Today’s special offering is targeted specifically at companies interested in the diversification opportunities in printed interior décor. At the half-day Printeriors conference, PSP’s can draw inspiration from conference speakers, who are highlighting the benefits of using print as a medium for interior design, as well as offering real-life examples of how it can transform residential and commercial interiors.

Roz McGuinness, divisional director at FESPA, comments: “We’re delighted to welcome our global print community here to Hamburg this week. Our flagship FESPA event here in Europe has a deserved reputation as a launch platform for products that shape the development of the speciality printing sector, and help PSPs to develop creative, diverse and profitable businesses. This wealth of innovation and supplier expertise under one roof is complemented by FESPA's continued reinvestment to provide a rich programme of free educational content that supports visitors with their business planning and investment decisions.”

Sales success

It is always great when, halfway through an exhibition, we can report some real success stories, stories that offer tangible evidence for the continued relevance of trade shows. Yesterday the news came from Durst’s stand, when the manufacturing giant sold two of its Rho 512R Plus roll-to-roll systems to Insane Signs and Print. This investment makes the Australian firm the first company in the world to purchase two of these machines simultaneously.

Managing director of Insane Signs and Print, Rodney James, comments: “We’ve spent a long time evaluating different printers and were most impressed by the visit to the Durst factory and their extensive testing.
 

“In all truth, when I was first introduced to Durst, I felt there was no way I was going to be able to afford these printers, to me they are the Rolls-Royce of the trade. But we are shooting for the stars, and with Durst’s newer and more efficient machinery I believe I’m going to save over the long term, plus I have the utmost confidence that we will be backed by a fabulous sales, service and support team.”
 
James concludes: “These printers will usher in a new dawn of faster service, with supreme quality, and it’s really exciting to contemplate what we can do for our customers. This is huge for us.”

New tech on the block

Another must have for any successful exhibition is exclusive product launches and new releases. FESPA 2017 has these in spades; walking down the halls of Messe Hamburg, it seems everywhere you turn there is a new piece of kit attracting visitors to its stand.

Selecting just a handful of the new technology making waves today, I will start with a key talking point from the Inktec stand. On display here was the Jetrix LXi8 LED-UV flatbed printer, on its first outing to mainland Europe following its worldwide launch at Sign and Digital UK.

Ben Woodruff, head of national sales, Inktec Europe, says: “This new addition to the JETRIX range of printers is a real stunner, with incredible levels of productivity, accuracy and overall finish.”

He continues: “In a competitive marketplace where the turnaround time is key to customers but not at the expense of print quality, the LXi8 is the reliable answer for printers and sign-makers of all types and sizes.”

A smaller but no less significant launch came from visual display specialist Innotech. This firm’s stand played host to its new roller banner range, giving visitors the chance to see eight new products in action.

Gavin Dallow, international sales manager at Innotech, comments: “We’re delighted to be at FESPA 2017 and to have the opportunity to showcase our exciting new roller banner range on a global scale. Last year, we sold our products into more than 18 different countries, including both America and Australia. FESPA gives us the platform to meet our international customers and to continue to expand our presence.

“Our eight new roller banners – from the contemporary, cylindrical Compass to the unique, wave-shaped Valiant and the superwide Panorama – suit every taste and budget. And our industry leading team, along with vast stock levels, enables us to meet the most demanding volume and geographical distance requirements. These latest additions reflect our focus on new products and our determination to continue to bring our customers the most vibrant and up-to-date product range.”

Eyes forward

Walking the halls, there are also some bold claims coming from SENFA’s stand. The technical substrates division of the Chargeurs Group is declaring ink migration is a ‘thing of the past’, thanks to the firm’s new Sublimis range of fabric.
 

On the latest addition to SENFA’s product line, Blaise Humphries, the SENFA-Decoprint business unit manager, explains: “Previously, sublimation printing on to coated media for backlits led to problems due to a phenomenon known as ink migration whereby, after printing, the ink tended to migrate to areas on the substrate where it shouldn’t – causing disastrous results.

“With Sublimis, ink migration is a thing of the past and printers using sublimation technology can now aspire to hitting the very best possible white point and delivering the punchy colours that only coated media can provide.”

And while FESPA 2017 has not even begun to wind down, exhibition orgranisers are already talking about next year’s event. It has been announced that the 2018 edition of this global print expo will take place in Berlin, from Tuesday 15th to Friday 18th May.

Roz McGuinnes comments: “We always consult with our exhibitors on the location of our shows and Berlin was one of the favourites. We've received positive reactions from exhibitors for the Berlin event, which is evident from the floor space already booked and optioned, even before FESPA 2017 began.”

Berlin is a continental air and rail traffic hub, accessible from all major European and international cities, making it a sensible choice for a global exhibition. Significantly, when FESPA was last located in Berlin it attracted increased attendance from Eastern Europe, especially Poland and Russia, suggesting next year’s edition of the show might draw and even wider and more international audience.

If you have an interesting story or a view on this news, then please e-mail news@signlink.co.uk

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