PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION 2025 Ends Successfully, Marking a Milestone for the Print Industry

During times of deep market change, the PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION again demonstrated its role as a nodal point of innovation, exchange, and future planning. A trade fair, conference, and practical applications combined, it again established Düsseldorf as an important meeting place for the DACH region’s print, media, and communications industry – and sent one loud message: the industry is evolving, well-connected, and forward-looking.

From May 13 and 14, attendees at the PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION were able to experience the most up-to-date technologies, actual applications, and strategic solutions strategies. Brand owners, agencies, production managers, and communications experts alike received tangible ideas for their projects – and saw how print and cross-channel ideas can complement each other in successful integrated strategies.

Industry Hub with Strong Partners

With over 40 exhibitors – including industry leaders such as Canon, FKS, Horizon, Konica Minolta, KURZ, and Polar Mohr – and a high-caliber lecture program featuring around 40 sessions, the conference trade show reinforced its position as key meeting point for the print, media, and communications sector in the DACH region. Especially popular were the hands-on highlight projects, developed in collaboration with partners across the entire value chain. These projects demonstrated how technology, creativity, and strategic thinking can be combined to achieve success in modern marketing.

“Our sincere thanks go to the exhibitors, speakers, and partners who continuously engage with us to further develop and shape the PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION,” emphasized Rüdiger Maaß, Managing Director of the Fachverband Medienproduktion e.V. (FMP). “The event now feels like a true class reunion of the industry – marked by personal, in-depth conversations, a familiar atmosphere, and a shared drive to make a difference.”
Sabine Geldermann, Director of drupa at Messe Düsseldorf, also highlighted the special relevance of the event: “The PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION has become a fixture in the industry calendar, not least because it offers guidance, inspiration and practical solutions. It impresses with its practical relevance, innovative applications and in-depth expertise, and strikes a chord with the industry.”

Knowledge Transfer, Networking, and Fostering New Talent

As a conference and trade show, the PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION once again provided as a dynamic platform for in-depth discussions. Visitors gained valuable insights into the possibilities of modern print, packaging, and digital technologies through direct conversations at exhibition stands and lectures, offering real added value for their projects. Brand owners, agencies, and media professionals found inspiration for achieving their strategic communication goals.

Promoting young talent was also a priority at this year’s PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION. Following the successful launch of the Youngster Talent Initiative in previous years, several vocational schools once again participated with their classes – seizing the opportunity to experience current topics, technologies, and real-world applications first-hand. Combining classroom knowledge with practical insights and direct interaction with exhibitors and experts helped deepen their understanding of industry trends and laid the groundwork for valuable networking and sustainable talent development.

A Joint Signal for the Future

Fitting the future-oriented character of the PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION, another key initiative was announced: almost exactly one year after the last drupa, the leading trade fair confirmed its partnership with the industry campaign WE. LOVE.PRINT. This collaboration represents a strong alliance within the community – and symbolizes shared innovation, a commitment to quality, and a sustainable perspective in the print, media, and communications sector.
“By partnering with the WE. LOVE.PRINT initiative, drupa is supporting the campaign’s nationwide efforts to emphasize the industry’s value and economic importance,” said Sabine Geldermann, Director of drupa at Messe Düsseldorf. “Together, we are creating momentum, expanding our reach and emphasizing the resilience and future viability of the print sector.”

https://www.drupa.com/

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Generational Transition Launches Polykemi Group into Its Next Phase

The family-owned business organization Polykemi Group will experience a generational transition at the start of 2025–2026. The third generation will be ready to assume senior leadership positions. The founder Hugo Jönsson’s sons, Ola Hugoson, the current CEO, and Lars Hugosson, the deputy CEO, will continue to be involved in the organization but will transfer their titles and responsibilities to their offspring.
This choice is founded on a common understanding of how Polykemi Group should carry on conducting business as a family enterprise with regard to its suppliers, customers, and workers.

New roles

With the generational shift comes some organizational changes.

Ola Hugoson and Lars Hugosson will take on roles as Senior Advisors. Oscar Hugoson will step up as the Global CEO for Polykemi Group, Herman Hugosson will become the CEO of Polykemi AB, and Gustav Hugoson will take on the role of Deputy CEO for Polykemi Group. Johan Hugoson will continue in his role as CEO of Polykemi Inc. in the USA, and Vendela Hugosson will stay in her role as a Procurement Assistant.

“All the changes that will occur are made with full consensus. The entire family agrees that the best interest of Polykemi Group comes first. We want the companies to continue growing healthily and, in the direction, we intend; therefore, we have made a joint decision to continue running the group in the same ownership form and spirit as our parents have done so far,” says Oscar Hugoson.

The change is a natural step for a family-owned group like Polykemi Group.

“28 years ago, Hugo trusted Lars and me to take over the leadership of Polykemi. Today, it’s our turn to pass that trust – with pride – on to our children. They will step in, but Lars and I will remain as senior advisors. The future will continue to be a collaboration – with some new people and new energy, but always with the company’s and the group’s best interests in mind,” says Ola Hugoson.

Third generation’s ambition

Polykemi began as a family business in 1968. What started as one company is now a whole corporate group, and the ambition to continue as an independent family business remains.

“Our goal is to one day pass on Polykemi Group in at least as good condition as it is in today when time comes for the next generational shift in the future. We also have the ambition to continue growing, which is one reason we decided to split Ola’s existing role into two, to allow for expansion,” says Herman Hugosson.

A joint decision

The transition to the third generation is a decision that has evolved through a process that began six years ago.

“We have received a lot of help from consultants from the Family Business Network and have really allowed the process to take the time it needed. We have been forced to have discussions we might not have otherwise had, and it has been incredibly beneficial. The purpose was always to find a plan for the future, and now we have found a good plan that everyone believes in and is comfortable with,” says Oscar Hugoson.

Gustav Hugoson adds: “It has been a team effort from the start, which has resulted in our continued development as a team. I can look back peacefully on a very fine process where the whole family has come closer together both personally and professionally by mapping out our individual strengths and goals. The process we have gone through will give us great advantages in our work going forward.”

https://www.polykemi.se/en

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Bio-Based Plastics Get a Green Upgrade as Praj Industries and Thyssenkrupp Uhde Unite on PLA Solutions

ThyssenKrupp Uhde’s polymer specialists Uhde Inventa-Fischer (UIF), a subsidiary of the global leader in chemical engineering and construction, and Praj Industries Limited (PIL), a global leader in industrial biotechnology solutions, announced a strategic partnership to jointly offer an end-to-end integrated technology for the production of Polylactic Acid (PLA). This strategic partnership offers a unique, seamless solution that sets them apart in the arena of bioplastics.

The indiscriminate use of fossil-based plastics and the often-irresponsible disposal, especially of single-use plastics (SUPs), call for urgent, innovative, and sustainable solutions. Polylactic acid (PLA), as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics holds significant potential in advancing a circular bioeconomy. To meet this global need, PIL and UIF are leveraging their combined expertise in industrial biotechnology and chemical engineering to enhance PLA technology, ensuring efficient, cost-effective and sustainable production processes.

Nadja Håkansson, CEO thyssenkrupp Uhde: “We see a perfect match of two world-leading technologies: Uhde’s PLAneo process can now be offered as an integrated solution with Praj Industries’ lactic acid production. Together, we can design and deliver complete PLA plants. Our joint vision is a competitive solution to replace conventional plastics with sustainable alternatives.”

Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman, at Praj Industries: “Praj’s Bioprism portfolio for renewable chemicals and materials, with a focus on bioplastics, underscores our commitment to a sustainable future. Our strategic partnership with Uhde marks a significant step in driving the global shift toward a circular economy by enabling cost-effective biomanufacturing and the establishment of biorefineries. With our award-winning proprietary PLANERA-technology and this collaboration, we aim to tackle the challenges posed by fossil-based plastics and contribute to a more sustainable planet with innovative, bio-based solutions.”

The partnership will be able to offer an end-to-end integrated technology, covering the entire PLA production process from feedstock conversion to polymer production. Different grades of Lactic acid can be produced from this technology which find applications in food and industrial sectors. A broad range of PLA grades can be produced, addressing the diverse requirements of various industries such as packaging, textiles, and hygiene supplies. Both companies have a strong global presence, enabling them to deliver innovative solutions to customers worldwide and adapt to practically any agricultural feedstock containing either starch or sugar, including second generation feedstocks based on non-food raw materials.

A shared commitment to sustainability drives the partnership, focusing on developing environmentally friendly and socially responsible solutions. Praj recently inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind ‘Demonstration Facility for Biopolymers’ near Pune, India, where it is producing lactic acid and lactide. This facility will serve as a crucial platform for testing and validating the joint offering, enabling the partners to showcase the potential of PLA and accelerate its commercialization.

https://www.thyssenkrupp-uhde.com/

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