Business - Events

Imagine there’s a trade fair and hardly a train traveller gets there: sadly that is exactly the situation that the show organisers had to contend with at last week's Viscom 2014 in Frankfurt.

Usually, one in four visitors travels to the International Trade Fair for Visual Communication by train. Usually. But the largest strike in German railway history caused massive disruptions. Even though viscom organiser Reed Exhibitions Deutschland operated a live ticker with the latest traffic updates and possible travel alternatives, the massive disruptions affecting the railway did end up impacting the event.

The three-day trade fair, which alternates between Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, had to accept a decrease in visitors for the first time in ten years. The organiser recorded a total of 10,064 visitors (prior event: 12,075), representing a drop of 17% compared to viscom frankfurt 2012. “Many of our customers were unable to come or had to change their travel itineraries in order to get to viscom”, says Hans-Joachim Erbel, CEO Reed Exhibitions Deutschland, in summarising the consequences of the tense traffic situation during viscom. In prior years, viscom had seen clear double-digit annual growth rates.

Those who did make it to viscom in Frankfurt this year found the entire world of visual communication awaiting them – from the latest digital printing solutions to innovative digital signage applications to interactive displays and print finishing solutions for packages used in brand communication at the POS. For the first time ever, the altogether 325 exhibitors from 29 nations (2012: 327) occupied both of Hall 3’s floors. viscom was able to enhance its profile thanks to the new, clearly structured hall layout with six core segments: large format printing, signmaking, object design, digital signage, POS display and POS packaging. The new appearance was defined by the “main axis” consisting of “digital printing, advertising technology and materials” downstairs and “brand communication, digital signage and illuminated advertising” upstairs.

“The idea of providing better orientation to print service providers and advertising technicians as well as to major brands from retail, industry and agencies was very well received”, says viscom Director Petra Lassahn. The new structure aligns with visitors’ interest in being able to access each topic in a targeted way. The revamped POS display area, which presented the sector’s leading companies under one roof, resonated particularly well with a broad audience. Also very well received was the POS packaging area, which showed print finishing solutions for designing and producing high-quality folding boxes.

The “heart” of viscom was once again the world of inspiration. Taking up 800 m², this special show highlighted best practices from all six of viscom’s topical areas, including trends for the point of sale, award-winning packaging solutions, print finishing innovations and the latest digital signage projects. The central theme here was inspiration; trend discussions and workshops were held, including the one hosted by the Packaging Design School showing visitors how designs make it onto the packaging for anything from mass-produced articles like laundry detergents to premium spirits. “This was our first time attending viscom as part of the ‘Packaging Design School’ cooperation – and we were very pleasantly surprised. We had an excellent response and many visitors, from individual advertising designers to larger agencies, schools and universities. The entire spectrum was represented”, says Guido Möller from the Wacom/Packaging Design School. Other world of inspiration highlights included 3D-printed exhibits, microwavable pizza boxes, luxury packaging, multi-touch solutions for walls and tables, POS gesture control solutions and an innovative installation of media blinds.

Once again, viscom served as a stage for numerous innovations, as demonstrated by the awards handed out here in various branches of the visual communication sector. Presented again this year were the viscom Best of Award in the areas signmaking, large format printing, textile finishing, software and illuminated advertising; the Digital Signage Best Practice Award; the SUPERSTAR for new display solutions; the European Wrap Star; and the Designmaker Award for creative designs that work on a variety of advertising media.

Next year Viscom wil be in Dusseldorf from 4 to 6 November 2015 - and hopefully will not have to contend with a national rail strike.

Following its appointment as a Mimaki reseller, printMAX is hosting two open days on the 2nd and 3rd December 2014 showcasing Mimaki's product range at Hybrid’s headquarters in Crewe.

There will be an array of demonstrations across the entire range, with particular focus on the print and business opportunities within the Industrial Product range.

Michael Bolton, Managing Director of printMAX, explains: “Since announcing our partnership with Mimaki back in September we have seen an overwhelming level of response from large format users looking to take the next step up in their business. I truly believe that the industrial products from Mimaki represent a fantastic opportunity for those looking at expanding both in terms of offering and volume. We look forward to demonstrating this fantastic range of products for the very first time.”

There will be a wealth of knowledge and expertise on hand along with fantastic on-the-day deals, freebies and one-on-one demonstration opportunities.

printMAX Sales Manager, Chris Martin, concludes: “This is a fantastic opportunity to show the complete diversity of print potential within the Mimaki line-up. I’d strongly encourage anyone considering a new printer to register for one of these open days or get in touch regarding a demonstration as these printers need to be seen to be believed. They really do live up to the hype!”

For more information or to register for the Mimaki open house, please visit www.printmax.co.uk/event or call +44(0)1420 51139.

i-Sub Digital is following the success of its recent open days with two additional dates dedicated to the print specialist's exclusive Digi-Foil digital foiling system and digital packaging proofing systems.

Taking place on Tuesday November 25th and Wednesday November 26th 2014 at Hybrid Services' headquarters in Crewe, the event will see i-Sub Digital partner with foil supplier Foilco and exclusive UK and Ireland Mimaki distributor Hybrid Services to demonstrate the Digi-Foil end-to-end system.

By combining a Mimaki UJF desktop printer with foil and a heated applicator, foil effects can be achieved in minutes without the time and cost involved in preparing traditional dies and foil presses. For print houses specialising in packaging mock-ups, this can cut weeks or even months off project times as decisions based on colour-accurate prototypes can be made immediately. Foil can be applied to areas as small as 4pt text or dot size of 0.3mm, dramatically reducing material wastage and enabling the creation of eye-catching designs.

In addition to metallic colours, Digi-Foil can achieve holographic, patterned, multi-coloured, opaque and foil embossed effects and security markings – making the system ideal for the packaging and promotional products markets.

The November open days will also feature the recently launched Kebab add-on for the Mimaki UJF-6042HG desktop printer with higher clearance. Offering 360° direct printing and foiling, the Kebab enables personalisation and intricate decoration of cylindrical items such as candles, bottles, packaging and gift items in just five minutes.

"Our Digi-Foil system, particularly paired with the Kebab tool, has attracted huge interest at every event we've shown it so we felt it deserved its own open house event," says Andy Spreag, Director of i-Sub Digital. "From packaging companies and dedicated packaging prototype designers to signmakers and print houses, it has sparked the imagination of everyone who's seen it.

"The two open days in November will offer an opportunity to see Digi-Foil in action and get in-depth Mimaki knowledge from experts from i-Sub Digital and Hybrid Services plus advice from materials specialist Foilco. We're looking forward to seeing what new ideas our guests will come up with."

The Hybrid Services demonstration suite also features a huge range of Mimaki wide-format printing equipment, including the recently launched Mimaki JV300 range of solvent printers and print and cut systems. Visitors will be available to see these at the Digi-Foil open house.

Refreshments will be available throughout the event. Places are limited, so please email info@i-subdigital.com or call i-Sub Digital on 01536 415511 for more information.

FESPA’s annual awards programme celebrating print excellence is now open for entries. The global competition is open to any print service provider anywhere in the world, culminating at the prize-giving ceremony at FESPA’s Gala Dinner on 19th May 2015 during FESPA 2015 in Cologne, Germany.

This year the global competition consists of 21 categories, 17 covering a variety of application themes including; in-store; fine art print; decals, outdoor and vehicle decoration; special effect print; garment and wearables; interior decoration; and industrial and functional project of the year.

Each category can be entered with work created using either a digital print process, screen print process or a combination of any print process.

Entries to the Awards, sponsored by Kornit Digital (fashion and garment decoration), MS Printing Solutions (interior decoration project) and Mimaki (Young Star Award) will be judged by an independent panel of global industry experts. The judging criteria is: Excellence in execution and technical expertise of print quality; appropriate use of techniques, design, media; creativity for the application; and selling efficiency/ROI for the end user of the printed item. All entries must have supporting documentation which will give an explanation of the technique used, high resolution imagery and samples of the print.

Outside of the application-led categories, there are four separate categories: Young Star, Best in Show, FESPA Hall of Fame Award and People’s Choice. The Young Star award is open to an employee or student in a print related discipline between 16 and 25. Best in Show is decided by the judges, from the shortlisted entries, for the piece of work that offers the most outstanding example of print. The Hall of Fame Award is dedicated to the best printer, voted for by the FESPA Community from a shortlist of printers nominated by their peers. The People’s Choice award is also voted for by the FESPA community at Koelnmesse during FESPA 2015.

Duncan MacOwan, Head of Events and New Media, FESPA, comments: “Last year was the first year we opened the Awards to the global print community and we got some fantastic entries demonstrating the power of print from around the world. For the 2015 Awards we have added more categories compared to 2014 as we felt the existing categories didn’t illustrate the full scope of printing techniques that could be used. The FESPA Awards are a great way of highlighting the creativity that can be demonstrated through print across digital, screen and textile print. It is a platform to inspire our global print community and to motivate other PSPs to push the boundaries of print.

“Winning or even being shortlisted for a FESPA Award is a significant endorsement of a print business’ skill and expertise which enables printers to instil confidence with potential and existing customers. Printers have to be in it to win it, so PSPs should enter their best work.”

For more information, the full list of categories or to enter the FESPA Awards 2015, visit: www.fespa.com/awards

Full list of application categories

• Category 1 - Point of Purchase Products - Printing on paper & board, including paper banners & backlit papers.
• Category 2 - Point of Purchase Products – Printed on all types of plastics, including plastic banners and backlit plastic + lenticular, plastic printing in sheets, flexible or rigid.
• Category 3 - Posters, single sheets & multi-sheets.
• Category 4 - Calendars, postcards, greetings & Christmas cards.
• Category 5 - Original serigraphies and giclées - Printed in limited editions, signed or unsigned, in which the artist is involved in the creative process.
• Category 6 - Fine art reproductions, books, brochures, accurate reproduction of existing paintings or other pieces of art.
• Category 7 - Decals, printed labels, fleet marking, window decals, etc. printed pressure sensitive substrates, plastics or other substrates for promotion, decoration or corporate identity.
• Category 8 - Special effect screen printed over offset, digital or screen printed images and other innovative applications.
• Category 9 - Special effect on t-shirts and other, including embroidery, additions of pearls, metal, printed circuits, etc.
• Category 10 - T-shirts and other garments, caps, direct printing or transfers.
• Category 11 - Pennants, banners, tapestries, draperies, other textile products e.g. bags, scarves, ties and canvas etc.
• Category 12 - Roll to roll printed textile for decoration or fashion.
• Category 13 - Glass & ceramic, e.g. tableware, tiles, glasses, mirrors – curved and flat, direct printing, decals and backlit.
• Category 14 - Metal & wood products, signs and objects.
• Category 15 - Direct printing on three-dimensional products, bottles, mugs, skis, packaging etc.
• Category 16 - Miscellaneous: Compact disks, credit and phone cards, automobiles, IMD, fascias, dials, nameplates, signs, gauges etc. printed circuits & membrane switches, hybrid circuits, RFIDs, solar cells, etc.
• Category 17 - Cross media print campaign of the year - Entries must include an element of print, and may also include but are not limited to live media, interactive displays and signage, social media, online interactivity, live events, mobile apps, scannable codes, personalisation and printed products.
• Category 18 - Young star Award
• Category 19 - FESPA Hall of Fame Award
• Category 20 - Best in Show
• Category 21 - People's choice Award

Newtech is delighted to announce that Julie Savage of Savage Graphics is the lucky winner of the Newtech Wetherby Mini iPad Visitor Draw.  Julie and her husband Mark visited the Wetherby event and were among many who commented on how much they enjoyed the day and this exciting new style of print show – which is great news for both exhibitors and visitors.

‘We missed the Sign & Digital exhibition this year, so when we received an email from DoroTape with their superb range of media and materials announcing they were at an event close to home, we registered to attend. A few of the other exhibitors were familiar and of interest, but little did we know the visit would turn out to be so rewarding," comments Julie Savage.

She continues: "The venue was within an hours journey.  With most trade shows now in the midlands or in the south, we can spend 3+ hours travelling, and the disadvantage with large exhibitions is not having the opportunity to see as much as we would like in the half a day we usually get.  The Newtech Wetherby event we attended was located just off the A1 motorway, it was easy to find, had plenty of free parking, and the floor space was nicely balanced for each exhibitor to make it feel just right.

"We had an agenda to see four of the exhibitors and expected to stay until around midday. As an incentive to visit each exhibitor, the organisers offered the chance to enter an iPad prize draw, in exchange for a signed programme. We were glad they did as it encouraged us to approach each exhibitor, which is something you often don't do. Very beneficial extra contacts were made and we discovered some very interesting new technology that we had never seen.

"Since starting in business we have progressed from litho only, to adding Xerox digital printers and more recently large format solvent inkjet. Although aware of the principle for screen printing, one of the biggest surprises was the demonstration of the Goccopro desktop digital screen maker. We subscribe to many trade magazines and are big users of the internet for business, so to find out about a product we had never heard of was quite a surprise.

"In the end we stayed until 2.30pm. A four hour period that surprised us but did seem right to get the best 1 to 1 with each exhibitor.  A few weeks later we received news that the iPad draw had been won by us, so an extra bonus that was gratefully received.

"The concept of the mini roadshow exhibition provided by Newtech is in our opinion a successful format. Locations that enable people to consider visiting, with a scale and content that was beneficial to all.

"We have spent 4 hours at the show and seen everybody. If we’d been going to London or Birmingham, we wouldn’t have even got there yet! Lots of new products and we had time to understand the technologies. We will be investing!"

The latest in a national series of specialist printing shows, Newtech Corby November 18-19 comes to the midlands with an exciting range of exhibitors in print & cut, finishing, screen, transfers and garment decoration.

Held at Ultima Displays showroom in Corby, the latest Newtech event promises to be the most popular yet with registrations breaking all records and exhibitors space completely sold out. Newtech then rolls out in 2015 in Southampton in February, Glasgow in March, Liverpool in May, Newcastle in June, Bristol in July, Wetherby in October and London in November.

Each exhibitor is offering a special promotion for these events and Roland DG is also running a rolling schedule of free one-to-one Roland DG Academy training sessions during the Corby show. Designed to develop skills and maximise profits, options are:

• VersaWorks RIP software. Find out how Roland’s advanced and powerful RIP software can help you get even more from your machine.
• VersaUV LEF-20 Business Bootcamp. Ideal for budding entrepreneurs looking to add additional profitable revenue streams, and a little magic, to their business.

For further information or to register as a visitor visit www.co-opevents.com 

Faversham House has confirmed that Sign & Digital UK is expanding its floor plan by one fifth following increasing exhibitor demand. The UK’s leading trade exhibition for wide format digital printing, sign making and display solution industries opens its doors to visitors from 24th to 26th March 2015 at the NEC, Birmingham.

With bookings up and the exhibition already 11% larger than the 2014 show, Sign & Digital UK 2015 will return with the new theme “Creating Business Connections” which will be explored through the show’s product demonstrations, theatre programmes and trails.

2015’s seminar line-up will feature a range of expert speakers, practical demonstrations and workshops to help industry professionals improve their business. The seminar schedules for the Corel, SignLab, Adobe and expanded Business Theatres will be announced in the coming weeks at www.signanddigitaluk.com.

In line with industry’s biggest market opportunities and emerging revenue streams, 2015’s trails will include the return of the Textile Trail and the first Retail Route and Materials World Trails. A wide range of products and services will be highlighted within the trails, including textile printing and finishing systems, retail POP and POS display systems, and the very latest materials, media and substrates.

Exhibitors confirmed to date include: Agfa Graphics, Amaya, Applelec, Art Systems, Atech, Blackman & White, CMYUK Digital, CWE Solutions, Grafityp, Hewlett-Packard, Inktec/Jetrix, Maxicam, Paperlinx UK, PrintMax, Perfect Colours, Colourgen, Hybrid Services/Mimaki, i-Sub, QPS, Resolute DTG, SMGG, Soyang Europe, Ultima Displays, and many more. A full exhibitor list can be found at www.signanddigitaluk.com.

Rudi Blackett, event director for Sign & Digital UK, said: ‘‘2015 will be Sign & Digital UK’s 28th year. With such a strong heritage and many regular and loyal visitors, next year’s show will demonstrate the event’s evolution with insight into new markets and business opportunities. 

"We celebrated a fantastic exhibition in 2014, with high exhibitor and visitor numbers. The independent visitor research carried out post-show put Sign & Digital UK way ahead of the B2B exhibition industry benchmark for overall event satisfaction.

“Of course, all of this means we have raised the bar and improving in 2015 will be even more challenging, something I know we can deliver given the expanded programme and the industry’s ongoing commitment and enthusiasm for Sign & Digital UK.”

Sign & Digital UK is free to attend and you can register to visit at www.signanddigitaluk.com To enquire about exhibiting, please contact the show team on +44 (0) 1342 332000, or email signanddigitaluk@fav-house.com