We recently took some time out to ask the InPrint Co-Founders Marcus Timson and Frazer Chesterman three important questions to help understand more about the thinking behind their InPrint show. Nothing clever from us here - we've simply asked the questions we feel most people would themselves ask if Marcus and Frazer were stood in front of them.
1. Why is InPrint important to the Print Industry?
FC: I am going to be direct, because this is our ‘call to action’ for the Print industry. InPrint is the most important ‘Print’ event in 2015. If you are really serious about looking at the future of your print business, then you should take a few hours to take a look at this event. You can get a free activation code at the end of the article.
Why? Because our industry is changing and the technology you will see at InPrint is different. I’ll give you an example: if you attended one of this year’s traditional wide-format or label shows, you might have seen bigger, better, faster….. which is fine, but this is about persuading you to buy a new bigger, better, faster machine to compete in a crowded market.
What you see and experience at InPrint is something entirely different, something new, somewhere different to sell your print services. This 'somewhere’ is the market that all of the manufacturers and all of the researchers recognise to be where the new market is going.
Consider also the way that DRUPA have changed their approach for next year’s show - with emphasis on areas such as print innovation, inkjet, functional print and 3D print - to me it is clear that things are changing. We are not focusing on an established and mature segment that is not really growing at the pace that it previously has been. The growth in industrial print technology whether it is inkjet, 3D or the continued growth of industrial screen print is greater than any other.
With our previous experience and our knowledge and understanding of growing exhibitions in developing markets combined with our partnership with Mack Brooks (One of Europe’s most successful trade show organisers) we are well placed to deliver a fantastic second event in Munich.
MT: It is important for a number of reasons, but the biggest reason I think is the fact is that his show is at the pinnacle of what print technology is capable of. InPrint is not a mainstream show. It is a show dedicated to advanced printing technologies that are pushing the boundaries of what is possible within manufacturing so as a result it is about now and the future. It is a unique show for visitors wanting to solve complex production problems and unlock new potential. It is not really a box shifting type of show.
2. Why should a visitor decide to attend the show? What will they see and experience?
FC: I’ll give you three good reasons to visit the show:
Firstly, this event is the only exhibition that focuses 100% on the evolving technology that we all refer to as ‘Industrial Print’. And it is clear from the research by all the major research bodies – IT Strategies, Infotrends and Smithers PIRA - that this is the ‘growing‘ part of the print market and it is set to continue this growth trajectory for the next few years. So if you are a printer who is considering where your business will come from in the future, you should at least be looking at this sector.
Secondly, we are fortunate enough to have over 80 speakers from the ‘Industrial Print’ sector delivering high value content in our InPrint Conference programme. This content is available without any additional cost to all visitors and is within two Theatres on the show floor, so easily accessible and representing the most comprehensive educational programme available in this format for 2015. I think attending for that alone is a no-brainer. If you are thinking ‘where can I go to understand more about the new developments in print', then Messe Munich 10-12th November is the place. You also get the extra value of your ticket giving you direct access to both InPrint and Productronica.
Thirdly, as a leading exhibition with one focus, we combine respected, traditional Industrial print methods such as screen print with the truly new and innovative technologies such as inkjet and additive manufacturing for the industrial segment.
What was really interesting last year with the first InPrint show was the number of visitors from the manufacturing industry. This is unlike any other print show in Europe. There is no denying that this show bridges the gap between the print sector and the end user Industry – with large numbers of visitors registering from the automotive, aeronautic, electronics, white good manufacture – and the developed/integrator market – helping us to develop an event that allows the print industry to rub shoulders with the a different part of the supply chain. But undoubtedly it's the sector that is really becoming excited by print technologies.
MT: They will see plenty of new products and ideas, meet experts who are able to solve complex problems and learn from over 60 conference sessions. It is not a show for posters, paper or anything you would expect to find at a regular print related trade show. If however a visitor is keen to develop new technologies that fit within a very specific manufacturing sector or marketplace, then this show is the perfect event that will provide unique access not only to advanced and sophisticated technologies for screen, digital, inkjet, speciality and 3D printing, but the expertise and people who know how to solve these problems.
3. What is your Vision for the show / and for the industrial print in the future?
MT: The show mantra is to ‘Lead the Future of Industrial Print’. So in this sense it is to continue to position the show to provide our growing industrial print community. Industrial printing is also unique in its growth. With 36% average growth across all sectors between 2012-2020 it outpaces any other print segment so if anyone is interested in joining this rapidly growing sector then InPrint is the show to attend.
FC: As the fastest growing Print technology event of 2015, we have a clear vision of growth. From the Hannover event in 2014 to the Munich event of 2015 we have seen a 50% increase in the number of exhibitors and we are have doubled the amount of conference content. No other event in the print industry has done this in 2015, so we are clear that there is an accelerated interest in the subject of industrial.
We believe there will be certain key trends which our show programme will match. For next November 2016, we will be in Milan, Italy and the emphasis will be on the decorative sector covering textile, glass, plastics, wood and ceramics for both interiors and exteriors as well as fashion. Whilst in Germany we will continue to see the functional and packaging sectors grow. We will also observe trends further afield and look to reflect significant industrial print developments with events to match the interest and demand on this exciting and developing sector.
- If you are reading this and would like a Free ticket to attend InPrint 2015 (November 10-12th Messe Munich) then please click here to activate your free code.
