Following Heidelberg’s decision not to exhibit at next year’s rescheduled event, German compatriot Manroland Sheetfed announced today that it too is pulling out of drupa 2021.
In a brief statement issued to press, group managing director Rafael Peñuela-Torres, said, ‘Exhibiting at drupa, or any other trade fair for that matter, makes absolutely no sense during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
‘…[sic] it is regrettable, as we would have been exhibiting with live demonstrations of both our recently launched Roland 900 Evolution press and the new Roland 700 Evolution Elite, but unfortunately it is just not practicable in the current circumstances. Instead we will be holding a series of live webinars in the autumn”.
This contrasts with the view taken by Koenig & Bauer, which last week reaffirmed its commitment to the rescheduled trade show hot on the heels of the Heidelberg announcement, though as its CEO, Claus Bolza-Schünemann, is also drupa president, this might be expected.
So far the only major digital press manufacturer to withdraw its support is Xerox, which announced its decision in April.
