The buzz is mounting as the industry’s must-attend event is only days away

Sign & Digital UK will this year return with the show theme – The Face of Innovation – seamlessly bringing together the best the show has to offer from the introduction of many new exhibitors, to major technology launches from leading brands.

The 185-plus exhibiting brands, a host of live demonstrations and a series of panel debates will bring halls 3 and 3A at Birmingham’s NEC to life from 2 to 4 April. Key note speaker, Coffee Republic co-founder, Sahar Hashemi, will also be inspiring show visitors.

Rudi Blackett, portfolio director, says: “This year’s show is bursting at the seams, it’s three days dedicated to helping visitors level-up their business.

“There will be inspiring talks and topical panel debates in the Main Stage theatre, two live demo areas – Décor Live Demonstrations and Retail is Detail. This year we’re introducing a zone dedicated to digital signage, we’re hosting the UK HEXIS wrap battels and some major product launches. We’ll also be running our ever-popular educational workshops and Adobe and Corel software theatres.”

Exhibitor product launch highlights

This year’s event will play host to more product launches than in recent years, with exciting debuts from suppliers such as Ricoh, InkTec/Jetrix, Canon, Hybrid Services/Mimaki, Roland DG, Amaya Sales UK, Trotec, GMG Color, Graphtec, Sabur Digital, ONYX, The Magic Touch, William Smith, Amaya Sales UK, GMG Color, Vivid Laminating Technologies and Atech.

For the full list of exhibitors and product launches, visit www.signuk.com. 

Interactive educational show features

The Main Stage Theatre will return with key note talks, panel debates and seminars on all new topics to reflect current industry trends including: print finishing, interior décor, textile print and materials, sustainability and the environment, print for personalisation, and of course, running and scaling a business through uncertain times.

SDUK has teamed up with HEXIS to host this year’s Battle UK Wrap Contest. Participants will compete in timed, 10-minute heats with the winners from each day going head-to-head in the grand finale, on Thursday 4 April.

The Digital Signage Zone is a new feature dedicated to connecting those interested in expanding their business with potential partners and experts able to help people grow into Digital Signage solutions. The area will feature a devoted theatre and an accompanying Digital Café.

In partnership with Art Systems, Antalis and Your Print Solutions (YPS) SDUK 2019 will offer three practical live demonstration zones: Retail is Detail, focusing on how to make retail and point of sale projects more effective. Décor Live will focus on vinyl and wallcovering and magnetic substrates. And Anthony Devine, founder and creative director of Ministry of Upholstery and star of BBC's Money for Nothing programme, will bring his pioneering upholstery school to YPS on stand E2.

Returning bigger than ever for 2019 is the Signmakers’ Workshop. Expert trainer, Paul Hughes, will be hosting new demonstrations in the Sign Trade Pavilion. Paul will construct an entire shopfront over the course of the show whilst teaching ultimate industry tips, tricks and techniques of vinyl lettering, applying large areas of vinyl and the basics of signboards.

The show’s popular software training theatres are set to return as a highlight of this year’s event, with a full timetable dedicated to the latest developments led by experts from Adobe and Corel.

All the seminars and workshops are free to attend, and there’s no need to book. Visitors can find a full lineup on the website ahead of the show, as well as practical articles and guides.

Sign & Digital UK 2019 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from 2 to 4 April and is free to attend. To pre-register for tickets, or to view the full list of exhibitors and details of all show features, visit www.signuk.com.