FESPA makes big splash in Munich

After several years of disruption and hesitation, FESPA Global Print Expo returned for its European exhibition last week leading to a slew of announcements, meetings, and celebrations.

After a quieter return in 2021, and a strong but challenging show in 2022, this year felt like the exhibition had truly returned as individuals and businesses from around the world were now able to travel and experience an authentic reunion.

Many manufacturers and brands went bigger and bolder with their stands than in previous years, with the likes of Durst bringing big robotic innovations and Sun Chemical, Canon, HP, and Mimaki designing visually open and inviting stands.

While some went bold on graphics and experiences, other manufacturers like swissQprint, Fujifilm, Roland, and Agfa brought a large range of impressive kit that filled the stands with enticing prints and processes. 

While the exhibition has traditionally been dedicated to speciality print, signage, and visual communications, the 2023 show demonstrated the extreme versatility of the industry by showcasing solutions in the worlds of labels, textiles, software, sustainability, and personalisation.

This year’s show focused on the theme of ‘New Perspectives’, an aspect that could be felt throughout the five halls in Messe Munich. Many businesses approached this in many different ways, whether that be through technology, new products, or simple ideologies.

Speaking to SignLink at the show, senior director of marketing and innovation at Canon EMEA, Jennifer Kolloczek, said: “New perspectives and innovation are exactly what we are showing here and hopefully everyone who is visiting feels that.

“New perspectives for our customers can be how they can diversify their solutions, but also literally provide new perspectives with our raised and new level printing offered by our Arizona line. We’re constantly innovating and trying to reinvent ourselves because that’s exactly what our customers have to do to stay relevant.”

A company that exhibited in the Personalisation Experience section of the show, Printbox, used its stand to expand its reach throughout Europe and help a variety of potential customers by using its online solution for books and photo albums.

Account executive for company, Krzysztof Szczepańczyk, said: “Our smart creation tool which we developed three years ago is following this new trend of AI, which we are now investing into in order to help further push personalisation.

“The simplicity of our solution gives many new perspectives as it saves so much time and labour and gives people a beautiful product at the end. This is a theme I’m seeing throughout Printbox and other exhibitors at FESPA.”

The Personalisation Experience, while a smaller section, did demonstrate the integration of the show, much like the European Sign Expo and Sustainability Spotlight the exhibition didn’t feel as segmented as before, using its space to spread out a wide range of solutions and interweave large and small companies together.

With the FESPA Awards, FESPA Party, World Wrap Masters, and Printeriors also taking place it was hard for some elements of the show to not feel overlooked, especially as the Personalisation Experience featured a three-day conference programme with different speakers on top of the many stand tours and announcements already taking place.

Despite this, visitors still had the space and ability to book their time effectively and meet and see who or what they wanted.

With exhibitors and visitors returning from the likes of Asia and Australia, as well as more UK visitors attending due to an easing of travel fears and fewer clashes with public holidays (last year being the platinum jubilee) FESPA 2023 felt far more populated and a much bigger celebration and chance for businesses to network.

A company that was exhibiting at FESPA for the first time in ten years was Xeikon which returned to the show to showcase its digital print portfolio. The stand included an interactive kiosk with one of Sweden’s largest wallpaper suppliers, Färggrossen, where visitors could choose, customise, and visualise wallpaper.

Speaking to SignLink, market segment director at Xeikon, Dimitri Van Gaever, said: “We know FESPA as a very dynamic show with a lot of movement and development, so this year we decided to be part of that.

“The fact we’re here is already offering a new perspective. We’re still big in the label business but we’re also showing people what else can be done with our technology. At the show, there is a lot of multi-pass and UV inkjet technology, but as an innovator of dry toner inks and single-pass print we can demonstrate what people can do to increase automation, productivity, and sustainability.”

The increase in business diversity is welcomed by FESPA which in a conference at the event detailed its commitment to more shows and focuses on different parts of the visual communications market.

Duncan MacOwan, head of marketing and events at FESPA, said the future of personalisation was exciting to many businesses in the industry, especially many big web-to-print businesses like Vistaprint and Moonpig.

Speaking about future events, FESPA chief executive officer Neil Felton stated that FESPA Middle East will open up new doors in that part of the world especially as the exhibition will hold its own version of WrapFest.

The inaugural event in Silverstone, UK was considered a success for the global federation as it was a way of engaging with a different part of the market.

FESPA confirmed its next European event will take place between March 19^th and 22^nd, 2024, in Amsterdam, where Sportswear Pro 2024 will also be hosted after being delayed several years due to the pandemic.

If you’d like to share news or opinions with us feel free to email at news@signlink.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.