The 2015 edition of FESPA was the biggest technological extravaganza in screen, digital and textile print industry. The hype created around the event worldwide proved to be true with extra-ordinary innovations on display throughout the show. The event that was held from 18 to 22 May 2015 in Cologne, Germany saw 770 exhibitors showcasing their products and demonstrations whereas people flocked in from across the globe to witness this astonishing event.
The show gave an excellent platform for businesses to network with industry stalwarts and explore innovative printing technologies. Fespa 2015 Global Expo incorporated four events under one roof: Fespa 2015 addressing screen, textile and digital wide-format printing; Fespa Fabric, focusing on garment printing and decoration; European Sign Expo, which explored non-printed signage and visual communications; and Printeriors, which was a new interior decor showcase and conference. This year, the theme was “Discover Your Universe of Print” and surely companies showcased the best of technologies to the world here. Some of the major exhibitors were Fujifilms, Mimaki, ColorGATE, Agfa Graphics amongst others.
There was a streak of product launches at FESPA this year. Almost every company participating at the show had something new to offer. Fujifilm announced the launch of an advanced new UV ink technology at FESPA 2015, called Uvijet OW. The newly launched ink range, which is used in the Inca Onset series, has been developed specifically with improved adhesion properties so that it can be used on a wider range of rigid and flexible plastic substrates, while retaining the high jetting standard and printing reliability associated with all Uvijet inks. NoeCha displayed its new UV-LED NoeCha1 wide-format industrial printer in public for the first time at FESPA.
In keeping with FESPA 2015’s theme Discover Your Universe of Print, EFI also demonstrated a broad portfolio of inkjet and workflow products designed to provide digital and screen printers the technology needed to expand their market reach while growing their bottom lines. EFI introduced the EFI VUTEk HSr press, its fastest production-class roll-to-roll product on the market. The Company’s other offerings displayed at FESPA included end-to-end workflow automation, 7-picoliter grayscale UltraDrop Technology for near-photographic imaging, new SuperRange Ink and energy-efficient, “cool cure” LED imaging at full production speeds, and VUTEk GO, an innovative monitoring application for the high-end VUTEk HS Pro series.
ColorGATE also presented its latest solutions portfolio for Commercial and Industrial Printing at FESPA 2015. The focus was more on the new Industrial Production server products dedicated to textile, décor and ceramics printing as well as an ultra-fast color measurement device dedicated but not limited to industrial printing applications. ColorGATE is extending its leading position as solution provider of Color Management and printing software solutions for digital commercial and industrial printing.
Mimaki, a leading global manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutting plotters for the sign/graphics, textile/apparel and industrial markets launched the TS300P-1800 inkjet printer. This 1.8m wide roll-to-roll sublimation inkjet printer is a dedicated transfer paper printer, offering new levels of quality and productivity in digital textile printing. The Mimaki TS300P-1800 will begin shipping in July 2015. Mimaki stand also featured well-dressed mannequins clothed in vibrant TS300P-1800 printed textiles. “With the textile market booming, Mimaki has placed even more attention on bringing innovative digital textile printing solutions to market and the result is the brand-new TS300P-1800 printer. Visitors to our stand will see real-world examples of printed textiles that bring to life the promise of digital for this market. We are very excited about the speed, quality and throughput that can be attained with the TS300P-1800 and believe it will find a warm reception among a wide range of fashion and other textile users,” said Mike Horsten, General Manager Marketing EMEA at Mimaki Europe.”
Another exciting innovation was by displayed by Avery Dennison, the global leader in labeling and packaging materials and solutions. Avery Dennison went digital with its virtual Fespa trade show booth. The company developed a new concept called the virtual trade show booth where people across the world can witness and experience its latest innovations just as it showcases them at trade shows. The virtual booth was launched at virtualfespa.averydennison.com, and it highlighted the innovations that the company showcased at its physical booth at FESPA.
Caldera also displayed innovation at the event by inviting visitors to make contact with its array of futuristic solutions for display production at its stand. Among its cosmos of software-led options were the newly updated Caldera RIP V10.1, the Variable Display digital signage package and Flow+, which connected a constellation of software to create the unified, automated workflow businesses need to travel at warp speed.
Agfa Graphics’ Acorta Automatic Cutting Plotter was also launched at FESPA 2015. Acorta is an automatic cutting and finishing plotter dedicated to respond to the requirements of the cardboard, digital printing and signage industries. It helps wide-format printing companies turn a wide variety of printed rigid and flexible sheet media into finished decoration, containers, banners etc. that truly stand out. After demonstrating its leading portfolio for Sign & Display applications, Agfa Graphics also took FESPA visitors on a guided tour through the world of industrial printing. Agfa’s technology specialists were available at the booth to discuss new printing applications and they spoke at two occasions dedicated to industrial printing.
One of these occasions was a ‘Lunch and Learn’ session on May 19 showcasing industrial print. During this session, organized by FESPA and hosted by Agfa Graphics, the company’s industrial printing specialists familiarized attendees with the dynamics of industrial inkjet and shared insights on how Agfa Graphics can be the preferred partner to integrate print in manufacturing.
In addition, Agfa Graphics was present at the Education Hub on Wednesday May 20, for the ‘Industrial Tech Time’ session, hosted by industry expert Sophie Matthews-Paul. Tom Cloots, Marketing Director Industrial Printing at Agfa Graphics was a part of the panel of experts who shared their view on industrial printing. He focused on explaining why and how industrial inkjet printing can create new market opportunities.
New addition to Fespa was “Printeriors”, a showcase event celebrating print for interior design. This application-focused event targeted both print service providers and interior designers to illustrate the creative possibilities when using print for interiors.
FESPA also revealed the winners of its 2015 Awards at its Gala Celebration Dinner held at Flora Köln, Cologne, Germany on Tuesday 19 May. The FESPA Awards were meant to celebrate print excellence, inviting printers from FESPA’s global print community to demonstrate their most creative and inspiring work. The awards were judged onsite at FESPA 2015 in Cologne Germany by renowned print industry experts including: Jacek Stencel, Owner & Founder of PASJA – screen & digital printing company; Josep Tobella, Screen Printing Consultant and Hwie-Bing Kwee, Owner of Omnimark. UAE’s Printworks Mediatech won a Bronze in the OOH and Vehicle Decals category.
