Latest innovations explored at FESPA’s digital printing exhibition - Mayer House Business Media Ltd.

FESPA’s second Digital Printing Europe exhibition - which took place from 1st to 3rd April 2008 at Geneva’s Palexpo exhibition centre - attracted a diverse international audience of digital wide format printers to explore the latest innovations in the sector.

According to FESPA, many exhibitors commented that the majority of discussions were with someone with a genuine ability to make or influence a major purchasing decision. This is borne out by the visitor data, which indicates that over 40% of individual visitors to the show were owners or general managers of their businesses.

“FESPA events have a special resonance for the wide format community, and our events provide a unique environment in which suppliers and print service providers can connect with one another”, commented FESPA managing director Frazer Chesterman. “Our own market research shows that this sector is buoyant and willing to invest, seeing digital production as a major opportunity for growth, to complement traditional processes for existing applications, and to help them evaluate new applications and revenue streams. An example of this is the explosion of digital printing onto textile substrates, which we explored in the sell-out FESPA Digital Textile Conference, run in parallel with the event.”  He added, “A range of new event features, navigational aids and educational initiatives helped to optimise the FESPA Digital visitor’s experience this year, and the vibe among exhibitors and delegates alike was overwhelmingly positive. Our focus on digital output here is in tune with the direction of the market as a whole, and with the pace of technological evolution. Visitors clearly welcome FESPA Digital as a one-stop forum to help them shape their wide format investment decisions.”

Five UK Printers Recognised

During the course of the event, the winners of the FESPA Digital Print Awards 2008 were announced and UK printers picked up a total of five commendations in the FESPA Digital Print Awards 2008, across four of the eight competition categories. 

The competition was open to printers from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and attracted more than 320 entries, which were evaluated by an independent jury. Just one entry in each category received an award: an additional 25 entries were commended by the jury.

Essex-based Look Digital (www.look-digital.co.uk) was singled out in the Textile category for its project FA Community Shield. This was the company’s largest single printed project to date, when they were commissioned to manufacture giant photographic images for pitch display at the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium in August 2007. 

Interacts (www.interface.rehabstudio.co.uk) of Northern Ireland was among three commendations in the Décor category. The entry, for client Girli Concrete, involved printing a lace design onto concrete panels. 

Mtadigital London (www.mtadigital.co.uk), printing on VUTEk equipment, was praised by the Awards jury for its entry entitled Barcardi in the hard-fought Decor category. 

In the packaging category, a single commendation was awarded to print, packaging and prototyping specialists Easibind International of Heanor, Derbyshire (www.easibind.com), for their entry, Two-frame Lenticular Promotion. The project was part of the promotional campaign for the launch of the L.A.M.B fragrance, fronted by Gwen Stefani, and was produced on an HP Indigo S2000.

Graphique Media Solutions (www.graphique co.uk) of Lanhydrock near Bodmin in Cornwall was the only company to receive a commendation in the Manufactured Goods category, for its mixing desk fascia panels for client Allen & Heath. 

John Keith of FESPA’s UK national association DSPA commented, “It’s gratifying to find so many UK printers among the commendations, and to see the creativity and innovation in their entries. One of the DSPA’s missions as a support organisation for UK screen and digital printers is to encourage members to shift their focus from their production processes, and adopt the client’s creative mindset. These commended entries all demonstrate very vividly how print service providers who embrace this philosophy can set themselves apart from their competitors and establish a true creative partnership with their clients.” He added, “I hope that the success of these five companies in this year’s competition will inspire them and other UK printers to enter work for the FESPA Digital Print Awards 2009, and that we will see many UK entries among next year’s prize winners.”