Traffic was heavy, and sales were brisk at each OEM’s booth during the 11-day event.
Above: Visitors take a closer look at the products in the Konica Minolta booth.
The world’s largest printing and media industry exhibition, drupa 2024, was held in Düsseldorf, Germany, from May 28 to June 7. It returned as an in-person event after the previous exhibition was canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19. drupa, a platform for showcasing technology and products, provides an important opportunity for business negotiations with global customers. This event generated high expectations among exhibitors. As an example, Konica Minolta secured over 200 orders from customers worldwide, including Europe, North America, India, China, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East; Ricoh added more than 100 orders. Both companies surpassed their targets.
Konica Minolta’s Exhibition
The signing ceremony after a successful business negotiation at Konica Minolta’s booth.
For the first time globally, Konica Minolta exhibited its top-of-the-line B2 size inkjet printer, the AccurioJet 60000, and the AlphaJet in a joint exhibition with France’s MGI. The AccurioJet 60000, a UV inkjet machine with a printing speed of 6,000 sheets per hour, attracted many visitors during its demonstration. The AlphaJet, the highlight of the MGI+ Label Zone, is a package production system that processes CMYK4 color printing while simultaneously processing output with varnish and foil in a single pass.
In the POD+ Automation Zone, ACCO’s inline laminator received positive visitor feedback. Konica Minolta also showcased FORXAI solutions, key drivers for accelerating digital transformation onsite using imaging IoT. One example included an AI inspection solution for booklet printing using 3D sensor cameras and proprietary image analysis, which automates the inspection process for cut, folded, and bound printed materials. This attracted significant interest from post-processing machine manufacturers and printing companies. In addition, FORXAI solutions’ demonstrations of autonomous transport and collaborative robots for printing factory automation proved popular with attendees.
Ricoh’s Exhibition
Visitors to the Ricoh booth had a first-hand look at the RICOH Pro VC80000 and RICOH Pro Z75.
Ricoh’s booth bustled with visitors interested in the high-speed continuous inkjet printing system, RICOH Pro VC80000, and the B2 size compatible sheet-fed inkjet printing system, RICOH Pro Z75.
Cimpress, a leader in print mass customization based in the Netherlands, invested in the RICOH Pro VC80000 to expand its application expertise and streamline production. Germany’s Sattler Media Group GmbH, after a successful beta test, confirmed its commitment to joint innovation in inkjet technology. Saudi Arabia’s distributor SAMIR Group also ordered the RICOH Pro Z75.
Ricoh’s innovative production capabilities were further recognized as it secured the top global market share for high-speed continuous inkjet systems in the market research firm IDC’s Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker.
Ricoh attracted many visitors with its toner-based production printers, including the RICOH Pro C9500, RICOH Pro C7500, and RICOH Pro C5300. Ricoh received over 180 orders from various customers worldwide, including over 100 orders across all its technology fields. This included inkjet printing systems, production printers, software, and industrial printheads.
