Dr. Andreas Pleßke Confirmed as Chairman of drupa Committee

Published: February 09, 2025

Dr. Andreas Pleßke, CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG, was confirmed as chairman of the drupa committee at its constituent meeting February 5, 2025. Wolfgang Poppen, managing partner of Freiburger Druck GmbH & Co. KG and president of the Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V., was re-elected as his deputy. Both elections were unanimous.

“It is a special honor for me to continue to actively help shape the development of drupa as chairman of the drupa committee. The world is changing rapidly – both in technical and political terms. Together with the committee we will ensure that drupa constantly develops further to also assert its pole position as a world-leading trade fair for print technologies in future and to orient the industry for the future,” explained Dr. Andreas Pleßke. Wolfgang Poppen added: “drupa is the centerpiece of the industry, a place of innovations and technology launches. The coming months will be used intensively to further sharpen the profile of drupa’s position in 2028.”

Strategic Realignment and New Committee Members

As part of the further development of the world's leading trade fair, the strategy process on the way to drupa 2028 has already been initiated. drupa is working intensively on an innovative concept aimed at activating new target groups in a constantly transforming industry and promoting top-class knowledge transfer. In addition to the proven trade fair format, innovative formats are being developed to enable even stronger networking within the industry. The focus will increasingly be on brand owners and multipliers. 

Due to succession planning and personal changes four new members were included in the committee:

Markus Hoffmann, Executive Senior Vice President, Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG & Chairman of the Printing and Paper Association in VDMA e.V.

Marcel Martens, General Manager Industrial Print EMEA Direct, HP Indigo & Pagewide, HP Industrial Printing

Thomas Heininger, CEO, MBO Postpress Solutions GmbH & CEO, Komori International Europe

Peter Voigt, Managing Director, Perfecta Schneidemaschinenwerk GmbH

Focus on Technology Trends and Innovations

A central component of the new strategy is the identification and presentation of relevant technology trends that determine the future of the printing and packaging industry. Topics such as Artificial Intelligence, automation, sustainable printing processes and digital transformation continue to take center stage. 

With great commitment and a clear vision, drupa and the committee are preparing the central course for drupa 2028. In about twelve months, the trade fair will open its exhibitor registration again, highlighting the innovative power of the industry.

Providing Impulses for the Strategic Further Development of the Leading Trade Fair

The drupa committee was founded at the first drupa in 1951 and its members are made up of equal numbers of exhibitors and visitors. Its task is to advice Messe Düsseldorf on the conceptual and sector-relevant further development of the leading trade fair. The personal dialogue with key experts and multipliers on the part of manufacturers and users in this industry is of particular relevance in times of ongoing change in the industry. Currently, the committee members represent six industry associations:

Printing and Paper Technology Association (Fachverband Druck- und Papiertechnik) within VDMA e.V.

German Printing and Media Industries Federation (Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V.)

Paper-Processing Trade Associations (Wirtschaftsverbände Papierverarbeitung)

Paper Industry (DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE e.V.)

German Printing Ink Industry Association (Verband der deutschen Lack- und Druckfarbenindustrie e.V.)

Flexographic Printing Association (DFTA Flexodruck Fachverband e.V.)

The drupa 2028 committee at a glance:

Chairman — Dr. Andreas Pleßke, CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG (VDMA)

Deputy Chairman — Wolfgang Poppen, Managing Partner, Freiburger Druck GmbH & Co. KG (bvdm)

Dr. Ralph Dittmann, Managing Director, WKS DRUCKHOLDING GmbH

Werner Drechsler, Managing Partner, Druckstudio GmbH

Martin Drews, Managing Director Raw Materials & Circular Economy, in-house counsel, DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE e.V.

Thomas Heininger, CEO, MBO Postpress Solutions GmbH & CEO, Komori International Europe

Markus Hoffmann, Executive Senior Vice President, Leonhard Kurz Stiftung Co. KG & Chairman of the Printing and Paper Technology Association within VDMA e.V.

Kirsten Hommelhoff, Chief Executive Officer bvdm e.V. – Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V

Dr. Martin Kanert, Chief Executive Officer, VdL – Verband der deutschen Lack- und Druckfarbenindustrie e.V.

Nicola Kopp-Rostek, Managing Director, DFTA Flexodruck Fachverband e.V.

Marcel Martens, General Manager Industrial Print EMEA Direct, HP Indigo & Pagewide, HP Industrial Printing

Dr. Falco Paepenmüller, Executive Board, Chief Executive Officer, Windmöller & Hölscher KG

Thomas Pfeiffer, Managing Director, WPV Wirtschaftsverband Papierverarbeitung e.V.

Thomas Schiemann, Managing Director, Printing and Paper Technology Association within VDMA e.V., VDMA – Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V.

Dr. David Schmedding, Chair Technology & Sales, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

Martin Schorn, Director Technical Customer Service News & Retail (N&R), UPM Communication Papers

Peter Voigt, General Manager, Perfecta Schneidemaschinenwerk GmbH

drupa will be held from May 9-17, 2028 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. For information, contact (312) 781-5180, info@mdna.com, or visit www.drupa.com and www.mdna.com.