On 6th February 2020, the first DIPA Symposium – Digital Printing Association – on surface design with digital printing will start after the association was founded last year. The one-day event will be held at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds in the conference area of Hall 19 and is aimed at all companies that produce or market individually designed surfaces. 

The congress, with lectures, field reports and extensive networking opportunities, offers answers to the topic ‘Design Your Own Surface’. The DIPA Symposium encourages an exchange between interested parties and companies that are already successfully using digital printing or intend to do so in the future, as well as potential suppliers. 

Topics include different printing systems and technologies, correct pre- and post-treatment, handling of decor and design, prepress workflow, interface connection to the web shop, and the biggest challenges in digital printing.

In May 2019, the DIPA interest group was presented for the first time at LIGNA, the world’s leading trade fair for woodworking and wood processing. DIPA has set itself the goal of making digital printing accessible and further disseminating it as an innovative process for surface design and decoration. 

In July 2019 the first symposium took place in Brixen, Italy. The positive response to this event as well as the great interest from the market have encouraged the founding companies to transform into a registered association.

In November all preparations were completed to officially found the association. The founding members are ADLER-Werk Lackfabrik Johann Berghofer, Deutsche Messe, DURST Image Technology Deutschland, DURST Professional Services, Homag, Li&Co and MB Digitalprint. The executive board is Ali Özyilmaz, managing partner of MB Digitalprint. The association representing a co-operation network for both crafts and industrial enterprises addresses all companies and users, who are involved in the process of the individual surface organisation. These are companies that produce digitally printed surfaces, companies that sell digitally printed workpieces and suppliers that provide the necessary technology, raw materials and corresponding services. 

The programme of the symposium will soon be published on the association’s website. Registration is open now at www.dipa-surface.com/#registration