(Image courtesy of FESPA)
(See also Ralf Schlözer’s coverage of this year’s FESPA Global Print Expo.)
The FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 brought the specialty print community together for four motivational days in Berlin (May 31 to June 3, 2022), in an atmosphere of overwhelming positivity that affirmed the industry’s readiness to bounce back from the challenges of the last two years.
With a compelling line-up of 375 exhibiting companies, including many leading supplier brands which had not exhibited since 2019, the event attracted a high quality, international audience of senior decision-makers who travelled from 126 countries, with Germany, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, and the UK delivering the largest visitor delegations.
(Image courtesy Texintel)
Exhibitors of all sizes and across all areas of the show expressed their delight at being back at a live FESPA event, with many commenting on the energy they felt at the show and confident of positive commercial outcomes from their participation.
Michael Ryan, head of Global Print Expo at FESPA, said, “Finally, we could deliver an all-round FESPA experience for exhibitors and visitors that felt like a return to form, and the consensus was that the vibe at the show was incredible. Every industry is changed by the pandemic, and print is no exception, but this show proved beyond doubt that print is resilient, creative, agile, and focused on the future. Our strapline promised ‘Print In Motion’ and this came to life in Berlin, with an incredible sense of forward momentum and commitment to positive progress on areas like sustainability.”
With more than 60% of visitors having final purchasing authority or influence, many exhibitors referenced the high quality of contacts and conversations and left FESPA 2022 with confirmed sales, new distribution partnerships, and strong business opportunities for the short to medium term.
(Image courtesy Texintel)
Christoph Gamper, CEO of Durst, the event’s Platinum Sponsor, commented: “It was one of the best experiences I and my team members had in a trade show so far. So thank you, Berlin and thank you, FESPA!”
FESPA Global Print Expo 2022, together with European Sign Expo, attracted 11,647 unique visitors, a 48% increase from the autumn 2021 event, with return trips over multiple days bringing total attendance to 15,969 visits.
Analysis of the pre-event registration data provided by the 53% of visitors who chose to reveal their investment budget confirms significant readiness to invest at or soon after the show.
Among these delegates, the collective median spend amounted to €1.3 billion, not accounting for those visitors who did not indicate their plans.
Kathrin Buhl, Director of Sales & Marketing EMEA at Kornit Digital Europe, emphasized the commercial impact of the event: “We really had the bestselling show ever! People came here to sign and to do business, so for us it’s a very successful show and we’re happy to be back.”
Sebastien Hanssens, VP Marketing & Operations at Caldera, echoed this, saying: “We’re really happy. There’s outstanding quality of people coming in with real projects, real demands looking for innovations, looking for new applications so really, this is the place to be.”
Commenting on European Sign Expo, Harold Klaren, International Sales Manager at EFKA, said: “What a joy it was to be part of the show in Berlin. It was a real pleasure to see and speak to everyone again! European Sign Expo…is the event where we meet our customers from around the world at one location. We also use the show to make new contacts, keep tabs on what’s happening in the industry, be inspired, and share experiences with other exhibitors.”
The response from visitors was equally upbeat, with delegates praising FESPA for the rich opportunity to access information, inspiration, and ideas, as well as the chance to meet new suppliers, customers, and partners in a concentrated space.
Benjamin Lichter from Saarbrücken, Germany, summed up what many observed with his comment: “It is simply the event that shows where the market is currently moving and in which direction.”
The first-ever Sustainability Spotlight conference attracted much attention, underlining the priority now being given to environmental responsibility, while a visually stunning Printeriors showcase attracted hundreds of printers hungry for fresh ideas for sustainable printed interior décor.
Many visitors also engaged enthusiastically with the exhibited print projects in the new Associations Pavilion, while the Club FESPA lounge was buzzing with FESPA members from around the world, keen to reconnect with international colleagues.
“The significant spending power of our visitor base and the broad international audience together offer powerful evidence of a rebound in our global community. We see confidence returning, inspiring business leaders to invest and also to resume business travel, live events, and face-to-face networking where they know it will deliver tangible value for them,” concluded FESPA CEO Neil Felton.
“The glowing feedback from exhibitors and visitors in Berlin tells us that the specialty print community wants and needs to engage in person, and that FESPA is where they come together. Now we’re looking ahead to the return of strong FESPA events in Mexico, Eurasia and Brazil, and beyond to our next Global Print Expo in Munich in May 2023. We can’t wait to stimulate the same energy and optimism in specialty print communities in other regions.”
