Exploring new worlds

Although January and February may be regarded by many as two of the more miserable months of the year, partly due to the post-Christmas blues, and partly because of a seemingly endless supply of rain, here in our industry, we have plenty to look forward to as exhibition season looms upon us once again.

While this year in the UK we can look forward to the NEC once again playing host to Sign and Digital UK and The Print Show, over in Germany, we have the much-anticipated return of Drupa. Also on the European calendar this year is FESPA Digital 2016, the tenth edition of the popular industry event.

Taking place at the Amsterdam RAI from March 8th to 11th, the event is shaping up to be as popular as ever, with visitors from around the world descending on the Dutch capital to catch a glimpse of some of the industry’s latest technology. With this year serving as a special anniversary for FESPA Digital, there are also likely to be a few surprises and treats in store for those in attendance.

O Factoid: The Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre has staged a host of major events since opening in 1961, including the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest. The site gets its name from the nearby Amsterdam RAI railway station.   O

Maturing market
 
Roz McGuinness, divisional director at FESPA, explains that the organising team has been working to ensure that this year’s event features all the quality from previous shows, but also offers something new to returning visitors.


“The main goal for us is always to create a successful and relevant event for our global print community,” Mc-Guinness explains, adding: “Over the last ten years, digital technology has developed immensely, with the majority of wide-format printers already adopting the technology.
 
“As the market has matured, our focus in recent years has been to illustrate the diversification areas available, helping printers see the myriad of opportunities to grow and expand their business. This is reflected in the educational features at our shows, and in exciting new initiatives like ‘Printeriors’, which gives visitors insights into the possibilities of using print for interior design.”

This year’s sold-out event will serve as FESPA’s largest ‘Digital’ show to date, with a total of seven halls hosting companies from all corners of the market. The main FESPA Digital show will run alongside the two smaller events in the form of European Sign Expo and FESPA Textile—both of which have been tailored to suit certain areas of the market.

Launched in 2013, the European Sign Expo will focus on non-printed signage, showcasing solutions such as illuminated signage, channel lettering, software, engraving and sign systems. Meanwhile, FESPA Textile 2016 will feature all aspects of textile print, including garment decoration, soft signage, and apparel printing. Visitors can access all events with their main FESPA Digital ticket.

“Even FESPA regulars will always find something new at each FESPA event. For the major vendors, it’s the year’s first international exhibition, and many of them will use it as the launch-pad for their key equipment innovations,” McGuinness adds.

Leading on from this, McGuinness picks out a number of new features that we can look forward to at the event. These include the ‘Digital Textile Conference’, which will provide delegates with the latest information on digital textile print. In addition, the one-day Printeriors Conference will provide those in attendance with the latest information on printed interior decoration, which could help open up the possibilities for print companies to take advantage of this sector and meet with the exhibitors who can help make their ideas reality.

Returning to FESPA Digital this year will be the World Wrap Masters graphic wrapping feature, a four-day event in which professional wrappers will battle it out to be become World Wrap Master. Visitors will be able to quiz the wrappers and pick up helpful tips on vinyl graphic application.

In addition, as with all FESPA events, the exhibition will be complemented by a free programme of seminar sessions, providing insight for visitors on the latest industry trends and growth opportunities.

“With 450 international exhibitors, product launches, educational features, two conferences, practical demonstrations, as well as the opportunity to network with printers from across the globe, FESPA Digital 2016 is an event not to be missed,” McGuinness adds.

Experience driven
 
With such a vast subject to cover and so many big brands in attendance, all bringing brand new cutting edge equipment and products, it is perhaps worth presenting you, dear reader, with a representative cross section of exhibitors that showcase why this event has become such a big deal. Amongst the huge number of brands in attendance at FESPA Digital this year will be headline exhibitor Roland DG, a firm which is well entrenched in the UK sign and print industries. Gillian Montanaro, head of marketing for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at the company, says that the manufacturer holds FESPA Digital in very high regard, describing the event as a ‘significant’ date in its diary.



Montanaro comments: “Not only is FESPA an effective platform to show-case technology, it’s also a great opportunity to network with our partners, experts and colleagues in the industry where we foster new ideas that will grow and develop so we can help our customers even more.

“Our aim is that visiting the Roland DG booth is an experience. Yes, we have the technology that’s high quality, reliable and durable but beyond this, we want customers to go away feeling that Roland DG is the right brand for them and to understand why customers who buy a Roland DG, stay with Roland DG—from a relationship, technology, training, support and service perspective.”

With this in mind, Montanaro goes on to map out the manufacturer’s plans for the event this year, focusing in particular on the launch of the new VersaUV LEF-300 LED UV inkjet flatbed printer. The largest addition to the VersaUV series, the machine will be showcased in the ‘Personalisation Zone’ of the Roland DG stand, which has been divided into five technology areas to help visitors find the solutions they require.

Montanaro adds: “We look forward to introducing this production power-house to those customers who are seeking a fast, reliable solution for creating branded merchandise and personalised goods; it really is a game changer. It takes the digital customisation of merchandise and promotional print products to a whole new level of productivity.”

In addition, Roland DG will show off its Texart XT-640 dye sublimation transfer printer in the ‘Textile Zone’ area of its stand. Available in four- or eight-colour ink configurations, Montanaro says that the Texart XT-640 is ideal for textile applications such as soft signage, sportswear, fashion, interior decoration, and promotional merchandise.

Montanaro adds: “Anyone planning on visiting the show should watch this space as we will be announcing more exciting details of our plans for FESPA in the run-up to the show.”

Perfect opportunity
 
Another major brand that will be in attendance at this year’s show is Epson, with the firm planning to showcase a host of new large-format printers. Phil McMullin, senior sales manager at Epson UK, explains that the event represents a perfect time to show off its new machines.

McMullin says: “We will showcase the considerable flexibility, performance, quality and efficiency of our extensive line up of new large-format printers. Our focus is showing companies not only how they can broaden the range of printed products they can produce using our latest printhead, ink and printer design technology, but also how they can seriously maximise their production capabilities and their profits with a significantly lower total cost of ownership.”


FESPA will mark the European debut of four new 64? printers, all of which were first introduced to the market in January at a glitzy event at Mercedes AMG Formula 1 factory. The eco-solvent 10-colour SureColor SC-S80600, the high-speed CMYK x 2 SureColor SC-S60600, the four-colour SureColor SC-S40600, and the super-fast aqueous SureColor SC-P20000 will all be on display at the Epson stand.

McMullin comments: “These new printers incorporate many new features that combine to deliver superb quality, production performance and ink use efficiency to professional print service providers. In our textile zone, we will demonstrate the latest SureColor SC-F dye sublimations printers. Both are capable of producing high-quality printed textiles, such as soft signage, clothing, sportswear and home textiles, and also offer the flexibility needed to sublimate onto a range of hard and 3D substrates.”

Visitors to the Epson stand can look forward to large demonstrations of high-speed, 4-pass printing of high-quality images on banner, monomeric vinyl, and blueback poster materials on the new SureColor SC-S60600. Epson will also use its new SureColor SC-S80600 to produce signage graphics, backlit/clear films, and wallpaper featuring metallic, white, and spot colour red.



The SureColor SC-F2000 direct-to-fabric printer, featuring new Garment Creator software, will be producing t-shirts, caps, bags and aprons, while visitors will also get a glimpse of rigid surface decoration with the new Sure-Color SC-F6200 dye-sub printer, in association with Chromaluxe.

Meanwhile, over on the Screen Europe stand, the firm will be demonstrating its latest Truepress Jet W3200UV wide-format printer, manufactured by subsidiary Inca Digital. Martijn Van Den Broek, European product manager, wide-format at Screen, says that the combination flat-bed/roll-to-roll printer meets the needs of most print-service-providers.

He adds: “Visitors will see the flexibility of the printer operating in both roll-to-roll and in flatbed modes on a range of flexible and rigid substrates. The options delivering high-speed productivity and accurate double sided registration. They will also see demonstrations of the machine’s existing capabilities including multilayer spot silk, day/night, backlit and relief printing and experience the powerful white.”

Super ambition

One of the traditions of FESPA today is its creative themes for each event, with this year’s strapline being ‘Become a Digital Print Hero’. So look out for Digiman, Textilewoman, and ESEman which I am sure will be walking the halls looking for new recruits to their hall of heros. This theme has hit a high note with Mimaki Europe’s general manager marketing EMEA, Mike Horsten. One of the industry’s most colourful characters, he is planning a full scale assault on this year’s show with an array of new kit.
 
“Every superhero needs a sidekick and in your quest for affordable high quality print, you’ll need a reliable partner that offers tailored and affordable digital printing solutions for the wide-format, signage and textile sectors,” says Horsten, who adds: “At Mimaki Europe we know when and where we are needed. From outdoor signage and billboards, to interior dec-oration, furnishing, packaging, labels, and apparel, Mimaki Europe is committed to developing technology that sets new industry standards. We produce machines and products that turn the imagination of our customers into breath-taking reality.



“Booth E15 in Hall 1 collates all the latest superhero solutions gear for you to leave the cave and enter the exciting world of digital printing well-prepared. Our team will be ready to discuss your plans, show you the options and help you realise your goals.”

So, with FESPA Digital 2016 expected to break a host of records, few would argue against visiting this year. With a plethora of major brands in attendance, as well as a comprehensive content programme, you should seriously consider taking a trip to Amsterdam in March.


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