Fespa is on course to open its doors in little more than two weeks, having had to postpone both the original event schedule for spring last year and two subsequent rearranged bookings.
But despite receiving a boost when the Dutch government loosened travel restrictions last week, this will be a very different Fespa to that in Munich in 2019, the last time the large format industry gathered for an international event.
Many key players will be absent, in the main those like HP or EFI Vutek, with an American base, while Japanese and South Asian exhibitors have also been cautious about attending. As a result, Fujifilm will not be present, nor will Screen with Inca Digital Printers, nor Epson.
This leaves an event built around European exhibitors, or those Japanese companies like Mimaki or Roland DG with a substantial European presence. Thus the exhibitor list is headed by the likes of Agfa, Durst, SwissQPrint, Canon, Kongsberg, Zund and EFI Reggiani, its Italian based textile print arm.
The absentee companies are expected to return for the next iteration of the show in Berlin in six months time.
However, given the hiatus between this and the previous Fespa, and the sheer desire to meet in person, many that can travel will not be put off by the depleted line up.
Agfa’s line up is headed by the Jeti Tauro 3300 UHS, its return to the high speed, high volume sector of the market, with imaging speeds of 600m2/hr on roll and flatbed media. This is joined by the Avinci CX3200, a 3.2-metre-wide dye sub printer for the soft signage specialist.
There will also be glimpses of its Alussa printer for decorating leather and the InterioJet press for other industrial inkjet applications.
Durst will have an expanded range with the inclusion of the US built Vanguard printers, a lockdown purchase for the Italian manufacturer. It intends to run the VR6D, a mid range flatbed printer with “an attractive price/performance ratio”. “We are convinced that Vanguard will successfully establish itself in the European market,” says CEO Christoph Gamper.
Durst’s own machines will be in evidence. The P5 family, for example, is extended with the P5 Tex iSub sublimation printer.
SwissQPrint intends to make an impact with neon UV inks, along with enhancements across the range. Canon will show the latest Colorado and Arizona models, announced for the first time in public earlier this year. The Colorado 1650 will also be configured to run as a wallpaper factory, while the entry level Arizona 135GT flatbed will take on lower cost rivals.
Roland DG will focus on its printer/cutter range with the CMYK gamut expanded by vibrant red and orange inks.
The cutting table world is represented by Kongsberg PCS, in a new orange livery following its liberation from the Esko group, by Zund, Summa and Valiani.
It amounts to enough content to keep a visitor occupied for a day or more, even though the sorts of comparisons between vendors will not be possible due to understandable gaps in the line up. The unknown is how visitor numbers will stand up. One thing is for sure, if the quantity does not arrive, those that do will ensure a high quality of turnout.
