Business - Events

X-Rite, Incorporated, the world leader in colour management, measurement and communication technologies, and its wholly owned subsidiary Pantone, the global authority on colour and provider of professional colour standards for the design industries, today announced that they will unveil new technologies and showcase their latest line of print and pre-press colour management solutions at IPEX – NEC, 18-25 May in Birmingham, UK on stand 10-D260.

At  IPEX, X-Rite will unveil new ink formulation and quality control applications for pressroom and packaging, and the latest line of benchtop, sphere and multi-angle spectrophotometers for plastic packaging applications. The company will also demonstrate the newest version of X-Rite’s EasyTrax, a semi-automated, highly affordable quality colour control solution for smaller format colour presses or those working in a primarily process colour environment. The new version of EasyTrax will feature support for Windows7, support of Japan Color libraries, an enhanced Wizard-style editor interface, and a series of easy-to-follow animated tutorials.

Visitors to the X-Rite/Pantone stand will also see the company’s full range of color solutions including systems for profiling and calibrating monitors, printers and presses; proofing systems; pressroom quality control tools; ink formulation tools; dedicated flexography and package production solutions; and tools for overall process control and colour certification of the digital printing supply chain.

Reflecting the company’s ubiquitous industry presence, X-Rite’s will showcase integrated color managements solutions with partners HP, Canon, Epson, Xerox, Heidelberg and Komori among others.   Throughout the show, X-Rite and Pantone will be running limited time offers and promotions for all new purchases initiated during IPEX.

 

The FESPA 2010 campaign strapline – Catch the New Wave of Innovation - will come to life at the event (22-26 June 2010, Messe Munich, Germany) with a rich schedule of live events within the FESPA Innovate! Programme, compiled to ensure that visitors take maximum value from time spent at the show.

The timetable of free events is summarized in an eye-catching surf-themed pocket guide that combines details of the various Innovate! Sessions (content summary, time and venue), with some simple stepping stones to embracing innovation. All Innovate! events are designed to help print service providers unlock the innovative drive that business experts agree will be key to success as the economy begins to recover.

Events will run throughout the five-day show, starting with an explosive live Keynote Address from TrendONE’s media convergence guru and trend researcher Nils Mueller, screened around the show.

FESPA’s own stand (Hall A1, Stand 269) will host the Great Innovation Debate, a chance for visitors to have their say on how innovation can help the industry move forward, and a Digital Debate in the Innovate! Showcase Theatre will narrow the focus to digital technologies.

For visitors looking for specific practical pointers on how to apply a more innovative approach in their business, Frazer Chesterman and Marcus Timson from FESPA’s own leadership team will run a one-hour Innovate! Workshop.

Around the show, delegates will find plenty of other attractions to stimulate the competitive spirit. FESPA’s Wrap Cup, sponsored by Avery Dennison, will showcase the brightest and best in vehicle decoration, culminating in a showdown on the last day of the exhibition.

The gallery of entries to FESPA’s 2010 Awards, presented in the main lobby area of the show, will give visitors a chance to see prize-winning work from screen, digital and textile printers around the globe.

Signage applications will be the focus of the European Sign Summit organised by FESPA in partnership with the European Sign Federation, and the market’s increasing concern with sustainability will be the topic of a Planet Friendly Summit, a companion event to FESPA’s own Planet Friendly Guide.

The FESPA Innovate! programme will straddle both the main show and the FESPA Fabric event, with a FESPA Fabric Live! fashion show designed to stimulate the creative juices of textile printers and garment decorators. Screen printing and garment gurus Charlie Taublieb and Scott Fresener will also be on hand to inject inspiration and dispense practical business and production tips to FESPA Fabric visitors.

FESPA Marketing Director, Marcus Timson comments: “FESPA has earned a strong reputation among visitors for developing stimulating multi-faceted event experiences that go far beyond the show floor. Print service providers who commit the time to attend FESPA 2010 will have access to a world-class programme of free events, specifically geared to helping them grasp the importance of creativity and lateral thinking, while also giving them practical pointers on how to channel the spirit of innovation in their own businesses.

“We see it as a central role for FESPA to facilitate interesting and thought-provoking opportunities for our stakeholders – visitors, vendors, media, commentators - to interact with one another for their mutual benefit and growth. That’s the unique value of FESPA live events: we’re at the heart of an increasingly global, connected community, and there’s no bigger buzz for us than watching it in action at our shows.”

For more information about the FESPA Innovate! Programme at FESPA 2010, visit www.fespa2010.com

 

 

Hip German media city offers ample ‘après surf’ for FESPA goers

Munich, the high-tech capital of Germany, is the ideal host city for the FESPA 2010 exhibition (22nd-26th June 2010, Messe Munich). The perfect compliment to FESPA’s innovation theme, this exciting city combines the thrill of a thriving media metropolis with old-world charm.

Served by an excellent public transport network, the state-of-the-art Messe München exhibition centre is less than an hour from the airport by underground. The ‘big kahuna’ of modern exhibition centres, it boasts 17 exhibition halls covering a massive 180,000 m² of space.

Travelling around Munich is convenient for exhibition goers with a tram and U-Bahn (subway) system (http://www.mvv-muenchen.de), or the S-Bahn (http://www.s-bahn-muenchen.de) for connections to suburban Munich. With a variety of ticket types available, the city’s transport system meets visitors’ individual requirements, though in warm June many may choose to soak up the sun and take in the sights on foot, or by bike, instead.

Deriving its name from the medieval word Munichen, meaning monks, Munich dates back to 1158 and has grown into the largest city in south Germany. The capital of Bavaria, Munich is a short distance from the German Alps and has many attractions and activities for everyone, especially in the summer months when temperatures can reach 30˚. Whether passing through, or staying for an extended trip, Munich offers beautiful parks and rivers, an exciting night-life, architecture from the neo-baroque to the ultra-modern, beer gardens and cellars, and, maybe surprisingly, a thriving surf community.

The English Garden located alongside the River Isar, is the perfect place to chill-out and enjoy a drink in one of the park’s many beer gardens. Consider yourself warned: in Munich less is more as the local beer is served in litre-sized Masskrugs!

The most radical attraction to be found here - considering the city is more than 300km from the nearest coastline - is surfing. While printers ‘Ride the Wave of Innovation’ at FESPA 2010, keen surfers can try their hand at riding the Eisbach and Floßlände river waves (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R4WjdOVUZc&feature=related). Emerging from tunnels under the city, the Floßlände wave is suitable for inexperienced kooks (a new or inexperienced surfer), at 1m high and 12m wide, while the larger Eisbach wave should only be tackled by experienced surfers. Each year the waves, nicknamed Munich’s Malibu, attract world-class competitors to its annual competition where the most innovative, expressive surfers leave victorious (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2HR eikWj5Y).

The city has become internationally renowned for its numerous festivals, the best known being Oktoberfest. For visitors maxed-out from a busy day at FESPA 2010 in June, why not get some R‘n’R at the opera festival Münchner Opernfestspiele (Jun 24 - Jul 31, 2010)? If opera’s not your thing, try Filmfest München (June 25 - July 3, 2010) which attracts more than 10,000 visitors annually, many of whom arrive in droves hoping to hang with the likes of Brad and Angelina on the red carpet.

For the culture vulture Munich has 45 museums, numerous churches, palaces and art galleries to cruise after a busy day on the exhibition floor. If you visit only one attraction in Munich it should be the Residenz Palace. Right at the centre of the city, the Residenz housed Germany’s Bavarian royal families but was destroyed in World War II. Following restoration the Residenz museum now displays 120 rooms to the public.

At the heart of old town Munich is the Marienplatz, the home of the famous Rathaus, featuring an 85 meter high tower. This grand gothic style building chimes every day with 42 bells at noon and five in the afternoon, during which 32 copper statues re-enact the marriage of Duke Wilhelm V in 1568. Adjacent to the Rathaus is one of Munich’s most symbolic churches, Frauenkirche, an impressive example of medieval architecture. There is an awesome view of the Alps on a clear day from the church tower.

Munich is overflowing with breweries and beer halls. The Hofbräuhaus, founded in 1644, is the most infamous and lives up to the long standing stereotypes with wooden benches, lederhosen and a traditional Bavarian Oompah brass band. Constant supplies of pretzels are on sale to soak up the beer, but if you need something more substantial, there are restaurants to suit every taste in Munich. Traditional Bavarian food is very hearty, and though often overlooked by food critics, you will never experience a bad meal here - and tipping isn’t required as service charges are included in the bill. Of the many Bavarian restaurants in Munich, one of the best is Wirtshaus zur Brez'n in the hip Schwabing district. Going with the flow of FESPA’s surfing theme, you may be psyched to discover the Outland Bar, which serves an array of traditional Australian cuisine.

Frazer Chesterman, Managing Director, FESPA comments: “Munich is a lively and eclectic city and innovation is rife here. Where else would you find a city that has successfully created a surfing community hundreds of miles from the nearest natural wave? It’s the Munich way of thinking that makes it the ideal city to host our flagship FESPA show. FESPA 2010 will be our biggest exhibition to date, and while the jam-packed programme of events captures the minds of visitors at the show, the diversity of Munich will help them “hang loose” at the end of their busy days.”

To find out more about FESPA 2010, or to register for the event visit www.fespa.com

 

ExCeL London chosen as venue for next global FESPA exhibition, 25-29 June 2013

FESPA’s next flagship global event in 2013 will take place in London, United Kingdom, at the state-of-the-art ExCeL London exhibition centre in the City’s Docklands, close to the capital’s dynamic commercial, creative and cultural centres. The show will run from 25th to 29th June 2013.

The move to London in 2013 is expected to attract new English-speaking audiences, and to provide a memorable event experience for exhibitors and visitors alike. London is one of the world’s most exciting multicultural cities, and is a hub of creative excellence, with many leading design, media, advertising and communications businesses headquartering their European operations here.

ExCeL London, the FESPA 2013 venue, is part of a 100-acre waterfront campus, including three onsite DLR (Docklands Light Railway) stations, with easy access to the London Underground Jubilee Line and London’s City Airport. The site offers parking for 2,600 cars, five on-site hotels and numerous on-site bars and restaurants.

London’s transport infrastructure and visitor services are undergoing significant public and private investment and expansion in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games, meaning that participants in FESPA 2013 can expect to benefit from truly world-class facilities.

Since 2005, FESPA’s peripatetic events have moved around a number of vibrant central

European cities, including Munich, Amsterdam, Berlin and Geneva, with the forthcoming FESPA 2010 exhibition (22-26 June 2010) taking place at Messe Munich, Germany. Future FESPA Digital events in Europe will be hosted in Hamburg, Germany (2011) and Barcelona, Spain (2012).

FESPA 2013 will join a line-up of prominent international events and exhibitions taking place in London, including the London International Wine Trade Fair, World Travel Market, International Food (IFE) and the London International Boat Show.

FESPA Events Director Frazer Chesterman explains: “The fact that FESPA’s European events move from city to city each year adds to their special appeal for exhibitors and visitors. For exhibiting companies, this approach ensures that the audience is refreshed each time, attracting new delegates from the geographies closest to the show. We saw this clearly with the increase in eastern European visitors to FESPA 2007 in Berlin, and the positive impact on attendance from French-speaking countries and southern Europe at FESPA Digital 2008 in Switzerland.”

He continues: “Feedback from visitors tells us that the changing host cities give each FESPA event a unique flavour and add to the enjoyment of attending a business-to-business exhibition. London is a buzzing, cosmopolitan metropolis, and more and more affordable for international visitors. It’s a hugely desirable ‘must-see’ destination around the globe, and we’re very excited about bringing FESPA 2013 to the UK’s Olympic city!”

 

Nigel Steffens, CEO of FESPA

1.6 million Euros invested since 2005 in educational, knowledge-sharing and research activities for growing global community of print service providers

FESPA has published its first official Reinvestment Report, providing stakeholders in its growing global community with detailed insights into the projects that have benefited from FESPA reinvestment funding since 2005.

The eight-page report outlines FESPA’s reinvestment vision and gives details of Euros 1.6 million worth of financial support extended to FESPA’s national associations and global associate members over the last four years. In total, 175 projects have been funded, and the report offers numerous examples from around the world.

“2005 was a significant landmark in FESPA’s 40-year history, explains FESPA CEO Nigel Steffens. “The FESPA 2005 exhibition in Munich was the first to be organised by FESPA’s newly-created in-house exhibitions team, and proved to be both a phenomenal event and a financial success.

“From that point on, a significant proportion of surplus revenues generated by FESPA events have been deployed to the benefit of FESPA’s international community of print service providers, in the form of educational, knowledge-sharing, networking and best-practice initiatives. Their aim has been to stimulate the marketplace and educate and inspire members to meet future business challenges and opportunities.”

According to the Report, a specific focus for reinvestment has been on knowledge-sharing and networking, mainly in the shape of seminars, conferences and workshops. Over 70 FESPA-funded events of this kind have been held in the last five years, in 26 countries where FESPA has a presence. Examples include practical workshops in India, a special effect printing summit in China, and a summit and conference in Thailand.

Reinvestment funds have also been deployed in the production of exclusive educational tools such as the FESPA Sensations book (www.fespasensations.com), the development of e-learning courses in multiple languages, and the 2009 relaunch of FESPA’s Planet Friendly Guide to environmentally responsible printing.

FESPA also uses reinvestment funds to undertake research and market intelligence activity, with the aim of giving members of FESPA’s national associations exclusive access to information that can enhance their business planning. Examples include FESPA’s Wide and Worldwide Surveys, and the regular Economy Survey instigated in 2009 to monitor the effects of the global economic downturn on the wide-format community.

FESPA’s central web site (www.fespa.com) has also been substantially enhanced to provide stakeholders with a central repository for advice and information. Topics covered include RFID, Certified PDF, REACH, WEEE, RHoS, BREF, and include information and documentation from FESPA and expert third party sources.

All applications for reinvestment funding are evaluated by FESPA’s Projects Committee, taking into account the potential benefit to members, educational and technical value, and overall project impact. The Committee encourages members to supplement FESPA’s financial support with self-funding, commercial sponsorship or available subsidies from local business support initiatives, national or regional government.

Nigel Steffens concludes: “The rise in reinvestment activity, and the breadth of initiatives supported by FESPA, reflect the expansion and globalisation of the FESPA community in recent years. Emerging markets in Europe, Asia and the Americas have an urgent need for education, information and best practice advice, and membership of FESPA through their national associations provides print service providers in these geographies with a distinct competitive advantage.

“In more established markets, opportunities from technological developments and new applications have been balanced by pricing pressures, overcapacity and market consolidation. Print service providers have been challenged to sharpen their service propositions and act quickly in response to a changing landscape. Our reinvestment programme has enabled FESPA to offer concrete insights, information, intelligence and ideas to help members face and embrace this change.”

To obtain a copy of the FESPA Reinvestment Report, visit www.fespa.com to access and download a PDF version, or email Chris Smith at chris.smith@fespa.com

Roland DG to Showcase Revolutionary New Technologies, Practical Money-Making and Creative Ideas and Training at Sign and Digital UK 2010

Roland DG (UK), the leading manufacturer of wide format printing systems and related technologies, will be exhibiting and demonstrating the full range of its latest production hardware at this year’s Sign and Digital UK. The stand will also feature the Roland DG Academy, the Roland Creative Centre, and RolandCare presenting a continuous programme of free events designed to Inspire, Show and Teach.

Among this year’s many highlights attracting visitors to the Roland stand will be the first European showing of the all-new VersaCAMM VS-640 printer/cutter. This feature-packed and revolutionary printer substantially expands its users’ commercial and creative horizons, and grows the market for the output they produce. With a production calibre media-handling system, the printer goes to great lengths to satisfy the volume needs of the busiest shops. At 64” wide, it tackles the biggest jobs seamlessly too. Add to that the ability to print eye-popping and electrifying results with genuine metallic ink and amazingly affordable pricing, and it’s clear that the VS-640 defines the next step on the career path of any company with one eye of the future of wide format inkjet printing and another on the cost of getting there.

Alongside the new VersaCAMM VS-640 and the rest of the Roland DG cast of productive hardware such as the AdvancedJet, VersaUV, SolJet Pro III and the whole range of VersaCAMMs, the Roland DG stand will be providing inspiration with three zones - Teach Me, Inspire Me and Show Me.

The Roland DG Academy will be providing valuable hands-on training and seminars, illuminating such topics as workflow management using SignLab and Roland VersaWorks, colour management including spot colour reproduction, monitor calibration, and finishing techniques such as lamination. Application techniques for delivering cost-savings and end-to-end production efficiencies will be taught as well as portfolio-enhancing creative ideas and up-to-the minute essential skills.

The Roland DG Academy will also be running a Business Management Masterclass in conjunction with CIMA, which is designed to explain the rules of business in an enjoyable way, whilst showing how to succeed in producing a profit and generating cash. Representatives from CIMA will also be on hand to answer questions and provide visitors with valuable business tools, ideas and advice.

Visitors will be treated to an inspirational journey through the Roland Creative Centre, which will showcase compelling ideas demonstrating how digital print, engraving and 3D technology can be used to produce highly marketable products which can enhance any business portfolio and create new streams of revenue as customers keep coming back for more. Visitors will leave the Roland stand with practical learning they can apply to their businesses when they return and see immediate return. Roland welcomes all to its stand to participate in its events regardless of whether they currently use Roland hardware.

Among those delivering the sharp end skills and demonstrating how any signmaking business can expand the services and products it offers will be Sabur Ink Systems and Xpres Transfer Technology.

Sabur Ink Systems will be demonstrating the Roland VersaArt RS-640 wide format dye sublimation solution in producing various items such as soft signage, clothing and floor mats. Experts from Sabur will also be on-hand to answer any dye sublimation questions.

Xpres will be demonstrating their GemTec solution for garment rhinestone customisation as well as cut and applied textile garment films for producing single and multi-coloured vinyl transfers in a huge range of colours and finishes.

Everything visitors need to set up, run and expand a successful business, such as printers and engravers, training and support, market-expanding ideas and genuine innovation, is available to see on the Roland DG stand (E20) at Sign and Digital UK 2010.