FESPA 2015

 

From 2017 onwards, FESPA’s biennial international print expo for digital wide format, screen and textile print will become an annual event covering all technologies, processes and applications.

‘Since 2006, our flagship FESPA event has alternated with FESPA Digital [focussing specifically on digital wide format technologies], reflecting the digital revolution that has so dramatically reshaped and revitalised our sector over the last decade,’ explained Neil Felton, FESPA CEO. ‘Today, feedback from both visitors and exhibitors is that – as digital becomes a mature technology – they would prefer to see FESPA present one annual event, embracing both digital and analogue products and applications to reflect the diversity of their businesses.’ 

‘By unifying our European events and removing the “Digital” distinction, we can focus all our energies on delivering the same great event experience for all participants, every year,’ added Roz McGuinness, FESPA Divisional Director. ‘It also ensures that we can present a consistent offering for our growing community of visitors from textile and other industrial sectors, and enables us to give greater continuity to more recently launched events and initiatives such as European Sign Expo and Printeriors.’

The 2017 event takes place in Hamburg, Germany, over 8-12 May. Beyond 2017, FESPA has now confirmed Berlin and Munich as the host cities for the 2018 and 2019 editions respectively.

FESPA is also launching its second global Print Census, with the first surveys being completed at FESPA Asia in Bangkok (15-17 February 2017).

The research will delve further into the six over-arching trends to emerge from the analysis of the 2014/2015 Census, namely: Optimism; Customer demands; Changing product mix, Digital technology as change enabler; Textile print growth; and the Future of sign and display, while also incorporating additional questions on the topic of sustainability. Continuity of key survey topics will enable FESPA to track longer-term trends, while also identifying new drivers of change and opportunity for the community.

Visitors to FESPA exhibitions throughout 2017 in Europe, Africa, Eurasia and Latin-America will be able to complete the Print Census onsite at these events, and the survey will also be openly accessible for print service providers to complete online at www.fespa.com/completemycensus.