Speciality print: an industry in motion

FESPA's Head of Global Business Development and Global Print Expo, Michael Ryan discusses the upcoming FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 and European Sign Expo 2022 exhibitions. Michael also shares his thoughts on the importance of live events in the industry.

This week we’re launching the promotional campaign for FESPA Global Print Expo and European Sign Expo 2022. The countdown is on for the events, which will take place at Messe Berlin, Germany, from 31 May to 3 June 2022.

We’re kickstarting 2022 with cautious optimism and believe it’s time for speciality print businesses to turn their focus to the future and explore the new opportunities that exist for them. And what better time to do that than at FESPA’s international event in Berlin, where we want visitors to ‘Experience Print in Motion’.

Whether we’re talking about developments in technologies, expansion into new markets or the growth of exciting new applications, one thing is for sure: the speciality print industry is never static. It’s the opposite. It’s full of energy and dynamism, constantly on the move.

In the almost 20 years I’ve worked at FESPA I’ve seen an array of exciting innovations and trends that have shaped our market. I’ve witnessed initial conversations develop into industry partnerships and ideas evolve into successful business ventures. But, most importantly, I’ve proudly seen FESPA play a fundamental role in the industry’s evolution. Year on year, we provide a platform that enables the speciality print market to come together to see hundreds of new product developments under one roof, chat with peers and make decisions that drive the future of their businesses.

Personally, I thrive off face-to-face interactions, hearing from industry colleagues about their businesses, swapping stories and sharing thoughts on the direction of the industry. I absorb and learn best when I’m listening to real-life conversations, touching printed output and seeing technologies up and running. That’s why, after two years of event postponements and virtual alternatives, I was so thrilled for the revival of exhibitions and seeing the live action at FESPA Global Print Expo 2021 in Amsterdam last October.

It was such a surreal feeling and it made me think that we don’t often take the time to stop and reflect. I found myself doing this a lot while I walked through the halls in Amsterdam. It was a powerful reminder of the value of a live FESPA event. The magical feeling in the halls just can’t be replicated virtually, however hard we might try.

The excitement of reconnecting with friends and colleagues face to face; the smell of ink on paper; the anticipation of watching real hands-on competition between the World Wrap Masters finalists; discovering awesome décor applications in Printeriors; unearthing new ideas that you could never find with a quick Google search. Above all, I was overwhelmed by the sheer sense of relief and positivity from printers who were ready to set their business on the road to recovery.

And with that as our focus, preparations for FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 are in full swing. This is a landmark event for our industry and we’re excited about welcoming even more members of our community.

It’s time to look forward and explore how new investments could drive exciting opportunities for your business. And I believe that FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 is THE place to regain that business momentum, by getting a close-up view of the latest technologies, seeing how the supporting consumables perform, picking up new trends and networking with like-minded entrepreneurs who have experienced the same challenges as you.

The beauty of a live event is that you never know what you’ll come away with. It could be a new product that enhances your business or a new application opportunity you learn about by speaking to an industry expert on the show floor. Whatever it is, it’s time to set your business back in motion and inject positivity back into our colourful, dynamic industry. We look forward to seeing you in Berlin!

Register your interest here.