Covid-19 is beginning to have its effect on major expos globally. In view of lockdowns, restrictions on travel, economic slowdown, companies are finding alternate means of marketing. Online communication and reaching out to customers is becoming a preferred mode.

With the ongoing effects of the pandemic and other limitations, two industry giants have pulled out of drupa 2021.

Xerox has decided not to participate at drupa in April 2021. The company, which originally had a presence over a quarter of Hall 8b will be missed at the show.

Sources at Xerox said “Given continued uncertainty around holding large events during a pandemic and our own schedule for product introductions, Xerox has decided not to participate in the Drupa 2021 trade fair.”

Also,the Fuji-Xerox joint venture will expire at the end of March 2021, just prior to Drupa’s new dates of 20-30 April.

Bobst also announced that it will not be exhibiting at drupa 2021 and other industry tradeshows in 2021, while maintaining a limited participation in Asia.

In a press release issued by Bobst, it said “The number of industry events and tradeshows has increased significantly over the last decade and at the same time, the communication technologies offer new ways to share content. To engage with our customers more effectively, we have started to virtualize the customer experience with live streaming demonstrations – across all equipment in our existing Competence Centers, providing an engaging customer experience with less travelling constraints”.

According to sources the Competent Centers are transformed into so-called Smart Factories, which will have Technology Lounges, Partnerships and Application Experts to demonstrate complete end-to-end solutions. Customers will be able to touch and see everything required to produce a label, pouch or box, from substrates processing, to job preparation, colour management, printing, tool preparation and converting, all with the option to test specific jobs from converters.