Talks, battles, and demos set for WrapFest

Anticipation is building for the upcoming inaugural WrapFest event taking place at Silverstone racing circuit on Wednesday April 26^th and Thursday April 27^th.

The brand-new event which is set to celebrate vinyl installation and vehicle wrapping will include over 60 live wrapping demonstrations as well as a “star-studded” line-up confirmed for the Wrap Talks programme.

Well-known brands such as HEXIS, 3M, ADAPT, Avery Dennison, APA, Grafityp, William Smith, Innotech, Surfex, HP, and Metamark will all deliver wrapping demonstrations from their own pit garages.

The headline sponsor for the two-day event will be HEXIS with the company delivering live car wrapping demonstrations with products such as HEXIS SKINTAC WRAP and BODYFENCE paint protection film (PPF).

HEXIS’ ‘HEX’PERT’ training team made up of James Steane, Stewart Cochran, and Luke Brotherton, will offer a number of wrapping and PPF installation demos with visitors able to take part in teaser lessons on one of HEXIS’ demonstration vehicles.

There will be a number of wrap colours on show at the event from HEXIS including Galactic Iridescent Ultra Gloss Limited Edition, Mystery Black Metallic Gloss, and Polaris Blue Metallic ‘Grey Colour Flip’ Gloss. Tools from S.H.A.G. Tools, Fusion Tools, WrapGlove, PID Pro Series (Paint is Dead), YelloTool, and more will be demonstrated.

Another company showcasing its range of vinyls for vehicle wrapping is Antalis. The company will be showcasing its premium range of high performance coloured and printable vinyls for vehicle customisation, from decals to printed vinyl graphics and full wraps.

Innotech Digital, supplier of roll-to-roll digital print materials will also be a sponsor of the inaugural event. The company is the UK’s largest distributor of General Formulations Self Adhesive Vinyls with the manufacturer set to launch General Formulations 830 AutoMark Cast Wrap Vinyl with DRIFT Technology at WrapFest.

This new product is a premium full-body gloss white cast wrap vinyl which includes General Formulation’s unique DRIFT Technology and adhesive combination. It is also engineered to provide excellent repositionability, ‘slideability’, and removability.

Kieran Dallow, marketing manager of Innotech Digital explains that ‘slideability’ refers to the ‘drifting’ capabilities of the new cast vinyl media. “The DRIFT Technology offers the right amount of adhesive tack with Micro Air Escape channels that allow for quick, easy, and bubble-free applications while allowing the installer to slide the vinyl across the surface so they can easily adjust panel alignment,” he says.

At WrapFest Innotech Digital will be wrapping an Audi RS7 Sportback with the new vinyl in the Pit Garages. This will be done by wrapping expert and trainer Dan Lowe of the Wrap Sanctuary. The company will also be joined by Trip Harris of General Formulations who has decades of experience in the wrap industry.

William Smith will be showcasing Avery Dennison Paint Protection Film and highlighting the benefits of this type of film. The company will also be previewing ten new Arlon Premium Colour Change colours and four brand new high gloss films from the 3M Wrap Film Series 2080 range, and a brand new launch from Contra Vision.

As well as product launches and demos, William Smith will be highlighting its Training Academy with a whole host of courses available including Vehicle Wrap Training, Architextural Application Training, Window Film Application Training, and more.

The current European Wrap Masters champion Mike Szwacki leads vehicle wrap training at the William Smith Academy. As well as competing in this year’s competition, Szwacki will also be demoing in the pit garages alongside Avery Dennison trainer Ash Ellison.

Armed with Knowledge

Wrap Talks will see a host of interactive and intimate speakers take to the stage including high profile figures such as celebrity wrapper Yianni Charalambous (Yiannimize); influencer and wrapping enthusiast, Archie Hamilton; and UK-based wrap entrepreneurs Corey England of Wrap Capital and Joshua Stedford of Livery Magic.

Taking part in an exclusive interview, Charalambous will discuss how a chance encounter with an Arsenal footballer led to him becoming the leading celebrity car customiser.

Elsewhere in a talk titled ‘Caesar Salad Logic: Can I Take Your Order? Deceptively simple selling tips for sign shops and installers’, Justin Pate, founder of The Wrap Institute, will offer tips on how to optimise sales whilst keeping customers happy.

Archie Hamilton, professional racing driver and YouTube sensation will lead a special panel on market trends and innovative projects, whilst talks from other speakers will cover the creative process of developing a livery by Joshua Stedford; and a look at an exciting Lamborghini Huracán fade wrap project being showcased on the WrapFest show floor by Corey England.

Suzi Ward, managing director of FESPA UK and Jon Hutton, of Prism Environmental (a Reconomy Group company) will discuss the importance of prioritising recycling throughout the supply chain.

In a session titled ‘Wrap to Race’, World Wrap Masters judge Mr Sunshine (aka Ole Solskin) will offer a technical description of what is needed to wrap a race car, covering elements such as wind flow and turbulence.

Battle it Out

Armed with a whole host of knowledge and information, visitors will be able to put their skills to the test with a range of competitions and challenges.

As part of the Show and Shine competition, visitors are encouraged to bring along their customised wrapped vehicles to be judged by the event’s attendees as well as World Wrap Masters judges. The designs will be judged on creativity, overall look, and technique used.

With the competition already almost booked, this feature strives to connect the global wrapping community to share previous designs and discuss skills and techniques.

There will be two categories: the Judges’ Choice Award which will be decided by a panel of professionals from the World Wrap Masters judging panel and wrapping influencers, and the People’s Choice Award which enables visitors to vote for the best looking wrap.

The Show and Shine competition will take place on each day of the event in the WrapFest Festival Forecourt.

Also taking place at the event will be a Wrap Warrior Battle, hosted by WrapFest training partner The Wrap Institute. This competition will offer visitors of all abilities to have a go at three contests: Bing Bing Plate testing dexterity, Chance of Clouds which challenges the knife skills of an installer, and Wrap the Dots which tests wrappers on their tape abilities.

Set to be a highlight of the event is the World Wrap Masters which will see up to 24 expert wrappers battle during a series of technical challenges in the UK & Ireland regional leg of the competition. Winners will then on to compete in the World Wrap Masters Final at FESPA Global Print Expo in Munich next month.

“We have decided to include a range of interactive competitive elements at WrapFest to engage and bring together the wrapping community onsite at the event,” says Duncan MacOwan, head of events and marketing at FESPA.

“With the vinyl wrapping industry experiencing exponential growth, we are excited to host members of the community at such a prestigious location to showcase the vibrance and depth of the talent our community has to offer.”