Among the many additions to drupa 2008, the world's largest print media trade fair set for May 29-June 11 at the Fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany, is a new event especially for print buyers: the drupacube. Here, the spotlight will be on printed products with an eye toward marketing-driven applications. The technology that makes these possible will play a secondary role.

“Undoubtedly, many drupa exhibitors have products catering to this target group. But at a technology trade fair such as drupa, this type of information is often in danger of being overshadowed,” explained Manuel Mataré, drupa project director. “The drupacube acts as a portal for print buyers by providing concise infotainment.”

The drupacube will feature symposia and workshops on a variety of topics including packaging and product brand protection, green printing, newspapers and magazines, direct marketing, catalogues and the relationship between the arts and print.

“We plan to engage people in the topics they have to deal with every day,” says Mataré. Relevant associations will assist with the planning and design, among them the German Direct Marketing Association (DDV), Forum Corporate Publishing (FCP) and the media production association. drupa organizers are consulting with exhibitors on how their information relevant to print buyers can be combined with the drupacube presentations.

The drupacube will be located in a pavilion off the Fairgrounds–in front of the Congress Center South. Setting it apart, rather than integrating it into the fair itself, makes it a separate access point to drupa for this specific target audience.

More info: www.drupacube.com