Business - Events

The PDAA Graphics Application Zone brings the best installers together to demonstrate the newest and most innovative installation techniques at the 2010 SGIA Expo (Las Vegas, October 13-15).

This year, five supplier companies will sponsor the Zone by providing the necessary printed materials for installation demonstrations: 3M Graphics Market Center, Avery Dennison Graphics & Reflective Products Division, FLEXcon, Hewlett Packard Company and MACtac. Clear Focus Imaging is serving as a Zone partner. Each sponsor will offer one sales-free, company-narrated installation demonstration every day of the Expo.

"With the help of our generous sponsors, PDAA is able to present a unique learning experience," said Dan Marx, SGIA's Vice President of Markets and Technologies. "Master Certified Installers and Zone sponsors will work together to highlight new developments in the graphic installation industry."

The PDAA Graphics Application Zone will feature a variety of interactive vinyl installations on a variety of objects and surfaces that go beyond vehicle wraps, including: Tables, rough surfaces, glass, concrete, walls and more. While you're there, you can try your hand at installation with the help of PDAA-certified professionals.

The Expo also will offer additional other Expert Advice Zones for the graphic, garment and industrial communities. These sales-free, no-spin Zones will help attendees enter new markets and explore new business opportunities:

• Digital Apparel Production Zone
• Industrial Application Zone
• DSA Digital Signage Zone
• Screen Printed Apparel Training Zone

 

Majority of survey respondents say recession is over; first half sales fuel optimism

FESPA’s third Economy Survey, conducted by FESPA research partner InfoTrends immediately after FESPA 2010, underlines the event’s significance in stimulating and motivating visitors to make significant business decisions.  70% of respondents who visited FESPA 2010 intended to make strategic business investments following their visit, and 80% said they had learned something relating to innovation that they planned to use in their business.

The electronic stakeholder survey obtained feedback from 270 printers, vendors and resellers worldwide, with the split between customers and suppliers being roughly 50/50.  93% of respondents attended FESPA 2010.  FESPA’s objective was to obtain an update on major industry developments, ascertain post-event views on the economic situation and outlook for the wide format community, and understand the impact of an industry event such as FESPA.

According to the Economy Survey 3, output dominates visitors’ spending plans, with 45% likely to invest in new or additional printing equipment, with an emphasis on ‘eco-friendly’ technology (40%).  Finishing is an investment priority for 25% of respondents, followed closely by variable data capabilities (23%) and workflow software (18%).  Interest in printing onto textile substrates is high, with 42% of respondents now planning purchases in this area.

The majority of respondents (57%) now believe the recession is over, though opinions on recovery are divided, with 10% claiming the market has recovered, 28% expecting business levels to bounce back later this year, and 19% stating that the market is unlikely to recover its pre-recession buoyancy.  Only 5% of respondents see recessionary conditions continuing beyond 2011.

The first half of 2010 has been a strong sales period for 13% of respondents, with another 30% saying the six months have been better than expected, and a further 42% rating their first-half sales as ‘fair’.  Only 15% said sales were worse than expected or very poor. Among print service providers specifically, 44.3% said their first half sales were strong or better than expected.

FESPA sales and marketing director Marcus Timson comments: “FESPA 2010 came at the perfect time to support print service providers in making business-critical decisions, and the high level of global attendance from senior decision-makers is proof of this.  This fresh Economy Survey data shows that our community’s returning confidence is founded on solid sales performances early in 2010, and this was reflected in the experiences of the companies that exhibited at FESPA 2010.  Vendors across all five halls were very satisfied with the footfall to their stands and – most importantly – the number and quality of discussions being conducted with serious buyers.”

He continues: “Our ‘Catch the New Wave of Innovation’ campaign for 2010 resonated strongly among our survey respondents, and their other answers tell us why.  Two thirds of respondents have innovated processes or products to address the downturn, with more than half entering new business areas or niches, and a third making changes to sales and marketing strategies. Close to a third claim that digital inkjet has allowed them to create new niches for their business.”

François Martin, marketing director for the Graphics Solutions Business of HP, FESPA 2010’s largest single exhibitor commented: “FESPA was an outstanding show for HP sales-wise. The exhibition attracted a high quality of visitor from all over Europe, who, for the first time were able to see HP’s new products and end-to-end solutions. With five new products on display on the stand, HP demonstrated that its strategy to replace solvent with UV and Latex is becoming a reality. The HP Designjet L25500 and HP Scitex LX600/LX800 latex printers generated more than 350 new leads alone.”

EFI/Vutek’s experience was equally positive, with Paul Cripps, Managing Director EMEA commenting: “The leads and interest generated at this event have eclipsed any held in the past few years.  The number of customers buying second and third units is also continuing to grow.  Stand traffic was impressive as we not only had large numbers of European visitors but also significant increases in the number of attendees from the Americas, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.  We tracked a huge increase in customer demand for our VUTEk and Rastek printers, but also for our Jetrion UV inkjet label printing press, our remote proofing, web-to-print and business process management software -- as printers in this market are looking to automate processes and expand their business into new markets. FESPA 2010 in Munich delivered on its promise to be the premier platform for EFI to highlight its innovation into the market.”

Michael Lackner, speaking for FESPA Innovation Sponsor Durst Phototechnik added: “FESPA 2010 has fully delivered to our expectations – Durst operates a consultative sales approach, so for us, FESPA affords us the opportunity to both bolster relationships with existing customers and foster new ones. For us, FESPA is the most important show in Europe and has become an annual platform for Durst to launch our innovations.”

More than 21000 individual visitors from 130 countries visited FESPA 2010, with total attendance reaching 32504 visits over five days. 67% of these visitors make or influence major purchasing decisions.

68% of visitors to FESPA 2010 highlighted digital technology as a priority interest area. (Source: FESPA 2010 on site visitor registration data).

 

 

Fujifilm sailed into a fantastic 3rd place in the four-yearly Round Britain and Ireland Race (the RB&I). ‘We’re delighted with our performance in the race and it really was a true test of our endurance,’ comments Alex Bennett, Fujifilm’s skipper. ‘I’ve been sailing for many years and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen conditions like that – at one stage Fujifilm recorded 40 knots of wind with gusts of 48 knots.  It’s been a fantastic experience and we’re already looking forward to the next RB&I in 2014.’

Record number of FESPA visitors now coming to make decisions on digital

More than 21000 individual visitors from 130 countries flocked to FESPA 2010 in Munich, Germany, last week (21-26 June 2010), looking for innovative solutions and applications to help their wide-format businesses ride the wave to business success.   More than half of all visitors extended their stay beyond one day, taking total attendance to 32504 visits.

A record 68% of visitors to FESPA 2010 highlighted digital technology as a priority interest area, compared with less than 52% three years ago at FESPA 2007 in Berlin.  This equated to a digitally-oriented visitor audience at this year’s event of almost 15000 printers, more than 50% greater than the visitor audience at FESPA’s last European Digital event in Amsterdam in Spring 2009 (9682 visitors).

67% of FESPA 2010 visitors make or influence major purchasing decisions, underlining the event’s global reputation as the ‘must-attend’ international wide format imaging event for business owners and senior managers.

“There was a very strong sense of energy and purpose among visitors to FESPA 2010”, comments FESPA sales and marketing director Marcus Timson.  “From the first hour of the first day, the atrium entrance was bursting with visitors eager to get into the halls quickly and do business.

“Talking to exhibitors and visitors throughout the show, it’s clear that FESPA 2010 has been an event where major decision-makers came with specific business objectives, whether to review particular technologies, meet with chosen vendors, or participate in conference sessions that would deliver measurable value to their business.  Printers in this post-recession era are results-driven, singling out solutions that will quickly make them more competitive, help them access new business opportunities, or simply improve their bottom line.”

Exhibitors across all five halls at the show endorsed this impression of FESPA as a show where serious business was being done, day in day out.  All major vendors hailed the show an out-and-out success in terms of sales generation and relationship-building, seeing it as a clear indication of the sector’s return to strength after the challenges of the global recession.

Printers from Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland were consistently among the top five visitor groups, comprising 12352 visitors in total, an increase on their collective attendance at FESPA 2007 in Berlin.  Elsewhere in Europe, the UK, France, Spain, Poland and Czech Republic also delivered significant visitor groups.  40% of total attendance came from Germany, a further 50% from the rest of Europe, 7.5% from Asia, and the balance from the Americas and Africa.

FESPA will host its next event in Asia from 26 –28 October 2011 in Singapore’s Suntec exhibition centre (www.suntecsingapore.com).  The three-day FESPA Asia 2011 exhibition will be followed by a FESPA Asia Golf Day, providing a relaxed networking environment for event delegates.

One of the world leading financial centres and the fourth wealthiest country in the world, Singapore is a natural hub for the Asia region, with a world-class airport and state-of-the-art public transport (www.yoursingapore.com). These assets combine with the highest quality accommodation, facilities and hospitality to make Singapore extremely user friendly for exhibitors and visitors.  A cosmopolitan, multicultural city, Singapore has four official languages – English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil – making it a welcoming destination for delegates throughout Asia, Australia and Australasia.

Opened in 1995, Suntec Singapore is a world-renowned, international venue with an optimal location for meetings, conventions and exhibitions.  Situated in the Central Business District but only 20 minutes from Changi International Airport, the exhibition centre is at the heart of a self-contained events complex and offers direct access to 5200 hotel rooms, 1000 retail stores, 300 restaurants and the region’s new centre for the performing arts, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

FESPA sales and marketing director Marcus Timson comments:  “Singapore is a magnetic location for FESPA’s next show in the region.  It’s a safe, stable, contemporary city-state with a vital culture of competition and innovation.  Singaporeans have a reputation across the globe for the highest standards of organisation and attention to detail.  What’s more, Singapore is a contemporary city with thriving retail and leisure sectors driving advanced use of advertising and point-of-sale materials, making it a benchmark for innovative large format graphics.”

Previous FESPA events in Asia - including three successive FESPA India shows and the FESPA Asia-Pacific 2008 exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand - have attracted significant support from international and local exhibitors and visitors.  Audiences in Asia have welcomed the opportunity to attend high quality international exhibitions, with FESPA’s comprehensive educational and knowledge-sharing programmes offering access to the highest levels of industry expertise.

Outgoing FESPA President Anders Nilsson will assume the role of FESPA Asia Ambassador, with a remit to build on relationships with regional associate members, vendors and other stakeholders.  He will work closely with FESPA’s multilingual Asia event team in Reigate, UK.  Discussions with exhibitors will begin at FESPA 2010, and FESPA will launch an integrated exhibitor and visitor marketing campaign for FESPA Asia 2011 in Autumn 2010, incorporating a FESPA Asia Summit event in Spring 2011.

Anders Nilsson comments: “The dynamic Asian market still represents a tremendous opportunity for FESPA.  Our associate members in Asia now number 9 trade associations in: Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Sri Lanka with a combined member base of over 2,000.  Our Asian community members are very enthusiastic about the FESPA brand, our event concept and the quality of our products and member services.  They look to us to create pan-regional events that offer international perspectives, access to market leading suppliers, and educational programmes that meet their specific needs as fast-growing emerging markets.  With FESPA Asia 2011, we will continue to expand FESPA’s global connected community, and reinforce the direct value that FESPA delivers through post-event reinvestment programmes.”

Exhibitors and print service providers embrace plans for high quality pan-regional event

The first FESPA Americas event is confirmed to take place from February 24-26 2011 in Orlando, Florida, occupying around 72000 sq. ft. (8000m2) of exhibition space at the city’s Orange County Convention Center.

The event will run alongside the established Graphics of the Americas (GoA) show, organised by the Printing Association of Florida (PAF).  FESPA Americas 2011 will be a pan-regional event, targeting audiences from the commercial and wide format print community in the United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, and will include visitor programmes in English and Spanish.

The first FESPA-branded exhibition to take place in North America, FESPA Americas 2011 is further demonstration of FESPA’s strategic commitment to become the world’s leading global connected community of wide format imaging professionals.

FESPA has received positive feedback from vendors and print service providers since its intentions regarding FESPA Americas were first communicated in March 2010, then pending conclusion of FESPA’s negotiations with PAF.  Many exhibitors have already signalled their intention to participate, and FESPA has received numerous approaches from US-based business support organisations keen to contribute to the event.

FESPA board member Christian Duyckaerts will chair a FESPA Americas steering group involving prominent members of the regional wide-format community, the first meeting of which will take place during FESPA 2010 in Munich.  Fellow board members Yasar Guvenen and Lascelle Barrow will take responsibility for development of relationships with associations and printers in the regions.

A FESPA Americas exhibitor forum will be held in Orlando, Florida in October 2010 to coincide with the IFAI graphics conference (27-29 October 2010), at which FESPA will deliver a keynote presentation.

FESPA managing director Frazer Chesterman explains: “The time is right for FESPA Americas.  Coming out of the worst recession of the post-war era, entrepreneurs on either side of the Atlantic agree that the rules of engagement have changed, and that success will be founded on an open attitude to innovation in all areas of the business.

“We operate now in a global economy where the greatest threats and opportunities come irrespective of national boundaries.  This means that entrepreneurs have a great deal to gain from exchanging ideas across continents.  As a business support organisation with an increasingly global footprint, we’re confident that FESPA can add significant value for printers in the Americas, complementing the events currently available to PSPs in the region.”

FESPA Americas will build on the success of two key FESPA events which have been established over the last three years to meet the needs of wide format printers in the region.  FESPA Mexico, acquired and re-branded by FESPA in 2007, is now in its third year and has grown by some 30% in terms of exhibitor participation and visitor attendance, establishing itself as the premier wide format event for Central America.  FESPA Mexico 2010 runs from 26-28 August 2010 at Centro Banamex, Mexico City.  FESPA has also established a coveted industry awards scheme for the Mexican community, now in its second year.

FESPA’s Global Summit took place in Miami in Spring 2010, bringing together print service providers from both sides of the Atlantic.  The event received glowing reviews from all delegates, who recognised the tremendous commercial value of exchanging knowledge and best practice with colleagues from other regions.  In specific areas such as environmental sustainability, and in applications such as digital textile, American delegates readily acknowledged that the European market offers valuable examples of best practice.

Frazer Chesterman adds: “FESPA has earned a reputation for offering professionally executed, multi-faceted events, enhanced with compelling satellite event programmes.  Our overriding aims with any show are to deliver fresh audiences for our exhibitors, and to optimise the return on investment for printers who commit valuable time to attend.  Visitors to FESPA events tell us that they feel the American market will benefit from a ‘FESPA quality’ event, where they can engage with US and European providers of solutions for wide format digital, screen and textile printing, and experience an engaging knowledge-sharing that can deliver tangible benefits to their business.”

As well as attracting the wide format printing community from across the region, FESPA Americas will offer GoA’s 9000-strong commercial print visitor base a first-class opportunity to fully explore the proven profit potential of expansion into wide format services.

George Ryan, President of GOA, concludes: “FESPA is a proven global force offering unmatched benefits for the members of its national associations, and for visitors to its well-executed events and activities. The launch of FESPA Americas alongside GoA will give delegates deeper perspectives on their opportunities in the wide format inkjet markets.”