Hardcover Days 2023
Highlights of the event
About the Hardcover Days
This year's Hardcover Days, which took place in Hamburg on April 21 and 22, attracted a large number of visitors who are passionate about the world of bookbinding and design. The biennial event serves as a platform for professionals, apprentices and enthusiasts to exchange ideas, learn about the latest innovations and appreciate the best in hardcover design and binding.
Markus Menzel, managing director of Schmedt, expressed his delight at the return of the event after a long pandemic break: "We are delighted that we were finally able to invite people to visit us again after the long Corona break. Still, we need to ask ourselves how we can continue to expand the Hardcover Days format and carry it over into 2025."
What is clear, however, is that Hardcover Days 2023 illustrated the consistency and creativity in the bookbinding industry. By focusing on innovation, collaboration and talent development, the event is expected to remain a significant milestone within the industry. Below, we showcase highlights from Hardcover Days 2023.
Schmedt: Machines & Materials
During Hardcover Days, all Schmedt machines were on display and demonstrated live. Visitors were able to select material for their own hardcover notebook during an interactive tour and then follow the processing and finishing live.
PräziEdge book cutting machine
A highlight of Hardcover Days was the presentation of the new PräziEdge book edge printing machine, around which visitors gathered to see the impressive print results on book edges. Constantin Schmedt, Managing Director at Schmedt, commented: "We had a lot of interesting discussions with attendees. Of course, our new PräziEdge with new printing technology was very popular - that was also our goal. We will start series production in the summer of 2023."
Large book press PräForm Pro
The further developed large PräForm Pro book press was also presented. The end product is as we have come to expect from Schmedt's presses, but the new version was judged to be a very positive development due to its increased productivity and, at the same time, more favorable price point.
Panel discussion "Communication is not a one-way street - how design and craft can find each other"
One of the highlights of the event was a stimulating panel discussion entitled "Communication is not a one-way street - how design and craft can find each other." The panel included Soraya & Max Kühne (agency and bindery Paperlux Studio, Hamburg), Yannick Teoh (lecturer at Design Factory Hamburg), Holger Warnecke (Managing Director Buchbinderei Warnecke Rostock), and Markus Menzel (Managing Director Schmedt). The insightful conversation was expertly moderated by Christine Merkel-Köppchen.
9th Hardcover Award ceremony
The event also included the presentation of the 9th Hardcover Award, which showcased and honored the most innovative and creative examples of hardcover design and binding.
First place went to the company Bubu AG from Switzerland, which produced a very special kind of Swiss brochure with its book "Ocean". At the event, the company was represented by owner Hans Burkhardt.
For more information on the participants and all the winners, visit www.hardcover-award.de
International Bookbinding Competition for Apprentice Bookbinders
In addition to the Hardcover Award, the winners of the International Bookbinding Competition for Apprentice Bookbinders were also honored.
A total of more than 40 apprentices participated and the results were impressive. The skills and potential of the young talents in the industry were truly impressive.
The 9 winners received vouchers for the Schmedt online store with a total value of 1,300 EUR. In addition, the best performance was honored with a small embossing press (Prägnant XS).
Workshops for apprentices
Before the awards ceremony for the competition, two two-hour workshops on different technical topics were offered by the BDBI (German Bookbinding Industry Association) for apprentices in the bookbinding trade. Participation in both workshops was free of charge for all participants in the bookbinding competition.
Many thanks again to Marcus Janssens and Elisabeth Zelck for organizing and running the worskhops.