Experience print in motion
Returning to their traditional spring-time slot, the FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 and the co-located European Sign Expo 2022 will once again throw open their doors to visitors from all around the world.
Taking place from May 31st to June 3rd at the Messe Berlin in Germany, both events will feature some of the leading names in wide-format print and sign-making technology, with exhibitors set to showcase their latest technologies and solutions to a global audience.
O Factoid: The Fespa Global Print Expo 2022 and European Sign Expo 2022 will take place from May 31st to June 3rd at the Messe Berlin in Germany O
With so much to see across the Messe, SignLink takes a look at some of the main highlights and considers why industry professionals in the UK should consider taking time out of their busy schedules to make the trip to Berlin and catch up on the latest developments from the global industry.
Reunite the industry
Looking ahead to the event, Michael Ryan, head of the FESPA Global Print Expo, says with just a matter of weeks left until the doors open in Berlin, excitement over the show is building, adding that the exhibition has the potential to “truly reunite the global speciality print community”.
Some 325 exhibitors have already been confirmed for the event
“The FESPA Global Print Expo will highlight the latest developments in screen, digital and textile printing and will once again be co-located with European Sign Expo, which will display solutions for signage and visual communications,” Ryan says, adding: “As of the start of April, there are already 325 contracted exhibitors ready to showcase the latest technologies, media and consumables that will help set the speciality print and signage industries back in motion.”
As of the start of April, there are already 325 contracted exhibitors ready to showcase the latest technologies, media and consumables”
Ryan says as an organiser, FESPA’s goal is to add value for visitors through an educational and inspirational content programme. This year, visitors will have access to two brand new features in the form of the Sustainability Spotlight and Associations Pavilion.
Sustainability Spotlight will aim to deliver practical and actionable advice on environmental best-practice through a series of free, expert-led conferences. Topics include reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint, making supply chains more transparent and avoiding greenwashing. Visitors can also view a showcase of innovative, sustainable textile and graphics substrates.
Meanwhile, the Associations Pavilion, will serve as an inspirational gallery, highlighting a range of diverse printed applications produced and finished by members of FESPA’s national associations.
Returning features will include the popular Printeriors section, where visitors will see an array of interior décor applications, with designs inspired by nature and produced in conjunction with print industry partners. In addition, at the Wrap Masters area, the week will start with the European heat, after which winners from all the regional competitions will battle it out for the title of ‘World Wrap Master 2022’.
The popular FESPA World Wrap Masters will again feature at the event
“With so much to look forward to, and after such a long time disconnected from one another, the Berlin event is not to be missed; we look forward to seeing you this spring,” Ryan says.
Immersive experience
So, who can we expect to see in the Messe? HP, one of the show’s main sponsors, will have a heavy presence at the event as it seeks to connect, and reconnect, with visitors from around the world. Vesela Asenova, EMEA event manager for the HP Large-Format business, says, visiting the event will allow customers to see new technology up close for the first time.
“After two years of disruptions, we want customers to get an immersive experience when exploring our portfolio and to see the products in use,” Asenova says, adding: “The best way to do this is in person at FESPA 2022.
“The 20,000 expected visitors, both on-site and virtual, will be made up of our key customers, including print-service-providers, buyers, wholesalers and dealers, as well as manufacturers and corporate decision-makers.
“As well as seeing products, visitors can also keep up to speed with the trends shaping the large-format sector through the various in-show talks taking place.”
As to what HP will be showing, Asenova reveals that the manufacturer will base its stand on the theme ‘Print for the Future’ and will host daily leadership talks on key trends shaping the future of the market, including sustainability and how the industry can become greener.
Visitors to the HP stand will be able to find out more about its latest print innovations such as the HP Latex R2000 Plus and the HP Latex 800W, both of which Asenova says are “ideal” for signage and display, as well as the DesignJet Z9+Pro and the PageWide XL 8300 Pro.
HP will display its HP Latex 800W at the FESPA Global Print Expo 2022
HP will also run demonstrations of the printers in order to enable visitors to view them in action and get a better understanding of how they operate and the key applications that they can produce.
Constantly evolving
Durst will also serve as a main sponsor of the event as it seeks to draw interest in its wide range of print solutions. Peter Bray, managing director for Durst UK and Ireland, explains that Durst will be one of the largest exhibitors at the event, with the stand covering around 800sq m in Hall 4.2. Durst will use this presence to promote the importance of running a sustainable print business in the current market.
“We all need to think more and more about solutions for a more sustainable world,” Bray says, adding: “In this regard print can be an essential part of this development, and FESPA is a fixed point in the universe of print. In this respect, experiencing print in motion means new, sustainable business models for our customers and us.
“Sustainability currently drives change in the printing industry, meaning that customers ask more for certifications or information about our printing systems, ink sets and how they are set related to the sustainability aspect.
“Of course, we from Durst Group, continuously work on developing products and services that respect this current trend. And we do not think in this direction when it comes to our own products, but we also try to only use materials that are environmentally friendly.
“At FESPA, for instance, we will only use sustainable material during the trade show. We already did so at FESPA in Amsterdam and had a good experience and positive feedback from customers and the market.”
Durst’s theme on its stand will be ‘P5 Production Excellence, with a focus on its current and future P5 portfolio, which consists of printing systems combined with Durst software solutions and Durst ink portfolio.
“At FESPA, we will present the P5 platform that convinces in every printing environment with high flexibility and versatility combined with the Durst software solutions to get the maximum out of the printing production,” Bray says.
“We will show for the first time at FESPA our Durst Label & Flexible Packaging RSC platform as a possible portfolio extension for large-format printing customers. Additionally, we will also have Vanguard as co-exhibitor on our stand and use FESPA as the official Europe launch.
“We are looking forward to FESPA, to Berlin, to present our Production Excellence portfolio, and above all, to finally seeing partners and customers ‘live’ again.”
Solutions in action
Elsewhere and another name that will be familiar to UK visitors is Brett Martin, a specialist in plastic sheets technology. Sales director Duncan Smith says FESPA 2022 is a chance for UK visitors to keep up to date with the latest processing technology in the sign and display industry, in particular printing and cutting equipment.
“We believe it is very important to keep abreast of developments to ensure that our range of products is constantly evolving and can be successfully processed on the best equipment in the market,” Smith says.
“Through our approved partner programme, we collaborate with top manufacturers and at FESPA we plan to work alongside some of these to demonstrate how our products can be processed.”
Brett Martin will be showing its full range of transparent and foam PVC flat rigid substrates on Stand C10 in Hall 1.2. The transparent range includes Marcryl FS extruded acrylic sheet, Marpet-g FS PETg, Marpet-a FS aPET and Marlon FS polycarbonate flat sheet.
Brett Martin will be based on Stand C10 in Hall 1.2 at the FESPA Global Print Expo 2022
On the foam PVC side, Brett Martin will exhibit its premium Foamalux White, Foamalux Light which is optimised for digital printing, all six colours of Foamalux Colour, all seven shades of our high gloss Foamalux Ultra and our two environmentally friendlier foam PVC products, Foamalux Eco and Foamalux Xtra.
“This will be our first opportunity to show our full Eco range, which is based on our belief of minimising on-site waste and reusing whatever production waste is unavoidably generated,” Smith says.
“Marpet-g FS Eco, which contains at least 50% PETg regrind, minimises the amount of PETg which goes to landfill. Similarly, Marcryl FS Eco contains at least 50% acrylic regrind, again reducing the waste that leaves the site to landfill.
“In the Foamalux foam PVC substrate range, the black Foamalux Eco contains up to 80% reclaimed content, making it Brett Martin’s greenest choice of substrate. Foamalux Xtra, which has been established in the market for a number of years, contains up to 80% reclaimed material in its black core but also has one or two virgin white foam PVC surfaces, making it ideal for printing or for engraving to reveal the black core.”
Visitors will also be able to experience some solutions in action, with part of the back wall of the company’s stand to be constructed from layers of Foamalux White, Marpet-g FS PETg and Marcryl FS acrylic, resulting in a 3D illustration of what can be achieved with these rigid substrates.
With so many new developments to learn about and industry friends and peers to catch up with after so long away, a trip to the FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 is certainly worth adding to your diary. Berlin is accessible from most UK airports and offers excellent public transport links, while hotels are in abundance, making the event an extremely attractive proposal for UK visitors.
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