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EXHIBITIONS
Finishing Systems (IFS), which had one
of the larger stands at the show this year
after attending in 2015 on the IPIA’s stand.
The move to its own stand proved to be
a shrewd move from IFS, who sold three
Foliant laminators over the three days, as
well as generating a lot of interest in its
new Horizon SmartSlitter, which also had
its UK launch at the show.
Managing Director Bryan Godwyn
said: “We had a great show. We signed a
number of deals for our Foliant laminators
and there was a lot of interest in all of our
solutions including the foiling attachment
for the laminators. The Horizon SmartSlitter
also drew a lot of attention.
“We have secured some business
and have set up a number of meetings
with operations keen to enhance their
bindery capabilities. There was some
great positivity at the show and we hope
this continues to grow throughout the
industry,” he added.
Print My Ride
Other big news from The Print Show
this year included the launch of OKI’s
new ‘Print My Ride’ initiative, which was
officially unveiled on the opening day.
The competition, which runs through to
March next year, challenges designers
to create a design for a British Touring
Car Championship (BTCC) race car. The
manufacturer was also showing off its
ColorPainter E-64s, which it has billed as
an entry-level, eco-solvent inkjet printer.
Visitors to The Print Show were able to see
the machine on the Signmaster Systems
stand at the NEC.
Also making news at the show was
new exhibitor Intec, which used the event
to showcase a host of new products, such
as the ColorCut 500 label cutter, ideal
for labels and packaging as well as the
ColorFlare, with the company showing the
finishing effects achievable when using
lamination films, spot gloss films and
special effect ‘flaring’ foils.
...continued
On the wide format side of print,
Spandex showed the Swiss Q Print
Impala 2 on its stand at The Print Show,
demonstrating the model and explaining to
visitors the type of work that they can take
on when using the device.
Also in this sector of the market, RGB
UK sold three wide format print devices on
day one, while Grafityp reported a lot of
interest in the Roland DG LEF-20 and LEF-
300, the TrueVis range, as well as the new
M Series of print media and overlaminates.
In addition, Colourbyte was keen to
draw visitors’ attention to Epson F-Series,
which it has recently begun distributing
in the UK. Tim Stockley, Director of
Colourbyte, said the firm experienced a
lot of interest in the range at the show,
adding: “Textile printing is one of the
fastest growing sectors of the wider print
market and machines in the SureColor
F Series offer the more traditional print
companies the opportunity to expand their
business and add new revenue streams.
“The Print Show was the perfect
opportunity for us to speak to companies
that are thinking of expanding their
business and show how the machines
we stock can help them access the
opportunities on offer in the market.”
SignLink Live
Major news that broke just before the
show, and was discussed in-depth during,
was the launch of SignLink Live, a new
event that will run alongside The Print
Show when it relocates to the International
Centre in Telford next year.
SignLink Live will host sign-making
industry suppliers and manufacturers, as
well as the products and services that span
everything from built-up LED illuminated
letters, through to digital signage as well
as materials for wrapping buildings in
graphics. Davies, who will serve as Event
Director of both shows, said the two events
will take the entire venue in Telford, which
spans some 10,500 sq. m. (113,021sq. ft.).
Davies said: “We’ve already spoken
with a lot of new and potential exhibitors
about both The Print Show 2017 and the
debut SignLink Live, and the feedback we
are getting is really positive. There is a clear
demand for a show like SignLink Live, and
with an established brand like The Print
Show to support it, we are very optimistic
about where we can go with this new
event.”
The dust may have settled for this
year, but going by what both exhibitors
and visitors have said, The Print Show is
only set to grow. This year’s impressive
performance not only stands the show
in good stead, but also helps whet the
appetite for SignLink Live ahead of its
launch next year.
Returning
exhibitor Riso
reported heavy
interest in its
products at the
show
The Business
Seminar Theatre
featured a host
of informative
sessions and
professional
speakers, including
Julia Bradbury
from the BBC’s
Countryfile
Going by what
both exhibitors
and visitors
have said, The
Print Show
is only set to
grow
