The Print Show Preview: Wide-Format on display

Taking place from September 17th to 19th in Hall 17 of the NEC in Birmingham, The Print Show is a dedicated exhibition for the entire print industry. As the print and signage industries continue to overlap, the solutions offered at The Print Show are becoming more and more relevant to signage businesses.
This year, many wide-format manufacturers and suppliers of large-format graphics and their associated products are exhibiting at the show to demonstrate how companies can diversify their business and level up their production capabilities.

With exhibitors like CMYUK, Agfa, swissQprint, Hybrid Services (Mimaki), Venture Banners, Vivid Laminating Services, and Super-Wide Digital, and more, we look at what visitors can expect from these companies at the three-day show.

Going Big in 2024

An exhibitor that is returning to this year’s Print Show is Mimaki’s UK and Ireland exclusive distributor, Hybrid Services (Stand P50).

The company supplies a range of printing, cutting, and software solutions for the print industry which can be used in the sign, graphics, industrial, textile, and 3D sectors of the print and signage industries.
Its innovations within 3D model printing as well as direct-to-film (DTF) printing has meant Mimaki has stayed at the forefront of industry trends, allowing businesses to diversify their product range and complementary services.

Andy Gregory, sales director at Hybrid Services, says: “The Print Show offers a unique opportunity to meet with key contacts in the sign, graphics, and commercial printing industry. With Mimaki’s constant flow of innovative new products, it provides a perfect platform to present the latest technology – and for visitors to absorb the industry as a whole.

The Print Show offers a unique opportunity to meet with key contacts in the sign, graphics, and commercial printing industry

Speaking about the chance to network and speak to visitors, Gregory says: “We look forward to meeting businesses taking their first steps in digital printing, alongside companies with longstanding hardware inventories seeking to expand or diversify their capabilities – it’s a great way to talk face to face with anyone and everyone who’s excited about the potential that digital printing offers.”

Speaking about the range of products visitors will be able to see at the show, Greogry highlighted the Mimaki TxF300-75 DTF printer and the new Mimaki UCJV330-160 integrated UV printer/cutter.
Both machines offer users the chance to increase customer opportunities and improve efficiency thanks to automation and productivity features.

“Hybrid will be showcasing the latest UV and solvent technology from Mimaki, including wide-format printers, integrated printer/cutters, and flatbed solutions,” says Gregory, adding: “The Hybrid stand will also feature the latest Mimaki DTF printer, demonstrating the incredible opportunity that garment decoration and branding offers.”

A big message from this year’s print show is the new revenue streams that customers can discover as the industry continues to change.

Gregory says: “Businesses investing in the latest Mimaki technology will be able to leverage products that feature increased productivity, reduced running costs and energy consumption, innovative new workflows, as well as discussing a raft of solutions that offer the opportunity to grow their companies.”
Another company that is looking to make an impact with its wide-format solutions is Agfa (Stand D10), which is exhibiting at The Print Show for the very first time.

The company will use its presence at the show to launch the new Anapurna Ciervo to the UK market following its introduction at FESPA Global Print Expo in March. The Anapurna Ciervo H3200 is the latest printer in the Anapurna range’s 29-year history and offers users enhanced print quality and increased print speeds.

Susi Roesner, marketing content manager at Agfa, says: “This machine is the perfect fit for The Print Show and the UK market. Depending on the size and needs of your company, we have more products in our portfolio to fit everyone’s needs. Visibility is KEY for this show and introducing innovative technologies and connecting with existing and new contacts.”

Similarly, another first-time exhibitor, swissQprint, will be on hand at the show to demonstrate the ways in which its solutions can benefit printers and sign-makers alike.

Exhibiting on Stand C10, swissQprint will be showcasing its award-winning device – the Kudu. Using ten colour channels, the printer is capable of displaying vibrant neon colours and impactful varnish effects. Customers can also choose a roll-to-roll printing option which further demonstrates the efficiency and versatility of the machine.

Erskine Stewart, swissQprint UK managing director, says: “We are thrilled to introduce the Kudu to visitors and demonstrate the versatility and innovation that swissQprint brings to the industry. Our goal is to inspire and equip businesses with the tools they need to achieve extraordinary results.”

Alongside the Kudu, swissQprint will have a wide range of applications including ACM, acrylics, POS, and fabric printing.

Diversifying Your Business

Another benefit of The Print Show for sign-makers and wide-format printers is the chance to look at services and products that can diversify their business.

As a trade-only supplier of large-format print, Venture Banners (Stand A20), has led its business with a mission to help printers build lucrative revenue streams through large-format.

Venture Banners gives print businesses and sign-makers the chance to work with a company that has already invested in millions of pounds worth of printing and finishing equipment, meaning customers can offer products like roller banners and stretch fabric displays without the need to invest in large machinery.

Speaking about its presence at this year’s show, Scott Conway, director and co-founder of Venture Banners, says: “Venture Banners has been an exhibitor at every Print Show apart from one, which coincided with our move to our current premises.

“As a trade-only business, it’s also a good opportunity to make new contacts and tell printers what Venture Banners is about, and how we can add value to their businesses.”

Talking about the advantages of its stretch fabric solutions, Conway comments: “The profit potential for printers is huge, so working with a trade supplier like us to add a very fruitful new revenue stream with little investment or risk is a fantastic opportunity.”

In recent years the materials that printers and sign-makers use have become increasingly important as sustainability has become a bigger focus.

Conway says: “Based on feedback from our customers on what they would like to see from us, we’ve been working for the past couple of years on a sustainable and recyclable honeycomb cardboard range of display products. We would encourage any printers who are looking to offer quality, sustainable products to their customers to come and have a chat with us on stand A20.”

As well as its new sustainable range, Venture Banners will be showcasing vibrant textile graphics, demonstrating how exhibition stands can be brought to life as well as assembled, dismantled, transported, and reused with ease.

Conway adds: “Our new product range will deliver vast benefits to print businesses looking to boost their eco-friendly credentials. Many of their customers will be increasingly interested in working with sustainable printers, so that’s certainly a competitive advantage.

“On top of this, the cost to entry into the cardboard display market is usually incredibly high, so with this new product line, printers can target profits in this area with no investment whatsoever besides the products themselves.”

Another regular exhibitor at The Print Show is Vivid Laminating Technologies, a company that seeks to help customers with their finishing solutions by offering new innovations and developments.

Exhibiting on Stand C40 Vivid Laminating Technologies will be on hand to answer questions and provide insights into the company’s latest innovations.

Lewis Evans, commercial director at Vivid, says: “Over 30 years of adding value beyond print, we take pride in what we do. We strive to empower our customers and partners to achieve the most impressive print finishing results in the most cost and time-effective manner.

Factoid: According to Display Wizard, 71% of SMEs win new business using face-to-face networking like trade shows

“Our highly experienced team works closely with our customers and partners. Ensuring everything we develop advances on what they’re already doing as well as making their lives easier and businesses better.”

At this year’s show, the company says it has “an exciting secret to reveal” which it hopes will revolutionise print finishing.

Evans adds: “At The Print Show this year, our focus will be on showcasing our new innovations and product launches. Visitors to our stand can expect to see the UK debut of Veloton, our patented interchangeable system that can be retrofitted to any Veloblade Volta+.

“This system allows users to significantly increase cutting speed with multiple aligned cutting heads, making their production up to ten times faster. The Veloton is also compatible with the VeloBlade Nexus.”

Regarding Vivid’s packaging solutions, Evans says: “We will be unveiling the newly updated ZipCore packaging suite, which is designed to enhance efficiency and performance in packaging design. Our stand will highlight these advancements and provide live demonstrations to illustrate the benefits and applications of these new technologies.”

The Print Show undoubtedly will have plenty of benefits and solutions for visitors to experience including the speaker line-up, networking opportunities, and in-show features and competitions that come with a trade show.