Organisers have decided to chop two days from next year's DRUPA as major exhibitors pull out.

With an entire hall - sometimes even two - Heidelberg has been the major force at the Düsseldorf trade show for as long as most can remember... even when it wasn't trying to take over the newspaper industry as in 2000.

A substantial presence had been planned in the new Hall 1 shared with companies including Masterwork Machinery and Müller Martini.

Instead Heidelberg will focus on "new, virtual trade fair concepts and regional events", with DRUPA participation cancelled "due to unforeseeable effects of COVID-19".

The company will channel its show spend - estimated at 10 million Euros (A$16.24 million) in 2016 - on open houses and virtual events.

DRUPA, which once occupied 22 halls at the Düsseldorf Messe, will not be the same, with two other large exhibitors, Xerox and Bobst dropping out and HP reported to be cutting back.

• Komori and manroland Sheetfed have since followed Heidelberg's lead to pull out of the Düsseldorf show.

Organisers also say they have decided to reduce the duration of the trade fair from 11 to nine days for 2021, responding to the wishes of VDMA (Printing and Paper Technology Trade Association) and "many exhibitors".

Pictured: Heidelberg's launch of its 4/1 Mainstream 80 newspaper press was a standout at DRUPA 2000