Hallo Fespa 2021....
This month saw the return of Fespa Global Print Expo. Held at the RAI in Amsterdam, this is the first Fespa show to be held since Fespa Munich 2019.
Georgia and Lauren were lucky enough to head over to Amsterdam for two days at the show to discover new print innovations as well as have a long overdue in person catch up with suppliers and customers alike.
Fespa 2021 opened on Tuesday 12th October with the show finishing on the following Friday. There were Covid guidelines in place with vaccination and health checks being made pre-entry although the show itself was relaxed. The atmosphere of the show was definitely one of anticipation and excitement and possibly relief that a sense of industry normality has returned. Fespa shows are a highlight of the year for many with new connections forged along with the chance to get up close to new technology before investment.
Small but mighty...
The show itself was smaller than previous years and obviously held later than usual but it still made an impact. Major industry players exhibiting included Mimaki, Roland, Canon and Agfa. Notable absences included HP and Epson but there was still plenty to see amongst the smaller niche business stands.
Fespa stalwarts including Printeriors and World Wrap Masters were also present at the show. Printeriors showcased a range of home decor products providing inspiration from a range of textile and sublimation printers.
World Wrap Masters is always fun to watch with wrapped vans, childrens chairs and ride on VW campers featured as part of the competition.
Highlights of the show...
The Mimaki stand is always impressive and this year was no exception. Occupying a huge space, Mimaki showcased solvent, UV and textile machines. The new JFX 600-2513 with 16 print heads and a maximum print output of 200m/² was a massive draw.
Also on the stand were the new UJF-7151 Plus II and UJF MkII e series machines. Faster and with additional features including the very interesting Color Gloss function found on the new UJF7151 Plus II. This allows a gloss finish to be achieved without the use of clear ink. The finished effect is remarkable and could be a game changer!
The new Mimaki TS100-1600 sublimation printer proved very popular and always had a crowd gathered around it. Samples and application examples from all machines were arranged around the stand to inspire with a central area shrouded with a stunning, colourful backlit.
YPS are looking forward to Fespa Berlin 2022 which should see a return to the full sized show in May next year.
The atmosphere of the show was definitely one of anticipation and excitement and possibly relief that a sense of industry normality has returned.
