet solutions for high-productivity, low-cost imprinting, addressing, coding and marking applications.

Comprehensive workflow, finishing, services and business development

HP also will show complete end-to-end solutions, including new HP SmartStream workflow solutions; the HP Exstream customer communications management solution; HP web-to-print and MIS solutions based on Hiflex technology; advanced HP service and support offerings; and third-party software and finishing systems from HP Graphics Solutions Partner Program members. The stand also will feature a full range of tools and programs available to PSPs through the HP Capture business development program, including the DSCOOP (Digital Solutions Cooperative) HP users’ group.

Drupa visitors from nearly every segment of the graphic arts industry will see production solutions to meet their business needs, with the HP stand divided into demonstration areas for general commercial; photo specialty; publishing, direct mail and transaction printing; labels, flexible packaging and folding cartons; and sign and display printing.

In each area HP will feature end-to-end solutions including HP partners, HP PSP Services, and HP Financial Services. The HP stand will emphasize the evolving nature of digital print – a highly effective, targeted communications medium for an industry shifting its focus from low cost per copy to effective cost per contact and high return on marketing investment (ROMI).

“We are accelerating the industry transformation by helping PSPs lower overall printing costs, improve their supply chain with on-demand and web-to-print solutions and create new applications and business models where digital printing adds greater value,” said Morgan.

Get live updates and connect with HP leading up to and during drupa on the HP Graphic Arts Twitter Feed at www.twitter.com/hpgraphicarts and YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts.