Gulf Print & Pack 2024 Focuses on Industry Evolution

The eagerly-awaited Gulf Print & Pack is back in Dubai. The three-day event is all set to unfold at the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre from 9 to 11 January, 2024, as a bigger, more exciting show, with loads of business opportunities for industry stakeholders. Over 235 exhibitors from China, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Netherlands, Pakistan, Singapore, Turkey, UK, and USA, besides host nation UAE, have confirmed their participation.

An excited Barry Killengrey, Gulf Print & Pack Event Director, says, “We’re delighted to be back on the biennial calendar for the first time since the pandemic. During this time, the printing industry has evolved immensely, with exciting new trends such as digital embellishment emerging, and this has intensified the appetite to see more advances in digital technology, automation, and workflow capabilities. The last Gulf Print & Pack event was held in June 2022, attracting leading graphic arts suppliers from across the globe and over 7,500 international visitors.”

“With the milder climate, January is the ideal time to plan a business trip to Dubai and kick-start new business here,” adds Killengrey. “Dubai is the most populous city in the UAE and has become a centre of trade and commerce for the Middle East.”

Jade Grace, Managing Director, Labelexpo Global Series, comments, “We’re excited to be running Gulf Print & Pack again. We are seeing a key trend developing in the MENA market, which is the transition to digital, not only for print and post-print equipment, but also for workflows that will be showcased on the show floor.”

“Visitors can expect to see the latest technology of on-demand book, photobook production, labels and package printing, and digital printing of fabrics and floor tiles. MENA is a key global market for the commercial and package print industries and Gulf Print & Pack in Dubai remains our most important event in this region.”

Focus of new and profitable niche markets

The Middle East and North Africa’s leading exhibition for the commercial and package print sectors, Gulf Print & Pack brings together Print Service Providers (PSPs), commercial and packaging printers, designers, and print buyers from across Africa, GCC, the Middle East, and South Asia, looking to view the latest technology in action including wide format printers, digital corrugated, cut-sheet inkjet, package printing presses, and digital embellishment systems.

“We are seeing a major shift towards digital printing and finishing, along with process automation, across the commercial and package print sectors. In the commercial sector, the growth of cut-sheet digital presses, hybrid wide format printers, and high-speed inkjet transactional printers is totally transforming the printing landscape and opening up new added value opportunities for PSPs and commercial printers. In the packaging sector, hybrid flexo-inkjet presses, digital high-build varnishing, and digital metallization and automation are the key drivers of the growth,” observes Killengrey.

Across three days, visitors to GPP 2024 will be able to learn how to enter new and profitable niche markets in the fastest growing sectors of print, everything from digital textiles and wall coverings to labels, packaging, and on-demand book printing. Another key trend to be highlighted is digital embellishment of cut-sheet commercial work, folding cartons, and labels.

Attendees can hear the noise of machinery in live action, view the various components, feel the substrate textures, learn about the latest cutting-edge technology, expand business connections, and get answers to all their print and packaging dilemmas. “Each and every solution can be compared, you can touch the products, and can also do some samples or proof of concepts on them,” explains Ahmed Fathy, Regional Business Manager (Ricoh Graphic Communications), Ricoh International B.V.

Technology giants with state-of-the-art products

All major companies have thrown their weight behind Gulf Print & Pack 2024, enthusiastically participating to display a slew of their latest cutting-edge technology.

For Swiss heavyweight BOBST to confirm their presence in a major event like GPP 2024 is hardly surprising, considering the optimism shown by packaging manufacturers about the growth prospects in the region. On display at GPP 2024 will be their state-of-the-art laminating machines and CI flexo printing presses. Mohamed Hassairi, Regional Marketing & Communications Manager BOBST Africa & Middle East and Turkey/Caucasus, elaborates, “Our lineup of technologically advanced laminating solutions and processes are developed to meet the requirements of all segments of the market. They come with a range of features like increased productivity, waste and cost reduction, and enhanced modularity. Our CI flexo printing presses meet the requirements of the demanding package printing applications, due to their capability of handling varied and repeat lengths, as well as medium to super-wide print widths.”

Digital imaging technology major Epson will be showcasing its recently extended range of SurePress label presses, with the L-4733AW – a major upgrade to the SurePress 4000 series – making its maiden appearance in the Middle East region. The short-run label press offers a combination of quality, consistency, repeatability, and higher speed modes. While its newly improved AQ4 ink-set delivers a wider colour gamut and precise colour matching on a variety of substrates, it also offers simplified, automated maintenance features designed to maximize uptime with minimal operator intervention.

Also debuting are Epson’s new cloud enabled ColorWorks C6500 and C4000 label printers designed to meet the growing demand for high-productivity colour labelling solutions in varied sectors.

GPP 2024 also provides the perfect platform for Heidelberg to showcase its latest range of digital production presses. Leading provider of innovative print and media solutions in the Middle East region, Heidelberg Middle East will unveil the new Versafire LV and Versafire LP digital printing systems. Both presses are powered by the enhanced Prinect Digital Front End (DFE) – a second-generation software developed in-house by Heidelberg – that ensures a flexible, standardized, highly productive, and intuitive combination of offset and digital technology, setting a new standard for print shops with hybrid workflows.

General Manager Roger Nicodeme says, “We are thrilled to be part of Gulf Print & Pack 2024 and introduce our latest digital printing solutions to the Middle East market as part of our commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and complete printing solutions to our customers in the region. We believe that the Versafire digital presses and Prinect DFE will revolutionise the industry by taking digital and offset printing to the next level.”

Imaging and electronics company Ricoh is another big player, all set to showcase three new products: RICOH Pro C9500, RICOH Pro C7500, and RICOH Auto Color Adjuster. RICOH C9500 is designed to elevate productivity and quality, simplify operations and expand application opportunities, improve efficiency and automation, while developing greater labour savings through the entire workflow. The toner-based press enables commercial specialists to further accelerate their analogue to digital transition or upgrade their print on demand-oriented digital capabilities.

RICOH C7500 comes with a several advanced features. Its built-in new neon colour profiles expand the colour gamut for more vivid colour expression. Another new feature is an elastic intermediate transfer belt to support rough or uneven textured media, giving progressive PSPs to broaden their range of applications and benefitting from enhanced print quality.

RICOH Auto Color Adjuster helps commercial printers expand into critical markets, increase production versatility, streamline production processes, and improve the quality and consistency of the jobs they deliver.

GPP 2024 to run in full capacity

With a substantial increase in the number of confirmed exhibitors who will display their high technology products and capabilities, the organizers expect visitor footfall to top pre-pandemic numbers for the first time, and have a full capacity printing exhibition in the Middle East.

Venue: Sheikh Saeed Halls 1 & 2, Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Central Business District, Dubai, UAE.

Opening Timings: (9-10 January, 2024): 10am to 5.30pm. (11 January, 2024): 10am to 4.30pm. Last entry is 30 minutes before close of event.