Set for success – FESPA Global Print Expo 2021

Looking ahead to the FESPA Global Print Expo 2021, Rob Fletcher speaks to this year’s two Gold Sponsors to find out about the importance of the event and what visitors can expect in Amsterdam

FESPA is the perfect place to learn about what's new and find products and solutions that can help the visitors to expand their business, thanks to huge variety of exhibitors and topics
 
The success of this event will reassure people that the print industry is very much alive and still full of business opportunities.

Caption: Brother has also announced that there will be something new to see at FESPA - what exactly that is our visitors can find out at the show.

This October will see the much-anticipated return of the FESPA Global Print Expo, with many thousands of people from across the global print industry expected to attend the exhibition after so long without a major event.
 
Last year’s show was forced to cancel due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but with the situation having improved dramatically due to widespread and successful vaccination programmes, the FESPA Global Print Expo is back for what could be one of the most important editions in its history.
 
With the industry having been starved of an event of this magnitude for almost two years, the FESPA Global Print Expo provides the perfect opportunity for manufacturer, suppliers and solutions providers from around the world to showcase their latest offerings to the market.
 
In turn, attendees will be able to speak with exhibitors face-to-face, as opposed to over the phone or on video calls, as well as experience new print machinery and solutions first-hand – something that cannot be replicated on digital platforms.

Caption: Brother first exhibited at the FESPA Global Print Expo in 2005

Evolving markets and technologies

Taking place from 12-15 October at the Amsterdam RAI, the FESPA Global Print Expo 2021 will run with the backing of some of the biggest names in print, including two that will be serving as Gold Sponsors of the exhibition.
 
One of these sponsors is print technology leader Brother, which first exhibited at the FESPA Global Print Expo in 2005 and has become a regular name on the exhibitor list. Folker Stachetzki, marketing manager of Brother, said the event has the helped the company to establish itself as a major player in the market.
 
“It is a matter of principle for us to let such a long association with FESPA, which has grown over the years, to live on through our Gold Sponsorship of this year’s Global Print Expo,” Stachetzki said.
 
“FESPA has always been the event for the printing industry. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, there were no opportunities to present new products and solutions and to exchange ideas with others. Therefore, this edition of the FESPA Global Print Expo is doubly important for us at Brother.
 
As to what Brother will be showcasing at the event in October, Stachetzki said highlights on the manufacturer’s stand will include its two new GTXpro printer models, which he says cover everything from medium- to high-volume prints and allow flexible production with printing on polyester, leather and DTF printing with our machines.
 
In addition, Brother will be promoting its ‘Brother Digital’ software business segment and the latest software solutions from the company.
 
“The market and technologies are evolving rapidly,” Stachetzki said. “FESPA is the perfect place to learn about what's new and find products and solutions that can help the visitors to expand their business, thanks to huge variety of exhibitors and topics.
 
“We are very happy to have direct contact with customers and interested parties again after such a long time and also to be able to present our innovations in person. We wish all visitors, exhibitors and the whole FESPA team a great time in Amsterdam.”

Caption: The FESPA Global Print Expo 2021 will take place close to Mimaki’s Experience Centre in Amsterdam

Evolving markets and technologies

The second leading print brand that will serve as a Gold Sponsor of the FESPA Global Print Expo this year is Mimaki. Danna Drion, general manager for marketing in EMEA at Mimaki Europe, said that the event will be “incredibly important” for both Mimaki and the wider industry.
 
“FESPA remains the premier show for the large-format and textile digital print industry, and so it’s the perfect stage to make our return to physical large-scale events,” Drion said. “It is the ideal opportunity to showcase our range of market-leading technologies, many never seen at a tradeshow before, and engage with our customers.
 
“As this year’s event will be held near to our Mimaki Europe HQ, we have the additional opportunity to connect with customers and prospects both at the event and in our Experience Centre, where even more of the extensive Mimaki product portfolio will be on display.
 
“During the pandemic, Mimaki has prioritised supporting customers and prospects with virtual events, networking and educational opportunities but we also never stopped developing disruptive technologies. We have developed and launched numerous advanced solutions in that time to help our customers grow and succeed, and so FESPA 2021 gives us the ideal platform to finally demonstrate these technologies to our customers, in-person.”
 
Looking at what visitors can expect from Mimaki at the Amsterdam RAI in October, Drion said the company will showcase new solutions across the sign and graphics, textile and apparel, industrial and 3D printing markets.
 
For the sign and graphics market, Mimaki will display the JFX600-2513, its new LED-UV large-format flatbed inkjet printer. With over 300% productivity gains compared to the previous model, plus a wider range of ink types, Drion said the JFX600-2513 will take Mimaki customers into “new realms of high-volume UV printing”.
 
Visitors can also view Mimaki’s roll-to-roll UV and solvent printers from the 100 series – the UJV100 and JV100 – while for the industrial printing sector, Mimaki recently added four new models to its UJF Series range of small-format UV flatbed printers.
 
In terms of textile printing, Mimaki has introduced two new machines this year, including the Mimaki TS100-1600 as the latest addition to its ‘100 series’ portfolio. Drion said this system is ideal for printers looking to add their first digital sublimation printing solution or expand their production capacity. On the other hand, visitors looking for a high-end, high-volume industrial textile printer can check out the Tiger-1800B MkIII.

Caption: Danna Drion, general manager for marketing in EMEA at Mimaki Europe, said the FESPA Global Print Expo 2021 the event will be “incredibly important” for the industry

Finally, Mimaki will be showing its new full colour desktop 3D printer. With over 10 million colour possibilities, Drion said the new Mimaki 3DUJ-2207 is a scalable solution that will extend the reach and accessibility of its 3D printing technologies to a wider range of clients.
 
“Apart from our line-up of new, innovative technologies that will make their show debut, FESPA 2021 is a chance to finally immerse yourself, once again, in the outstanding and impactful applications achievable with Mimaki technology,” Drion said.
 
“We will celebrate our customers and partners in a dedicated area on our FESPA booth, in which visitors can find inspiration in customer success stories and real-life examples of Mimaki-printed products.
 
“Looking at it more broadly, we hope that FESPA will inspire and reinvigorate the printing industry. The success of this event will reassure people that the print industry is very much alive and still full of business opportunities. It will also bring back the confidence to visit trade shows and have safe, stress-free face-to-face interactions.
 
“It’s such a long-awaited opportunity for the industry and, of course, everyone at Mimaki, it’s a landmark occasion that should not be missed!”

Discover the latest innovations at the Global Print Expo 2021, Europe's leading exhibition for screen and digital wide format print, textile printing and signage. Discover the latest products, network with like-minded individuals and explore new business opportunities. Register now and use promo code FESH101 ​to receive a discount of 30 euros.