Business News

Gulf Print & Pack 2013 reports record breaking attendance

Wednesday 17. April 2013 - Gulf Print & Pack 2013 successfully closed last week after attracting a record breaking attendance. The only dedicated commercial and package printing exhibition for the Middle East and North Africa region, the show reported a 14.9% increase on 2011's edition with 9,408 key industry professionals visiting the four day show.

Held at the Dubai World Trade Centre for the first time between 8 -11 April, many of the 300 exhibitors announced securing major sales as they showcased the latest machinery, ancillaries and materials to the market. Gold sponsor and largest exhibitor Canon Middle East signed seven deals worth Dhs7m on the first day alone, while Nilpeter ME valued its onsite sales and new business leads at being worth approximately US$5 million.
Visitors came from 93 countries (83 in 2011 and 65 in 2009) underlining the show’s growing importance in the wider MENA region. With a marked rise in visitor numbers from Egypt, Nigeria and Turkey, overall attendance from outside the United Arab Emirates was just under 48% of the visitor total.
Roger Pellow chairman of Gulf Print & Pack commented: “We would like to thank everyone involved including gold sponsor Canon, the exhibitors and our media partners for their continued support and contribution in making 2013’s show the biggest and best yet. The level and quality of this year’s unprecedented attendance has been exceptional and the show was phenomenally busy across all four days resulting in a lot of business being conducted right up to the closing minutes. With the region’s growing industry and increasing sophistication we expect an even more successful show next year.”
Hendrik Verbrugghe, marketing director, Canon Middle East said: “Gulf Print & Pack is a major milestone event for the Middle East print industry and one that Canon Middle East eagerly anticipates. We cemented our commitment to the professional print market with our participation this year as the gold sponsor with high hopes, and I’m delighted to report that those hopes have been more than fulfilled. We had around 600 strong leads from the Middle East and Africa region. This represents around a 63% increase compared to our participation in 2011. We are very grateful to both organizers and visitors of Gulf Print & Pack for their support to make this event a repeated success.”
Exhibitor quotes:
Paul Cripps, EFI: “Gulf Print & Pack 2013 was an excellent opportunity for EFI to highlight our technology with our local partners Sara Manufacturing and Saga Digital. Many of our customers came from throughout the Middle East and Africa to attend this event and had the opportunity to preview our latest software technology, our Jetrion 4900ML digital label press and our award-winning GS2000LX LED cool-cure super wide format printer for the first time in this region of the world. We also met many new potential customers for our products. It is clear the region is rebounding quite well after the financial crisis and that we expect to generate a solid return from our investment at this event.”
Peter van Belle, Innovia Films: “Gulf Print & Pack 2013 in Dubai worked for Innovia Films in many ways: it was a great opportunity to do business with existing and new customers from across the region. At the same time we were able to showcase our extensive range of BOPP and Cellulose films, including our compostable NatureFlex products – used in a variety of different packaging applications. One of our on-stand meetings resulted in us making a sale that paid for the exhibition costs.”
Ian Bendy, Itec: “For Itec it was the first time we have exhibited at Gulf Print & Pack and found it to be a very worthwhile decision to attend. A major benefit was to contact end users from the UAE and surrounding regions. We are a London-based machinery dealer and were received very positively at the show selling at least two machines on the stand with a significant amount of quality leads to follow up which I am sure will lead to more sales. Itec will definitely attend Gulf Print & Pack in 2015.”
Anton Han, J.S. Corrugating Machinery Co. Ltd: “Gulf Print & Pack brings us a lot of potential customers and we are really pleased to see the show is growing faster every year. Joining this show is an important activity for us in marketing to the Middle East and I am sure we will participate next time.”
Manu Muraleekrishnan, Nilpeter: “A big thank you to the event organizers for doing such a great job last week. By all accounts the week was a great success with most organizers reporting an increase in attendance. I have heard nothing but praise from all who attended the exhibition. Everyone felt that you did a superb job organizing the stalls, excellent transportation facilities, and even getting us good hotel rates. Congratulations on both a successful and a memorable Gulf Print & Pack.”
Dev Trivedi, Pidilite Industries Ltd: “Gulf Print & Pack 2013 was quite a successful event for us to participate in! It is the right forum for us to promote new advancements in the field of adhesives and coatings for printing industries. We introduced our new waterbase grade for flexible lamination packaging – Pidicryl FF 334 for PET to LDPE or for Met BOPP to LDPE films. Our waterbased varnish Pidiglow AV-22 created quite good excitement! Our folder gluer packaging glue Fevicol CPW and waterbased graphic lamination glue Fevicol HP002 have been receiving a tremendous market response as they are the largest selling glues in the GCC region! In the hotmelt range our high efficiency hotmelts glue for all surface box packing – Fevicol SA 884 LB, got very good response! Our overall experience was very satisfying!”
Jabir Jabbar, Prestige Graphics Trading: “We have had a very successful Gulf Print & Pack 2013. There was a lot of interest from all across the Middle East and Africa. We were able to show existing customers equipment that we had talked about as well as meet new prospects for our equipment. We signed for five folding systems of various sizes, four cutting machines, two stitching systems and two perfect binding systems. We also generated a huge number of leads that are sure to keep us busy for a few months. Being able to show running machines helped generate a lot of interest and we are glad we took part. We’re looking forward to Gulf Print & Pack 2015.”
Ajay Mehta, SMI Coated Products Pvt Ltd: “Gulf Print & Pack 2013 in its new avatar, at a new location, was a splendid show. The print and packaging industry is really moving ahead in this region. Gulf Print & Pack 2013, is a milestone in the region, by bringing all the stakeholders on one platform and showcasing the innovation and invention in printing industry. We had quality visitors from so many countries around UAE. SMI is the largest Indian label stock manufacturer and has been providing label stock solutions consistently and at a competitive price. Our presence here has changed the rules of the game and we are happy to note that our contribution is being recognized by one and all. There is a lack of quality shows in this region and Gulf Print & Pack is the oasis in this desert region.”
Corinne Périgaud, TECHKON GmbH: “TECHKON reports a successful Gulf Print & Pack with visitors from over 30 countries. The requirements for quality control have increased since the last show and customers have found our instruments very easy to use and helpful in their daily use. We were able to cover the needs and demands of the customers and could find appropriate solutions for the diverse applications. The show gave us the opportunity to reinforce our presence, gave us confirmation of customers’ satisfaction and acceptance of our instruments. Gulf Print & Pack has been a very important event for our company and has shown the growing potential in the MENA region.”
Bhisham Teckchandani, Tirupati Inks Ltd: “We, on behalf of Tirupati Inks Limited, India and its subsidiary Tirupati Inks Worldwide, UAE thank the organizers of Gulf Print & Pack 2013. It has helped us get some interesting leads for our flexo and gravure solvent and water based liquid inks and UV inks business in the MENA region. We hope to convert these leads into business opportunities.”
Marcel Hage, XOL Automation: “XOL Automation exhibited a broad selection of printing and finishing machinery and equipment at Gulf Print & Pack. It’s the second time that XOL Automation participated at Gulf Print & Pack and we had a good turnout at our booth from existing and prospective customers. Visitors were able to sit one-on-one with global experts to discuss applications and ways to help them run faster, smarter, better, while getting hands-on experience with the leading brands of machinery and engineered products featured in our booth. It was a very successful show for us.”