Fespa opens its doors in Berlin tomorrow, 31 May, to the great unmasked. It will be the first major international industry exhibition to take place in Europe for three years without Covid restrictions. Organisers are optimistic that the strong turnout at Print4All in Milan will be followed by an equally strong attendance at the wide format show.
However, there is also a note of caution with some uncertainty about confidence to travel and from the impact of Covid on the population of large format print businesses in a position to attend.
Those that do will experience a show where sustainability underpins virtually every stand supported by four days of conference sessions in Fespa’s Sustainability Spotlight. The Printeriors section highlights the potential of the technology for wall coverings and home textiles while the World Wrap Masters highlights expertise in vehicle decoration.
In all there will be 350 companies exhibiting, with an almost full participation, save perhaps for Russian developer Bigprinter.
There will be numerous updates and product extensions to take large format inkjet into new markets, corrugated packaging, home decor, textiles and industrial applications being typical. Durst will also bring a Tau label press to demonstrate the potential of linking large format with narrow web inkjet.
All eyes will be on Fujifilm and Agfa, following Agfa’s purchase of Inca Digital Printers which Fujifilm had been distributor for. Agfa will explain exactly where Inca’s Onset range will be positioned and also how the purchase fits with a strategy of taking inkjet printing into further industrial markets, floor coverings for example. There will be interest in ink offering for existing Onset users from Agfa.
On the other hand Fujifilm will need to replace that ink consumption, over the medium if not the short term.
It promises to reveal new machines following the Acuity Prime flatbed machines introduced last year as the first part of a new strategy for large format inkjet. Higher volume machines to replace the Onset must be anticipated. At the same time Fujifilm is building a stronger distribution network for its inkjet press portfolio.
Another exhibitor planning a new press is SwissQPrint. This is expected to be a flatbed model, but nothing else is known at this point. Those pointing the aisles in Berlin will be the first to see it.
