The first hybrid event from the Post-Press Alliance, held from 24 – 27 November, attracted almost 1000 visitors who attended 1870 sessions held by finishing vendors including Baumann, Perfecta, Bograma, H+H, Hohner, MBO and Wohlenberg.

The event combined a virtual 3D exhibition space with access to re-recorded video, PDF and animates content with scheduled live-by-video product demonstrations from the companies’ various showrooms. In the virtual area, connectivity was a particular focus, with the Alliance companies demonstrating integration possibilities within finishing operations and the broader Industry 4.0 context.

The live demonstrations allowed direct dialogue between demonstrators and customers, and scheduling to accommodate multiple time zones from Asia to America allowed for international reach, resulting in 185 live demos being held over the four days of the event.

Speaking on behalf of the Alliance, MBO head of marketing Kajta Haug said it was ‘very satisfied with the result of this new element within their communication concept. All the new leads and projects arising from this event will now be carefully evaluated and followed up in the upcoming weeks.’ It is intended that further events of this type will be held, even when more normal in-person attendance becomes possible again, and that the virtual show space will remain open as the Post-Press Alliance World and have additional content presented there.

Baumann Perfecta gave the premiere of its BASA fully automatic jogging and cutting system, while Bograma focused on its BSR 550 Servo rotary die-cutter and related items in a demonstration of playing card production. H+H showed its M9.60 folding machine, equipped with 16 buckle plates  and a smaller concept machine, the S45. Hohner debuted HHS-Futura, a modular and flexible converting line for saddle stitching that could be linked to various item of MBO equipment, while MBO highlighted the CoBo Stack unit in an installation with twin K8 and K8RS combi folding machines. Wohlenberg featured virtual presentations of its Quickbinder Edition Digital and three-sided D09 trimmer, which can be configured for inline booklet production. Most of these companies are represented in the UK by Friedheim International.