Fespa Digital organizer is inviting visitors to the show which will be held from 20 to 23 May 2014 in Munich to dive deeper into the world of digital printing. They might have a point. With more than 400 exhibitors Fespa Digital is one of the biggest focused event for digital wide format print. All the major LFP manufacturers will display their latest products at the show. Who knows? We might even find some surprises as well. Digital wide format industry is a 100 billion dollar market and now many digital and commercial printers want to have a piece of action. From this perspective it seems that in future growth for Fespa Digital is guaranteed. Unless some kind of disruptive technology steals the show. 3D printing anyone?
“Ocean of Opportunities”
Fespa organizer has come up with sort of decontextualized motto. According to organizer the ‘ocean of opportunity’ for the printer at FESPA is huge. By ‘diving deeper’, visitors to FESPA Digital have the chance to make new discoveries – technologies, consumables, techniques, processes, applications, customers, business models and more– that can help to grow their business. This year Fespa Fabric is also held along with Fespa Digital. Now in its 5th year, FESPA Fabric is set to provide visitors with insight into the latest product developments, launches and innovations for garment decoration and textile print.
Fespa in this edition of the show focuses on an extensive educational programme which includes a range of presentations on major topics across Digital, Fabric and Signage.
All education sessions and workshops within FESPA Digital will be delivered in four themed ‘hubs’, giving visitors a clear destination within the exhibition if they want to find information, insight and inspiration on Digital, Fabric, Signage and Wrap.
Reflecting FESPA Digital’s call to printers to ‘dive deeper into digital’, Ron Gilboa of prominent industry research organisation Infotrends will deliver a tailored keynote presentation in the Digital, Fabric and Signage Hubs on Day One of the show, focussing on existing opportunities, and offering guidance to FESPA visitors on how to develop their business. These sessions will provide visitors with invaluable pointers to bear in mind as they take in the many innovations to be found on the FESPA Digital show floor.
Print media business expert Ulrich Smets will present in German in all hubs, on a range of topics designed to optimise financial management, including cost calculations; cost advantages of digital vs analogue processes; controlling solutions; business planning; credit; and bank ratings.
In the Digital hub, visitors with an interest in optimising colour reproduction will benefit from four separate workshops from digital colour expert Marco Olivotto on Understanding Colour Settings; Unleashing the Power of LAB; The Gamut Riddle and How to Solve It; and PDFs for the Digital Printing Age.
The Digital Hub will offer various sessions focused on industrial print, including Wolfgang Mildner of PolyIC, who will address the growth market for printed electronics, and Thomas Struckmeier, owner of Blasé GmbH, a leading German producer of print for industrial applications.
Digital Hub delegates can also hear from the buyer’s perspective, in a key session delivered by Deutsche Bahn AG’s print procurement manager Carola Lammich. Frau Lammich will speak about the company’s strategic approach to print suppliers, highlighting Deutsche Bahn’s print requirements and how they are likely to develop, interaction with suppliers and the impact of EU public procurement law on print purchasing.
Visitors on Thursday 22nd May can hear from Sanders Group, an expert in printed magnetic products, and Roland Hill of Contravision will also tackle the important topic of Intellectual Property for Printers, advising printers on how to avoid falling foul of copyright legislation.
Other Digital Hub sessions will focus on business growth opportunities for printers, including digitally printed interiors, web2print, personalisation, and promotional products. Practical advice on printhead maintenance will be delivered by FESPA technology partner Xaar.
Sessions confirmed in the Fabric Hub include Christopher Bernat of Vapor Apparel, talking about the opportunity to Grow with Sublimation Apparel and Accessories. A second session from Christopher will offer a ‘Technology Reality Tour’ of Sublimation vs Direct-to-Garment.
Turning to home textiles, Thomas Poetz of Printed Interior Decoration will speak in English and German to advise printers on successfully entering the home textile market with inkjet technology.
Sign makers looking for new opportunities can head to the Signage Hub to hear from Daniel Parisien of Broadsign, with his presentation entitled ‘What Your Mother Never Told You About Digital Signage’. His colleague and content marketing specialist Stephanie Gutnik will focus in a separate session on ‘How Network Operators Can Succeed at Selling Advertising’.
The Signage Hub will also host the European Sign Federation Awards on Thursday 22nd May.
Each hub will also offer tailored business advice sessions addressing areas such as efficiency, sales and marketing and finance.
The Wrap Hub will see pro wrappers compete in the World Wrap Masters 2014, while every visitor will have the chance to try wrapping head-to-head to gain an appreciation of the challenges inherent in the craft. Each day will see a ‘tips and tricks’ session hosted by expert wrappers, where they share their experience and knowledge with visitors keen to improve their technique. There will also be a variety of items being wrapped – showcasing the versatility of wrapping beyond vehicles.
FESPA Head of New Media & Events Duncan MacOwan comments: “As we start to flesh out each stream of our Digital 2014 educational programme, we’re confident that the four hubs in Munich will deliver everything that visitors need to help them dive deeper into the many business growth opportunities that exist in the digital wide format printing space. Each hub will offer a rich blend of technical, practical, factual and inspirational content, delivered by internationally respected experts in their individual fields. Delegates will head out onto the exhibition floor with fresh insights and expert guidance to inform their business decisions at the show and beyond.”
Sessions in each hub will run from 11.00h until 17.00h from Tuesday 20th to Thursday 22nd May, and until 14.00h on Friday 23rd May. All conference session and workshops are free of charge to visitors registered for FESPA Digital, FESPA Fabric or European Sign Expo.
New brands
23% of contracted exhibitors so far are newcomers to FESPA. In line with FESPA’s recent World Wide Survey highlighting printers’ growing appetite for investment in new output technology and increased spend on media and inks, FESPA Digital 2014 is seeing a large increase in exhibitors in this space, including finishing specialists, Elitron, Esko, Fotoba and Zund. Media and substrates innovator Orafol has also confirmed a significant stand in Munich, citing the success of the global FESPA 2013 event in London as a factor in the decision. There is also a rise in the number of exhibitors showcasing digital textile solutions at FESPA Digital 2014, with brands such as d.gen, Kornit Digital, MS Italy, Reggiani Machine and Stork.Nearly a third of exhibitors are also set to significantly increase the size of their stand compared to FESPA Digital 2012. EFI, Flexa, KIP, Kaspar Papir, MS, Multicam, POD/MTEX, Print Equipment, Reflectiv, Shenzhen Handtop and Texo Trade Services are just a few companies who have chosen FESPA Digital 2014 in Munich as the key international platform to showcase their wide format innovations next year.
Managing Director of FESPA, Neil Felton comments, “The wide format community’s support for FESPA as an organisation and exhibition organiser is phenomenal. Exhibitors tell us that they participate in FESPA events around the globe because they see our commitment to being consistently relevant in today’s market, and they appreciate the fact that we’re never complacent about the visitor experience.”
New products?
Some companies have already revealed what they are going to bring to the show. Screen will showcase its Truepress Jet W3200UV wide format press which was developed in conjunction with Inca Digital. Sun Chemical will put on display its Streamline TX textile ink specifically for the polyester and synthetic soft signage market. Durst and Efi apparently are focusing on soft signage market and Canon has opted for a 440sqm stand in the show. The company will feature the Océ Arizona 480GT UV flatbed printer, alongside the Océ Colourwave 900 and 650 as well as the Océ Procut digital flatbed cutter and the Canon Imageprograf iPF9400. However for Canon showing applications are now more crucial than product itself that’ s why Canon will be showcasing applications including wallpaper and laminated flooring.
Any Surprises?
The exhibitors always leave some space for surprises in a major trade show. However in today’s wired world it’s very difficult to keep anything under wrap. Having said that we expect some new innovative solutions especially for soft signage but don’t hold your breath.
