Business - Events

FESPA and sponsor Avery Graphics invite entries to FESPA 2010 Wrap Cup vehicle wrapping competition

Would-be ‘wrap stars’ are invited to enter the FESPA Wrap Cup (www.fespa-wrap-cup.com), the live vehicle wrapping competition running throughout FESPA 2010 (Messe Munich, 22-26 June 2010).

Over the course of the five day event 64 vehicle wrappers will compete to win thousands of Euros worth of prizes and the coveted title of ‘FESPA Wrap Star’.

Each day 16 individual competitors will be whittled down to one during three competitive rounds. ‘Wrappers’ will be challenged to wrap a variety of cars with speed and precision.  They will be given just half an hour in the first round, increasing with each progressive stage, and culminating in a daily final. The winners from each of the first four days will then go on to compete in the two-part Grand Finale on the last afternoon of the show, where they will be challenged to wrap the side of a Chevy Corvette convertible and the front of a racing motorbike - all in one piece.

“The wrappers will be evaluated on the quality of their work, although speed will be a decisive factor should there be a draw,” says FESPA Wrap Cup event coordinator Dirk Moebes of Digital DesignWare. “This is going to a fun event, both to watch and take part in, but above it will be an excellent way for competing print service providers to showcase their skills among peers.”

Competitors will be judged by a panel of three, including Robert Ivers, founder of the PDAA (Professional Decal Application Alliance) and Hans van den Berg, technical training manager of FESPA Wrap Cup sponsor Avery Graphics.

Any company with some experience of vehicle wrapping can enter a representative.  To sign up, visit www.fespa-wrap-cup.com. A modest registration fee of Euros 200.00 is payable, but all participants are guaranteed to take home a prize package worth at least 2000€, even if they do not survive the first round. The finalists will be presented with products and services worth more than 8,000€ each at an exclusive awards ceremony following Saturday’s final.

FESPA Sales & Marketing Duirector Marcus Timson adds: “Entering the FESPA Wrap Cup needs no incentive. It’s an amazing platform for gaining exposure to potential customers, and participants are guaranteed to take home a share of 200,000€ worth of superb prizes. We’re looking forward to a spectacular and adrenaline-powered competition, showcasing the skill and creativity that are making vehicle decoration one of the most innovative and effective outdoor marketing tools in today’s promotional mix.”

The FESPA Wrap Cup is part of the FESPA Innovate! Programme at FESPA 2010.  For more information about the show, and the full programme of satellite events, please visit www.fespa2010.com

Following the continued unpredictable weather pattern caused by the volcanic ash cloud, the Ipex organisers have established a dedicated on-site communications desk to ensure that exhibitors and visitors are kept fully abreast of air travel developments.

During show opening hours, the communications desk will be located in the Atrium at the front of hall 6 and will closely monitor the news media and the appropriate aviation bodies to regularly update the travel section on www.ipex.org. The desk can be contacted on +44 (0) 20 3377 3730.

Ipex 2010 is taking place from Tuesday 18th May to Tuesday 25th May 2010 at The NEC, Birmingham, UK.

Ipex 2010 got off to a notable start, following a high profile opening ceremony which saw the print community celebrating the inspiring work of the Ipex ’Champions in Print’.

Members of the Ipex Advisory Committee as well as other Ipex exhibitors, the media and visitors watched industry visionaries Benny Landa, Professor Frank Romano; Lord Bob Gavron, John Crosfield and Mike Gordon (RR Donnelley) being officially honoured during the ceremony and receiving an award in recognition of their pioneering work which has shaped the modern print industry.  Representatives of Adobe and Kodak collected the awards on behalf of Dr. John Warnock & Dr. Charles Geschke as well as Dan Gelbart. Remaining Ipex Champions JK Rowling will be presented with the award after the show.

In their speeches, both Trevor Crawford, Ipex 2010 Event Director and George Clarke, Ipex 2010 President & Heidelberg UK MD & thanked the industry for their continuous support and commitment since Ipex 2006. The event is set to impress visitors from over 150 countries with over 1,000 exhibiting companies, demonstrating the latest technological advancements, providing printers with a real insight into the future of their businesses.

Says Trevor,” We’re delighted to have the Ipex Champions opening the event. Ipex has always had a reputation for being more than an exhibition. Yes, first and foremost it is a business show but it is also a showcase for all that is great about our industry. For that reason, two years ago we launched the ‘Champions In Print’ initiative to honour a group of people who have made a significant contribution to the development of the printing industry.”

Digital Print Pioneer and first ever Ipex Champion Benny Landa spoke on behalf of  all the Ipex Champions, re-iterating the important role print continues to play in today’s communications landscape.

Says Benny Landa: “It’s a great honour to be speaking on behalf of all Ipex Champions whose creativity and commitment have shaped all areas of our continuously evolving industry. It is especially thrilling for me to return to Ipex, since, after all, it was at Ipex seventeen years ago that Indigo first made its debut. I am fascinated to see how Ipex continues to be a watershed event for entrepreneurs, product developers and visionaries, giving them – and their future customers - an unrivalled opportunity to meet and exchange insights."

For the next eight days, the NEC in Birmingham will welcome tens of thousands of visitors to Ipex from the UK and all over the world aiming to make investment decisions and keep abreast of fast-changing technology.  To assist visitors, the Ipex organisers have introduced a raft of new features, including the Printers’ Profit Zone (Hall 9, Stand 9F333), The Great Print Debates (Hall 9, Stand 9F333) and the Knowledge Centre (Hall 11, Stand 11F230) to help print providers understand new market dynamics and the opportunities they represent.

Roland DG Corporation, a leading worldwide provider of wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters, have announced that they will be exhibiting at IPEX 2010, held at NEC, Birmingham UK from May 18 through 25, 2010. Visitors will see demonstrations of the latest digital print solutions from Roland DG at booth Hall 12, Stand C-140.

Some significant developments to be revealed at IPEX – the global event for print, publishing and media are several new strategic technology partnerships between Roland DG and digital proofing and Colour Management System companies. These partnerships combined with the Roland VersaUV LEC-330 and LEC-300, UV-LED printer/cutters, will bring leading edge technologies to the graphics industry.

 

Strategic Partners and Colour Management Systems:

- CGS (CGS Publishing Technologies International GMbH):

ORIS Color Tuner // Web with ScreenDot halftone option

- EFI (Electronics for Imaging, Inc.):  Colorproof XF and Web Control Center

- EskoArtwork (Esko NV):  FlexProof and Color Engine

- GMG (GMG GmbH & Co. KG):  FlexoProof, and ColorServer

*Listed in alphabetical order.

 

"Integrating a Colour Management System from our strategic partners with the Roland VersaUV series gives our customers more flexibility and a greater capacity to produce labels and packaging prototypes," said Kevin Shigenoya, Roland DG Product Marketing executive officer. "Using a VersaUV and the CMS will save time and be more cost effective, while maintaining uncompromising quality. We look forward to the opportunities created in the printing industry from these partnerships."

 

Colour Management System (CMS)

CMS is a system used to achieve a closer colour match between devices that have different colour gamut, such as offset and inkjet printers. By adopting the CMS into the print workflow, highly accurate and precision digital colour proofing is achievable. Connecting the Roland VersaUV series with the CMS will make it possible to establish a more flexible and accurate colour-proofing system.

 

Roland VersaUV Series LEC-330 and LEC-300

The 30" wide VersaUV series prints on an unprecedented range of substrates and features Roland's renowned Print&Cut technology, which enables precision printing and contour cutting of graphics all on one device through one seamless workflow. In addition to CMYK and white inks, VersaUV prints a clear coat which can be layered to create gloss and matte finishes, unique textures and special effects. Roland Eco-UV inks exclusively developed for the VersaUV series offer an expansive colour gamut and remain flexible to support the production of packaging samples and short-run high-quality labels and stickers.

 

UK-based distributor IGS UK is planning to make the most of its first FESPA attendance with a strong portfolio of cost-effective, environmentally aware options geared for the wide-format ink-jet market. With a rapidly growing reseller channel, the company’s popular after-market inks and service options are being complemented by the introduction of a completely new, modestly priced eco-friendly range of printers.

Being kept under wraps until the doors open at this year’s FESPA, IGS UK’s environmental printing solution will be making its international debut in Hall 3, Stand 490. These innovative systems bring alternative ink chemistries to the market which use greener formulations and will appeal to users who want the benefits of durable, eco-aware high quality output at a sensible investment level. The new family of machines will encompass popular widths and be suitable for applications onto coated and uncoated materials, with additional models already in the pipeline.

Since its formation as a distributor of wide-format products IGS UK has developed a strong network of resellers throughout the UK, and is now extending its channel within Europe and other key areas of the world. The emphasis is on providing high quality, good prices and keener environmental practices, combined with simplifying product choice for end users. This is endorsed through its families of inks, plus its Colorgreen cartridge recycling service which is free to all registered companies.

IGS UK’s ethos has always been to source the best products from the most reputable manufacturers and suppliers world-wide. This policy is endorsed throughout its entire portfolio, down to spare parts and service options. Take-up by resellers has been swift and the company has recently moved to larger premises in the UK to enable more comprehensive stock-holding, a wider range of options and fast, efficient delivery.

 

Gerber Scientific Products will demonstrate the new high resolution Solara ionZ wide-format cationic UV printer June 22-26 at FESPA 2010 in Munich, Germany. In addition, they will demonstrate the new M Turbo flatbed cutting system which works with both the Solara ionZ and other industry leading printers to create a precise, fast print-to-cut solution. Visitors to Gerber's booth at FESPA 2010 will have the opportunity to see these two machines work together and independently to produce output that will increase productivity and exhibit create new sales opportunities for customers.

The Solara ionZ is the newest high resolution model of Gerber's wide-format UV flatbed printer. The Solara ionZ utilizes Gerber's GerberCAT cationic UV ink technology for unmatched ink flexibility and adhesion, and the ionZ's higher resolution allows owners to expand their ability to produce point of purchase signs and many other profitable jobs. The Solara ionZ works hand-in-hand with Gerber's high-powered M Turbo cutting system to provide a print-to-cut solution that enhances the user's precision and control, allowing for faster, higher quality results.

The M Turbo Cutting System employs a powerful 1kw router that routs aluminum up to 0.080 inches and acrylic and wood up to 0.75 inches. Working together with the Solara ionZ and other leading flat bed printers, the M Series can be purchased as a complete turnkey system for one reasonable price that includes everything needed to begin production.