Textile Printing
FESPA 2015: Global Expo attendance up 17%
Thursday 11. June 2015 - More delegates than ever extend visit for full exploration of FESPA 'universe of print'
FESPA 2015 Global Expo (18-22 May 2015) drew its largest total audience ever, with 43775 visits to Koelnmesse over the five days of the show, an increase of 17% compared with the previous flagship FESPA event in London in 2013.
The combined event attracted 23137 individual (unique) visitors, with the majority electing to stay at the show for more than one day, resulting in the highest ever revisit rate for any FESPA event. This reflects the increased scope of FESPA’s Global Expo in terms of exhibiting companies and educational content, which motivated visitors to extend their visit beyond one day to take in all the product innovations and educational opportunities.
The speciality print mega-event played host to more than 750 exhibitors under four distinct event brands: FESPA 2015 (screen, digital and textile printing); FESPA Fabric (garment printing and decoration); European Sign Expo (non-printed signage) and Printeriors (printed interior décor).
FESPA 2015 Global Expo also offered visitors an Educational Hub, Sign Hub, Wrap Cup Masters vehicle wrapping area, 3D and Industrial Print Showcases, a gallery of FESPA Awards entries, and the new Printeriors conference featuring speakers from the interior design and architectural communities.
An increased emphasis on textile applications – including soft signage, interior décor applications and garment printing – was notable throughout the halls of FESPA 2015 Global Expo. This was reinforced by the publication on Wednesday 20 May of the six directional trends emerging from FESPA’s global Print Census, one of which was the rise of textile applications as a means of diversification for print service providers.
FESPA CEO Neil Felton comments: “This was the most colourful, most comprehensive FESPA event we have ever delivered, and printers from all over the world touched down in Cologne, ready to discover their universe of print. This record attendance is an unmistakable signal of the renewed energy, optimism and engagement of our global community of suppliers and service providers.
“The fact that so many visitors committed more than a day to the show reflects the vast spectrum of innovative products and applications that were there to be explored, and cements FESPA’s reputation as the most comprehensive global event for wide format and speciality print.”
“Each FESPA exhibition is a reflection of the inventiveness and vitality that runs through the veins of our community, and the 2015 show floor was buzzing with imagination and opportunity. What’s clear from these five days in Cologne is that the word ‘print’ barely does justice to the diverse and imaginative technologies, products and concepts that now come together under one roof at FESPA.”
A strike by Deutsche Bahn employees impacted national train services in Germany on days three and four (Wednesday/Thursday) of the five-day show, with some service disruption continuing towards the Whitsun holiday weekend. FESPA responded by providing free shuttle bus services from Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt airports, enabling international visitors travelling by plane to reach the exhibition with ease.