LFP - Large-Format-Printing
Biggest Ever FESPA Digital 2009 Opens in Amsterdam
Wednesday 13. May 2009 - FESPA bucks industry trends by significantly growing its Digital event
FESPAs largest ever Digital event is now underway, as Amsterdam welcomes visitors to FESPA Digital 2009. 20% larger than last years show, FESPA is bucking industry trends by growing the event, which features over 300 international exhibitors across four halls at the RAI Exhibition Centre.
Following an official opening ceremony hosted by FESPA President Anders Nilsson, visitors flocked into the halls where they found exhibitors spanning 14,500m2 of floor space, showing the latest in cutting-edge wide-format digital technology. The event gives printers a chance to efficiently meet hundreds of key suppliers in the sector all under one roof, enabling them to learn about the latest digital technologies and see the newest revolutionary applications, to help them grow their business.
Frazer Chesterman, FESPA managing director comments: “Our pre-show indicators suggested that we could expect a strong international audience, optimistic to find out about the latest products and market developments. The Revolution theme reflects the creative and dynamic community of printers that are at the heart of a revolution, eager to discover innovation, seek information and find inspiration to help them embrace new opportunities. Exciting product launches by major manufacturers and Digital show highlights will give printers the motivation and fresh ideas to help them transform their organisations.”
Customary of any FESPA event, FESPA Digital 2009 provides visitors with a number of valuable features including a first-rate digital conference programme, a Digital Textile Conference, and a number of industry debates to inspire and help printers reach their business goals.
Digital Revolutionary Showcase Theatre
FESPAs popular Digital Revolutionary Showcase Theatre programme spans the three-day exhibition, comprising free-of-charge sessions hosted by world-leading authorities from print and associated industries.
The seminars, hosted by companies such as Durst, EFI, Epson, HP, Mutoh and Océ, include topics such as: maximising profit with inkjet; new opportunities in the current marketplace; interweaving print technology; profiting from sustainable printing; the practical aspects of operating UV inkjet printers; and the differences between digital and traditional printing. The Digital Revolution Debate, chaired by industry expert Sophie Matthews-Paul, will feature leaders from the digital wide format sector and take place on the second day of the event. Paul Machin, specialist advisor on best practices to the EU Environmental Agency and co-author of FESPAs own Planet Friendly Guide will also lead a dedicated session on environmentally sustainable printing.
Digital Textile Conference
FESPAs second Digital Textile Conference (12th and 13th May), entitled Rising Above the World Recession will help printers increase their knowledge of the digital textile sector and give them strategies to effectively deal with challenging economic conditions. Covering both commercial and technical topics, the conference sessions will examine trends and market opportunities. Delegates will have the chance to hear a number of digital textile printing authorities examine a range of issues, such as at the current status and future direction of the textile market, textiles as an outdoor medium, the power of digital textile printing and the environmental impact of different inks used in digital textile printing.
Lunchtime Debates
FESPAs stand will provide an additional stage for industry learning, with interactive lunchtime debates and interviews with key digital print figures and revolutionaries. The debates will give visitors a chance to engage in and discuss key issues with industry leaders. A debate will take place on each show day, starting with The Great Outdoor Debate on the opening day, followed by The Big Planet Friendly Debate, concluding with The Digital Signage Debate on the final day.
FESPA will also announce winners of its Revolutionary guitar giveaway during the lunchtime debates. The Nominate a Revolutionary initiative kicked off the FESPA Digital 2009 campaign to recognise industry colleagues who have produced ground-breaking work, who have ventured into new markets or embraced cutting edge technologies, or who have differentiated themselves with radical business models or services to their clients.
FESPA Digital Print Awards
Visitors will also have a chance to see the winning entries from FESPAs Digital Print Awards, which recognise outstanding examples of innovation in digital wide-format printing across a broad spectrum of real-life applications from printers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The six category winners will be made public at FESPA Digital 2009 and the winning entries and the overall Platinum Winner will be showcased in Hall 6 on Stand C160.
FESPA managing director Frazer Chesterman comments: “Revolutions start with the sharing of ideas, exchanging viewpoints with peers, discussing and debating topical issues. FESPAs Digital exhibitions are an ideal platform to do this. The show is the culmination of many months of dedication and hard work by our in-house organisation team. We are confident that the event will meet our high expectations, offering printers the opportunity to see the latest market innovations as they come together to exchange ideas and continue contributing to and propagating the digital wide format Revolution.”
The FESPA team has also announced the dates of the next two FESPA Digital exhibitions, taking place in Hamburg, Germany from 24 – 26th May 2011 and Barcelona, Spain from 28th February to 1st March 2012.