Düsseldorf, 30/05/2016 – “The drupa-motto Touch the Future has set the scene perfectly for our industry,“ explains Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of the VDMA Printing and Paper Technology Association, stressing that it is above all innovative, networked printing and finishing technology that builds the bridges to the future. And, for a long time already, not only for printing companies and media houses, but also for the packaging industry and more and more industrial users. “Nowadays, print products are omnipresent, and they will increase their presence even more, “ Heering firmly believes.
While the numerous VDMA member companies represented at drupa 2016 use this fair as a shop window for market-ready and close-to-production innovations, the Association`s presentation in Hall 7a-B13 focuses on topics that look even further ahead and can supplement the business models in the printing industry. They include manufacturer-independent networked Print 4.0 process chains, new approaches in industrial and functional printing as well as 3D printing. “We should have a very close look at the chances that 3D printing is offering,” says Heering.
Using the chances of digitization
Printing technology manufacturers must look far ahead in order to be able to kick off technology and process related innovations that the customers will need tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. The variety of market-ready solutions in digital printing and for digital networking is proof that the companies started to work on these innovations already years ago. The industry seizes the chances of digitization and consistently merges analog and digital process worlds. “While many industrial sectors discovered Industrie 4.0 only recently, we have already reached an advanced stage with networked Print 4.0 processes,” explains Heering.
The change to digital workflows is an evolutionary process that requires an ongoing willingness to accept change from the technology manufacturers and the users. “We are well on the way in this direction. However, there still remains much to be done until customers can network individual process chains with machines from different providers per plug&play,” Heering points out.
The VDMA initiates future topics with its member companies
Manufacturer and supplier-independent networking requires unified interfaces and binding communication standards. The necessary basis is prepared by a working group within the Association to which companies from all spheres of the process chain contribute. At the VDMA booth, a demonstration shows how such an integrated process chain can look like. However, this is not the only VDMA initiative that puts its marks on the presentation at drupa. The working group “Industrial Printing” also has an essential influence – which manifests itself in a comprehensive exhibition (see below). In spring 2014, the Printing and Paper Technology Association additionally set up the open “Additive Manufacturing” Association. More than 100 technology manufacturers, users, service providers and research institute involved in 3D printing have already joined this association. Interested visitors should be on the lookout for a giant shell in Hall 7a-B13...
