Eberhardt, who succeeded Michael Bierschenk, who transferred to Düsseldorf Congress after four years on the drupa team, together with Kerstin Hermes and Jennifer Dübelt, serves as the main contact for drupa and Digimedia exhibitors.

A trained chef and hotel management graduate, he first worked as a hotel food and beverage manager before entering the Düsseldorf trade show and congress sector in 1998. His previous positions include a stint with the organiser of the Maritime Security Conference as well as events centred on shoes and leather goods. Several years later, on behalf of Düsseldorf Congress, he took over responsibility for developing and marketing the hospitality services at the ISS Dome event location.

A Düsseldorf native, he is now lead contact for ‘old’ and new drupa and Digimedia exhibitors. "Sectors other than print are easier to divide into fields of business," said Eberhardt (38) of the programme. "Another major challenge is the long run-up to drupa."

Eberhardt particularly likes the degree of contrast in the printing industry, as illustrated by the constancy of a traditional mechanical engineering business versus the innovative force of a printed electronics supplier.

"We succeeded again for this year’s event in getting exhibitors and visitors alike interested in both new and long-standing subject areas. Examples include the drupa innovation park and the drupa Cube. The customers we deal with in the printing industry are highly professional," said Eberhardt of his early impressions.