HP, manroland web and technotrans are among the seven global players joining the DRUPA 2016 organising committee.

President and chief executive Werner Matthias Dornscheidt says the move recognises current developments in the printing and media industry, including the growing significance of digital printing, its demands on postpress and automation, and “the mega trends value-added printing and packaging”.

The 26-member committee – together with Messe Düsseldorf, which has organised drupa since 1951 – makes key policy decisions about the print media trade fair, including the decision to shorten the fair to 11 days.

It consists of industry representatives five domestic industry associations.

KBA chief executive Claus Bolza-Schünemann is president of the 2016 steering committee, supported by vice-president Jürgen Vutz (Windmöller & Hölscher) and second vice-president is Rolf Schwarz (German Printing and Media Industries Federation).

Among other committee members are EFI corporate marketing vice president 
Frank Tückmantel, HP worldwide marketing manager Francois Martin, manroland web systems managing director
Eckhard Hörner-Marais, Sun Chemical group managing director
Robert Fitzka, technotrans Sassenberg board member
 Christof Soest, and UPM Sales sales director
Ulrich Neumann.