Touchpoint sustainability forum confirmed for drupa 2024

The touchpoint sustainability will take 400 square meters of exhibition space between May 28 and June 7, 2024, in Düsseldorf, Germany, to offer a unique overview of the industry’s current state and its medium- and long-term developments.

Mechanical and system engineering technologies are critical in this context, above all concerning quality, process safety during production and sustainability.

Digitalization and AI are vital in accelerating the transformation process in the print and paper industry and realizing scaling effects.

The touchpoint sustainability addresses these issues with manufacturers, industry players, brands and users, showing how the change can become a reality.

The forum will address lowering the consumption of energy and resources during production, reducing the use of material and ink, recycling and environmentally-friendly finishing.

The touchpoint sustainability will be presented in an easy-to-understand way, with many use cases.

Increases in efficiency, digital solutions, climate neutrality and circular economy, are only some developments that will enter the spotlight at the touchpoint in Hall 14.

As a specialized panel forum, the touchpoint sustainability will offer an industry-wide overview of the status quo, the challenges and opportunities of the overarching global sustainability trend.

‘drupa is the globally leading trade fair of our industry,’ said Dr Andreas Pleßke, chairman of the drupa committee and CEO of Koenig & Bauer. ‘As a platform for the exchange of ideas, discussions and transfer of knowledge, it is the place to find out how mega-trends like sustainability, digitalization and technological innovations will affect the future of the print and paper industry.

‘Cross-sectional forums like the touchpoint sustainability are central contact points for this. Because more sustainability is best achieved if we all work together on the necessary innovations.’

The shared exhibition by many representatives of the industry and the high-caliber program on stage make the touchpoint sustainability a central point of contact for everyone interested in information on or discussing the issue of sustainability at drupa.

‘I am looking forward to presenting this important topic in this extraordinary dimension at the touchpoint sustainability to the entire print and paper industry,’ said Thomas Schiemann, member of the board of management at VDMA Printing and Paper Technology. ‘The VDMA and its members are very aware of the related challenges, which is why we want to show how much effort has already been made to achieve possible solutions, but also to show what still lies before us.

‘The concept of having students as partners for talks and discussions at the entire booth is intended to appeal especially to young people and excite them about our industry.’