• EFI, RGBUK and Xeikon have signed up to return to The Print Show this year
• Martin Mayo, inkjet regional sales manager at EFI, says the company has returned after enjoying successful appearances at The Print Show in 2015 and 2016
• KAS Paper Systems, Lion, Your Print Partner, Beechwood Finance, A Star Binding Supplies and Celtic Binding also sign up to exhibit
• Iain Bullock, managing director at Renz UK, paid tribute to the “tenacity” of The Print Show’s organisers
• The Print Show 2017 set to sell out in coming weeks with floorspace now at a premium
The Print Show this year will be switching to The International Centre in Telford and take place from October 11th to 13th. A host of leading brands from across the industry have already signed up to exhibit and it has now been confirmed that a number of other new key brands have also secured their places at the show.
In recent weeks, organisers have confirmed the addition of industry giant EFI, which, as it has done at previous editions of the event, will focus on its extensive range of software solutions—while its world renowned wide-format inkjet systems will be showcased through a major distributor soon to be announced.
RGBUK, an accredited reseller of Canon, Roland DG, and OKI wide-format print products, has also signed up, as has KAS Paper Systems, a leading UK manufacturer of mail enclosing systems.
Also confirmed for The Print Show year is Lion—which specialises in high-value personalised print products, large-format trade print expert Your Print Partner, finishing solutions firm A Star Binding Supplies, Beechwood Finance, and Celtic Binding.
This latest group of exhibitors once again shows both the strength and depth of The Print Show’s offering to the UK print industry, as it not only caters for a rainbow of smaller independent suppliers, but also major manufacturing brands such as Xeikon, KBA, HP, Konica Minolta, Duplo, Epson, EFI, B and R Moll, Mimaki (Hybrid Services), Inktec, RISO, Morgana, Roland DG (Grafityp), Hans Grohni (Printers Superstore), Vivid Laminating Systems, Intec, X-Press On Demand, and many more.
Global super-powers
Speaking about EFI’s decision to return this year, Martin Mayo, inkjet regional sales manager at EFI, said: “We attended The Print Show last year and the year before that. Both shows were very successful for EFI in terms of conversations with existing customers and prospects.
“The business results we saw from these conversations and the visibility translated well for EFI in the UK market. We are confident to experience another successful Print Show—especially the co-location with SignLink Live will help broaden the audience and generate additional traction for EFI’s offering for commercial, but also, large-format digital printers.”
Mayo also revealed details of what visitors can expect on the EFI stand this year: “During The Print Show, we will mainly showcase our Productivity Software Solutions with its certified end-to-end workflows for the commercial and digital printing segment; in addition to our Fiery Server and Software portfolio.
“Additionally, we will proof our digital printing capabilities with a variety of samples produced by our Inkjet printing systems.”
Another major digital print player set to grace The Print Show in 2017 is Xeikon, which is set for its debut at the event. Its focus will be on educating the UK commercial printers visiting the show about the strong diversification opportunities its presses can open up.
A good example of a Xeikon press that has been helping commercial printers around the world move their businesses into new markets is the PX3000 digital label printing press—based on the firm’s new Panther UV inkjet platform.
Duncan Sargeant, sales manager for labels and packaging at Xeikon, explains more about the press: “The Xeikon PX3000 is a digital UV inkjet label printing press. Just like that other feline in our family, the Cheetah, it is designed to deal with short runs, more demanding customers and ever higher creative expectations. Think: efficiency, versatility, and quality combined—all within the Xeikon ecosystem. You’ll be ready for whatever is behind the next turn.
“In a world with ever-shorter product life cycles, a proliferation of SKUs (stock keeping units) and a demand for increasingly sophisticated labels to win customers and fight counterfeiting, digital label production is arguably the best way forward to secure a profitable business.”
The Xeikon 9000 series is another good example of technology helping printers move into new growth markets, and combines top printing quality and productivity. “They are fast, versatile and allow for highly flexible handling at an excellent price quality ratio,” adds Sargeant.
Glowing words
Meanwhile, Renz, which has supported the event since its launch in 2015, has also spoken candidly about its decision to return to the show this year. Iain Bullock, managing director at Renz UK, has paid a special tribute to the efforts of the organising team.
Bullock said: “After initial scepticism about the need for a new show three years ago, Renz exhibited and not only had a good show, but were very impressed by the look and feel of the show, as well as the dedication of the staff organising the show. On the strength of the first cycle I had no qualms about signing for the second cycle.
“I admire The Print Show’s tenacity and never say die attitude. I told them that I would absolutely not be exhibiting at their show in the IPEX year, yet here we are exhibiting as I am so impressed by the good job they have done in gaining such momentum for the show.
“The thing that stands out is simply the fact that all the exhibitors that I know and had spoken with had good shows during the first two cycles, there was no negativity after the second cycle as the show truly proved itself to be a worthy event.”
Bullock added: “The simple reason why we are now exhibiting at The Print Show is just to be there in front of our audience with relevant pieces of equipment. This is how Renz has grown and built up our reputation and contacts in the industry over the years.
“I would hate to be sat back in the office knowing that there was an exhibition somewhere in the UK and that Renz wasn’t present, yet potential customers of ours were.
“The Print Show also falls at a good time in the calendar for Renz, just as the calendar season begins to start and printers and finishers alike are thinking about how they are going to fulfil their calendar work.”
Renz has also revealed that it will use the show to display various machinery for the first time in the UK, including the super quick Bindomatic Accel Cube and Ultra thermal binding machines, alongside the Renz desktop DTP 340 A semi-automated punch and ECL 360 electric Ring Wire closing machine.
Also set to feature on the Renz stand is the Punch 500 heavy duty punch, AP 300 Compact automated punch and MOBI 500 semi-automated Ring Wire binding machine for books and calendars. In addition, Renz will be showcasing the Argos F 400 cold UV coating machine, with its innovative cold UV curing technology, for the first time in the UK.
