Business News
Thousands expected to attend The Print Show 2016 as SignLink Live confirmed for 2017
Tuesday 04. October 2016 - Over 140 exhibitors confirmed for this year, with sister event to launch in 2017
With excitement already at peak levels ahead of The Print Show 2016, which is expected to attract thousands of visitors from across the industry, organisers have added further fuel to the fire by announcing SignLink Live, a new event that will be co-located with it next year.
The Print Show 2016 runs from October 11th to 13th at Birminghams NEC and floor space at the event is now completely sold out, with the remaining stands having been snapped up in the weeks leading up to the show. More than 140 companies will be represented at this years show, hailing from all corners of the industry and showcasing a wide range of print-related technologies.
Chris Davies, event director for The Print Show, said: “After the success of our debut show last year, we made the decision early on to make 2016 bigger and better, and this has paid off. The Print Show 2016 will be 15 percent larger than last year, with the floorplan featuring plenty of returning companies, as well as a host of new names.
“Its important to us to have returning exhibitors as it shows how important The Print Show is to them that they can commit for two consecutive years. At the same time, its fantastic for us to have so many new names this year as it shows how well our debut event went and brands are keen to take advantage of the platform that we can offer.”
Extensive line-up of quality exhibitors
Returning exhibitors include the likes of Konica Minolta, Presstek, OKI, Watkiss Automation, Grafityp, RISO, IFS, Vivid Laminating and Morgana. These brands will have support from new names such as Duplo, Spandex, Friedheim International, Apex Digital Graphics, Intec and Xeretec/Xerox, all of which are set to bring more value to an event that is squarely focussed on the UK commercial print industry.
The Print Show 2016 will also serve as a launch platform for a number of exhibitors, with several new technologies to be shown. Duplo will be launching its new PFi DI-CUT 300 die cutter, while Konica Minolta will unveil its new AccurioPro brand in the UK for the first time, following its official launch at Drupa.
“Drupa is obviously the biggest print event on the planet, but very few UK printers made it out to Germany,” Davies said, adding: “The Print Show is the perfect opportunity for members of the UK industry to see the latest on offer from some of the biggest names in print, as well as catch up on the biggest trends in the market.”
Special show features
While the many exhibitors in attendance will offer plenty of innovation and ideas to visitors, The Print Show 2016 will be hosting a series of special areas to help further. Returning features include the Business Seminar Theatre, where visitors can hear from some of the brightest minds in print, while the Software Training Theatre, sponsored by Roland DG, will feature input from Adobe, Corel and Quark.
Also back this year is The Traditional Print Masterclass, one of the most popular features of the 2015 show. Here, visitors can look back at prints colourful past and see some of the ground-breaking technology that helped shape the modern industry. For visitors looking for a place to rest or network, then the Printers Arms, sponsored by Harrier Print, will be the place to stop off for a pint and a chat.
New for this year is the Printers Bazaar, and innovative feature that will allow visitors to explore some of the industrys key expansion areas. This section of the show will comprise six specialist areas dedicated to sectors of the market where traditional print companies can access new work. The Branding Coral, 3D Print Express, The Textile Trading Post, Stickers R Us, Promo Print Alley and The Vehicle Wrap Shack will all feature in the Printers Bazaar this year.
The Print Show 2016 will also run a series of competitions that will give visitors the chance to go home with one of several fantastic prizes. One competition, which is being run in partnership with The Printing Charity, will give students in the Print Futures Awards the chance to design a voucher booklet that will be used at the show. The booklet will be produced and given out to visitors at the Printers Bazaar, allowing them to treat themselves to free pick and mix sweets on the Print Monthly stand.
SignLink Live to be co-located with The Print Show in 2017
Meanwhile, in a move that will set The Print Show apart from other events in the UK, organisers have confirmed the launch of a sister show for next year. Taking one third of the venue, SignLink Live will run alongside The Print Show at The International Centre from October 10th to 12th 2017 and feature some of the biggest bands from the UK sign-making industry.
Together the two shows will take the entire venue, which spans some 10,500sq m (113,021sq ft), boasts ultra-modern facilities, and is located 5 minutes walk from a large hospitality, entertainment, hotel, and shopping complex.
A key reason for co-locating the show is that SignLink Live will provide a focussed space for all the industrys suppliers and manufacturers that focus on sign-making products, technology, and materials other than wide-format print technologywhile The Print Show 2017, as its names suggests, will look to host wide-format print technology manufacturers in addition to its core commercial print technology suppliers and manufacturers.
Davies concludes: “If you are a wide-format print technology supplier or manufacturer exhibiting in The Print Show you will benefit especially from the co-location by having your two core customer demographics delivered to your stand.”
The key focus of SignLink Live will see it place host to sign-making industry suppliers and manufacturers, the product and services of which span everything from built-up LED illuminated letters, through digital signage, to materials for wrapping buildings in graphics.
Although specific details of the new event are being kept under wraps until after The Print Show 2016 closes its doors, Davies, who will serve as event director for both shows, explains that Sign Link Live will be run in a similar way to its sister show, with the focus placed on helping visitors expand and grow their busine
ss.
“SignLink Live is a perfect event to co-locate with The Print Show,” Davies said, who added: “Those in the print industry are well aware of the many crossovers between commercial print and sign-making, and running these two events alongside each other will allow visitors to look into markets on either side of the spectrum and see the opportunities that are on offer.
“It is no secret that commercial printers have been diversifying into offering large-format print services for the last decade, and SignLink Live will give them the chance to see what the rest of the industrys technology and products could offer them in terms of business diversification. At the same time, SignLink Live will of course be clearly targeted at the UKs sign-making industry, who will be able to likewise consider the diversification opportunities on offer in commercial print by visiting The Print Show.”
As it its name indicates, SignLink Live will be a physical extension of SignLink magazine, the largest trade title in the sign-making industry.