Dare to print different this year at FESPA

This year’s FESPA is shaping up to be one of the best exhibitions yet. Divisional director of FESPA, Roz McGuinness outlays what you can expect from this truly global print community. FESPA will take place this year from May 8 to 12 at Messe Hamburg, Germany.

Q) The theme this year at FESPA is Dare to Print Different, can you explain what this means for our readers?

A) Dare to Print Different is a statement of our confidence in the entrepreneurialism of our global speciality print community.

The strapline celebrates the innovation in technology and materials, which is at the heart of FESPA, and its role in helping printers to fulfil their potential and differentiate themselves through new products and forward-thinking business models.

When printers head to FESPA 2017 in May, we want them to arrive with the ambition to explore and identify something that could expand their business opportunities and give them fresh inspiration. Every feature we are incorporating into FESPA 2017 is designed to show print service providers (PSPs) the many avenues of opportunity available to them, and for them to leave invigorated with new ideas to apply to their business.

Dare to Print Different, is a reminder to PSPs across all areas of the industry to stand back and open their minds to the opportunities that exist for them to improve and evolve. We want them to think about the avenues they are yet to explore, to think of fresh ways to be different, to do things in ways their competitors can’t and move their customer relationships to a new level in the process.

Q) Why should P&P readers visit FESPA 2017? What benefits would they gain from attending?

A) With over 700 exhibitors covering screen and digital textile equipment, consumables and substrates, FESPA 2017 offers a vast amount for visitors to explore.

Looking at textile in particular, there is one dedicated textile hall at FESPA 2017 which will embrace both digital and screen textile printing technologies and applications. Covering apparel, promotional products, garment decoration, soft signage, direct to garment and printed interior décor, there will be a wide range of textile applications to explore.

We will also have focused textile printing seminars in our free-to-attend onsite seminar hub, which covers all processes and applications, where visitors can learn how to use the technology and applications they have seen around the show floor to help them dare to print different. This invaluable knowledge will provide added benefits to visitors’ time at the show. Sessions include: Digital Textile Workflows, designing for digital textiles – Comparing commercial graphic and textile file differences and Proofing digital textile prints by Scott Donovan, Owner at BleuPrint Creative. A panel discussion titled Textile Printing Fashion Victim or Captain Future – Where do we go now in textile printing? will be hosted by Sonja Angerer, editor of Rrrabbitproductions.

Q) What differentiates FESPA Textile, FESPA Digital and FESPA Screen?

A) At this year’s show, FESPA Textile, FESPA Digital and FESPA Screen are all zones within the main FESPA 2017 show. For instance rather than a separate show this year, FESPA Textile will encompass one hall showcasing both digital and screen textile technology. Similarly, the digital halls will show digital printing and the screen / industrial halls will show screen printing technology.

We know that some of our exhibitors located outside of the textile hall will also be showcasing textile printing solutions. For these exhibitors, we are creating a textile trail, so visitors with an interest in textile will be able to see the complete textile offering at FESPA 2017.

Q) Would a garment decorator benefit from a visit to each zone?

A) Absolutely. Regardless of their primary reason for attending the show – whether that is to find inspiration for new products, to validate new business ideas or concepts with industry experts and peers, or with the intention of investing in technology – garment decorators will find something in each zone at FESPA that will capture their imagination and set them on the path to exploring profitable new business opportunities.

Q) Would garment decorators benefit from a visit to the co-located events; European Sign Expo and Printeriors?

A) If garment decorators are looking to diversify into other textile applications then a visit to both European Sign Expo and Printeriors is definitely worth a visit as applications such as soft signage and home furnishings will be on display.

Visitors to Printeriors will also be able to see the latest trends within interior décor which can translate into garment decoration.

Q) Are there any new features at this year’s show?

A) Following feedback we have simplified our educational features for FESPA 2017, which will take the format of one seminar hub consisting of seminars, panel discussions and technology showcases covering screen, digital and textile printing, as well as signage. These sessions will allow like-minded professionals to gain access to and discuss, a mix of technical and business knowledge based sessions, ensuring they leave with the tools to help take their business to the next level.

Q) What can a garment decorator expect to take away with them from their visit?

A) At FESPA 2017 there will be over 150 exhibitors involved with garment decoration. These exhibitors, combined with a host of other textile manufacturers and our show seminars will provide visitors with the inspiration to dare to take their business further.

We hope that visitors leave FESPA 2017 with the inspiration and motivation to expand their business’ potential.

 Q) Are there any new exhibitors that garment decorators should pay a visit to?

A) New exhibitors involved in textile printing and garment decoration at FESPA 2017 include:

• Diferro Makina – a Turkish manufacturer of transfer printing machines
• Esatex – a supplier of ink jet plotters for sublimation printing
• Ghost – a manufacturer of a white toner printer
• Guangzhou Zaneeta Import Export Co – a producer of sublimation blanks
• Karl Gröner – a supplier of screen printing and DTG printing equipment
• KTK – a Portuguese manufacturer of screen printing equipment
• Lampe textiles – the manufacturer of Squid, a new self-adhesive, transparent, woven fabric that can be applied directly on to windows or walls
• Mister Transfer – an online textile transfer specialist
• Mountek – a supplier of embroidery machines, software and accessories
• Pass Digital Printing Technologies Foreign Trade Co. – a supplier of digital printing machines
• Seripress – a manufacturer of heat transfers
• Sifamir – a manufacturer of screen printing and textile printing machinery
• Sublimet – a supplier of sublimation blanks
• Tal & Qual – a supplier and manufacturer of transfer products
• Thermotron – a manufacturer of automatic packing machines and heat presses
• Uras Kimya – a producer of textile inks

Q) How would you describe the garment decoration industry at the moment?

A) In our last Print Census, which garnered the feedback of over 1,200 industry professionals worldwide, textile proved to be the dominant growth application among respondents. 27% are already involved in garment printing, with 81% seeing growth in this segment – the highest of any growth application.

Clearly this is an exciting and vibrant market and FESPA 2017 will be a pivotal source of inspiration for those already involved in as well as those considering it as a growth area to diversify into. Where garment decoration is concerned we typically see individuals with an interest in two areas at FESPA; those who intrinsically understand fabrics and need to gain a deeper technical understanding in terms of production techniques, and those who are technically savvy but want to advance their knowledge in the creative use of textiles. FESPA 2017 will cater to both and we hope visitors will leave full of ideas to put into practice.

Q) What do you think will be the highlights of this year’s show?

A) I think textile as a whole will be a highlight of FESPA 2017. As we’ve witnessed over the last few years, textile has been one of the main growth trends and I don’t see this changing due to the developments in digital textile technology and the wealth of application possibilities.

Our range of textile seminars, led by experts in the field will inspire visitors to diversify into textile or to dare to take their existing business further. Printeriors is definitely worth a visit for textile professionals to see how they can diversify into printed interior décor applications such as curtains, cushions, bed linen and much more.

For examples of how other print service providers have succeeded, visitors can also check out the showcase of the FESPA Awards shortlisted entries. We have three categories dedicated to textile in this year’s Awards: Special effects on T shirts, garments and other textiles; T shirts and other garments; and Roll-to-roll printed textile. Visitors can take inspiration from these projects and apply to their existing business offering.

From exhibitors covering screen and digital textile print to seminars and application examples, at FESPA 2017 there will be an abundance of technology and examples for visitors to discover to help them dare to print different.

For more information on FESPA 2017 and to register to attend visit fespa2017.com for free entry use code: FESM718