The numbers are out for the first virtual.drupa (20- 23 April).
Organisers said there were a total of around 600,000 page views and 45,000 unique users to the online show. International visitors from 155 countries made up more than 82% of the total.
212 exhibitors from 35 countries took part in the event. There were more than 125 live web sessions with an average of 140 participants. An additional 130 presentations were delivered in the context of five special forums.
“virtual.drupa was implemented in order to maintain contact within the industry during the pandemic. The numbers demonstrate that we have achieved this,” said Erhard Wienkamp, COO at Messe Dusseldorf.
The 2021 virtual show’s chat function will remain open until the end of October. In addition, videos and keynote speeches will be available in the video library on demand and remain online until the end of December 2021, as will the exhibitors’ virtual showrooms.
Sabine Geldermann, project director print technologies, said of the next Drupa, slated to take place in physical format in Dusseldorf 28 May-7 June 2024: "Many participants are already signalling that they are looking forward to this industry highlight and the live experiences".