The Print Show Preview: A One Stop Shop for Print Businesses

The Print Show returns for its eighth exhibition this year at Birmingham’s NEC from September 17th to 19th. Last year’s edition was celebrated for its positive atmosphere, various attractions, and its variety of exhibitors of all different sizes.

Last year saw several revamped areas of the show including the Knowledge Zone and Sales Lounge, which both included new growth and networking opportunities for visitors. Both areas will return this year along with the Gala Party – an opportunity for visitors and exhibitors to come together for an evening of food, drinks, and music, on the evening of September 18th at The National Conference Centre opposite the NEC.

Since 2015 The Print Show has demonstrated the importance of trade shows and the show’s unique proposition in offering a range of solutions from the entire print industry in one UK location.

Chris Davies, event director of The Print Show, says: “There is no other environment where you are able to access all these resources, from such a variety of brands, in a single space, other than at trade shows. Being the only UK show dedicated to the entire print industry means The Print Show is well positioned to provide this experience to our UK market which may not have been able to travel to Europe for larger shows.”

This year has seen another sleugh of new exhibitors as well as returning big names following the success of the 2023 show.

Brands like Konica Minolta, Agfa, Fujifilm, Liyu UK, Soyang Europe, Summa, swissQprint, Venture Banners, Hybrid Services, and Vivid, have all dedicated to sizeable stands at this year’s show with new kit and solutions on display.

In this preview we hear from show organisers and exhibitors about what visitors can expect from this year’s exciting event.

UK Firsts

For many years The Print Show has acted as the ideal hub to unite the print industry and give visitors from the UK and its surrounding countries an easy to access location to speak to businesses and exhibitors from across the globe.

The show prides itself on encompassing the entire print supply chain, making it an ideal location for commercial printers, graphic designers, marketing professionals, packaging specialists, and sign-makers.

Davies comments: “The Print Show always strives to improve and grow the event year on year and this year is no different. The high calibre of exhibitors already confirmed for the show has been noted by several companies deciding to exhibit this year for the first time due to the high quality of names on the floorplan.”

Regarding new and returning exhibitors, Davies adds: “We have more major manufacturers and resellers on the floor plan this year than ever before including Agfa, swissQprint, Fujifilm UK, CMYUK, Summa, and more.

We have more major manufacturers and resellers on the floor plan this year than ever before including Agfa, swissQprint, Fujifilm UK, CMYUK, Summa, and more

“There will be a number of UK-first showings at the event including the Ciervo from Agfa which was introduced to the market at FESPA in Amsterdam this year, and the swissQprint Kudu which was introduced at FESPA Berlin last year and has yet to be shown at a UK show.”

Another expanding sector of print is software, an area well represented at this year’s show. Davies says: “There will be a number of software demonstrations including a major new software release from PrintIQ, which also reflects the drive for automation and efficiency within the industry.”

Following on from the likes of FESPA and drupa, The Print Show 2024 will give visitors the opportunity to see new kit and solutions which were launched earlier in the year as well as a range of new launches from companies like Vivid Laminating Technologies which, like many exhibitors, has surprise launches planned for the show.

Speaking about its presence at this year’s show, Lewis Evans, commercial director at Vivid, says: “At The Print Show this year, our focus will be on showcasing our new innovations and product launches. Visitors to our stand can expect to see the UK debut of the Veloton, our patented interchangeable system that can be retrofitted to any Veloblade Volta+.”

Speaking about the new solution, Evans adds: “This system allows users to significantly increase cutting speed with multiple aligned cutting heads, making their production up to ten times faster. The Veloton is also compatible with the VeloBlade Nexus.”

In addition to the Veloton, Vivid will be focusing on its solutions for packaging. “We will be unveiling the newly updated ZipCore packaging suite which is designed to enhance efficiency and performance in packaging design,” says Evans, who adds: “Our stand will highlight these advancements and provide live demonstrations to illustrate the benefits and applications of these new technologies. Additionally, we have an exciting secret to reveal that will revolutionise print finishing.”

A big advantage to trade shows is being able to visit brands and businesses with the time to be able to speak to experts and advisors which you wouldn’t be able to do in the office.

Speaking about the benefits of visiting the Vivid stand (C40), Evans says: “Visitors should visit our stand to meet our team of experts who will be on hand to answer questions and provide insights into our latest innovations. We will also be conducting live demonstrations of our new products, allowing attendees to see first-hand the capabilities and benefits they offer.”

Next to Vivid on Stand E50 is returning exhibitor, Fujifilm, which will be showcasing the company’s range of Apeos office printers and Print-on-Demand toner presses as well as the Acuity Prime wide-format inkjet printer.

Andy Kent, UK general manager of Fujifilm Graphic Communication Division, comments: “The Print Show 2023 was really successful for us and the increase in exhibitors this year has given us confidence that it will be an even bigger and better event this year.

“We had a very successful drupa, showcasing a wide portfolio of products across multiple print markets. While we cannot fully recreate drupa on our stand at The Print Show, we intend to ensure our visitors get as much of the full Fujifilm experience as possible.”

Also returning to the show is Konica Minolta which will be demonstrating the newly launched AccurioPress C84hc press as well as the company’s integration with the latest finishing technologies including the IQ-501 Intelligent Quality control system and the TU-510 in-line finisher.

John Hiscock, head of production and industrial print at Konica Minolta, says: “Our stand aims to help print businesses understand both the technology and the market opportunities it presents.

“With workflow solutions that boost productivity, efficiency, versatility, and sustainability, businesses can enhance their competitive edge and meet evolving market demands.”

Both Konica Minolta and Fujifilm’s presence demonstrate the benefit of The Print Show taking place after drupa, with both companies having released a variety of different presses and solutions at the show.

Building Your Knowledge

As well as seeing the latest kit and products, exhibitions also provide the perfect opportunity for business owners, trainees, operators, and other professionals to improve their knowledge in a range of areas.

This year’s Knowledge Zone is testament to the increasing diversity in the industry and the many resources and amazing projects taking place in the world of print.

Organiser of The Knowledge Zone, Rob Fletcher, has worked to ensure that presentations and themes have been expanded while also offering new and exciting topics for printers to consider.

Big names include LUSH, the RNIB, Bluetree Group, Landa, and Canon, all of which will be speaking to visitors of all ages and job levels to inspire them and educate them about what is possible in the world of print.

Davies says: “The topics within the schedule span everything from using SEO to boost your brand’s visibility to implementing AI and how to use LinkedIn for social selling.

“Prominent industry figures will also share their journeys within print and the steps they have taken that have led to large-scale business growth and success. These include managing director of Solopress, Simon Cooper; and Andrew Wilson, managing director of PressOn Automotive.”

For visitors the speaker area has always been an opportunity to see and hear inspirational stories as well as learn important advice about navigating the challenges and advancements taking place in the industry.

This year’s lineup is a perfect example of new technologies and inspiring stories, such as the story of Nick Hollis, someone who used to work in the print industry before taking on big challenges such as rowing 1,200km across the Atlantic Ocean.

The show will also feature organisations and associations like FESPA UK, The Printing Charity, and the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), who will talk about topics surrounding sustainability and diversity in the workplace.

Following the success of the World Unseen experience in London, Mathew Faulkner, director of marketing and innovation, Wide Format Printing Group, at Canon UK will be joined by Dave Williams from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to discuss the importance of inclusive print and signage.

World Unseen was a unique photography exhibition that used haptic print effects to ensure that photos could be experienced and felt by members of the blind community.

Davies comments: “Feedback from our exhibitors so far has shown the key themes for 2024 are diversification, sustainability, and the demonstration of applications.

“A number of companies exhibiting for the first time operate and service the wide-format and signage space, and these companies are keen to showcase their offering to the entire print industry, as more companies are looking to diversify.”

A company that is using its space at The Print Show to demonstrate a variety of wide-format solutions that can help businesses in diversifying their product range but also offer more sustainable products is Venture Banners.

Exhibiting on Stand A20, the business is a trade-only supplier of large-format print which offers the printing of products like roller banners and stretch fabric displays so that companies don’t feel the need to invest in large machinery.

Talking about the advantages of stretch fabric solutions, Scott Conway, director and co-founder of Venture Banners, says: “The profit potential for printers is huge, so working with a trade supplier like us to add a very fruitful new revenue stream with little investment or risk is a fantastic opportunity.”
In recent years the materials that printers and sign-makers use have become increasingly important as sustainability has become a bigger focus.

Conway says: “Based on feedback from our customers on what they would like to see from us, we’ve been working for the past couple of years on a sustainable and recyclable honeycomb cardboard range of display products. We would encourage any printers who are looking to offer quality, sustainable products to their customers to come and have a chat with us on stand A20.”

As well as its new sustainable range, Venture Banners will be showcasing vibrant textile graphics, demonstrating how exhibition stands can be brought to life as well as assembled, dismantled, transported, and reused with ease.

Conway adds: “Our new product range will deliver vast benefits to print businesses looking to boost their eco-friendly credentials. Many of their customers will be increasingly interested in working with sustainable printers, so that’s certainly a competitive advantage.

“On top of this, the cost to entry into the cardboard display market is usually incredibly high, so with this new product line, printers can target profits in this area with no investment whatsoever besides the products themselves.”

Wide-Format on Display

This year’s show will have a big emphasis on solutions for wide-format printers and sign-makers as many manufacturers, material suppliers, and trade printers look to help businesses expand their offerings and tap into this ever-growing market.

Manufacturers like swissQprint, Agfa, Canon, HP, Mimaki (via Hybrid Services), and InkTec Europe will all have a presence at the show, either directly or through resellers, in order to show a diverse range of machines capable of wide-format print, garment printing, and direct-to-object (DTO) printing.

Building on the success of last year’s show, InkTec says it will use its presence at The Print Show 2024 to demonstrate its knowledge and understanding of the direct-to-film (DTF) sector to visitors.

“As a business, we have long been committed to innovation and are now excitingly at the forefront of the DTF revolution,” the company says, adding: “So, this year’s show will be used as a platform to discuss this more with visitors.”

Machine reseller, CMYUK, which has previously exhibited at The Print Show, will be demonstrating the Canon Colorado M5W from Canon’s new M-series as well as showing finishing solutions from JWEI and software from Fiery.

Another returning company to the show is Hybrid Services (Stand P50) which will be demonstrating the innovations customers can undertake in regard to DTF and solvent and UV, print and cut, and print only thanks to its hardware solutions from Mimaki.

Andy Gregory, sales director at Hybrid Services, says: “The Print Show offers a unique opportunity to meet with key contacts in the sign, graphics, and commercial printing industry. With Mimaki’s constant flow of innovative new products, it provides a perfect platform to present the latest technology – and for visitors to absorb the industry as a whole.

“Hybrid will be showcasing the latest UV and solvent technology from Mimaki, including wide-format printers, integrated printer/cutters, and flatbed solutions.”

Gregory adds: “The Hybrid stand will also feature the latest Mimaki DTF printer, demonstrating the incredible opportunity that garment decoration and branding offers.”

Super-Wide Digital, a new exhibitor for 2024, a trade-only supplier of large and superwide-format printing, which works with exhibitors like Soyang Europe and CMYUK, says its is exhibiting this year after the decline of other shows in the UK.

Luke Drogan, director at Super-Wide Digital, says: “The Print Show appears to offer us the perfect opportunity to re-establish Super-Wide as an exhibiting company, and we want to make a big impact this year. We want to use the exhibition as a springboard to accelerate our marketing and PR activities, in particular.”

Commenting on the continued growth of wide-format, Davies adds: “The addition of several new exhibitors from the wide-format and graphics industry indicates the shift that is taking place in the wider industry with companies continuing to diversify and expand their offerings.

“We will be making an announcement at the exhibition that reflects this evolution so keep your eyes peeled!”