Frazer Chesterman, co-director atshow organiser FM Brooks, said the event, from 8 to 10 April 2014, will form part of the super-sized Hanover Fair, which includes around 10 other shows across industrial manufacturing and draws around 200,000 visitors in total.
With five months to go, 75 exhibitors have booked including Fujifilm, Canon, Agfa Graphics and Ricoh, he said.
Chesterman is expecting 5,000 registered visitors, but at least 1,000 more from visitors to other shows who have free access to every event at the fair.
“There are some major players looking at the industrial market – Where is it going? How fast is it growing? How can we get in? Can we look at it seriously? For those interested in printing on wood, metal, plastic and curved surfaces, it's about what's out there that's new.
“Launching a show in a new market is never easy but this is a tipping-point subject, and more companies are becoming or wanting to become early adopters. Despite Ipex only being two weeks earlier, we will still see new technology at the show, such as new kit from the likes of LumeJet.”
Three themes will include industrial inkjet technology, industrial analogue innovations, such as screen printing for applications including car dashboards, and 3D printing. The event will show print innovation to new people, Chesterman said, rather than focusing solely on the sign or graphics sectors.
The inaugural show was due to be held this November in Cologne but the organiser decided last autumn to put it back to April 2014 in Hannover. At the time, FM Brooks' fellow director Marcus Timson said locating with an established manufacturing show would help both visitors and exhibitors.
“The main hurdle with any new concept is attracting an audience and this will enable us to do that,” he said. “It's an incredibly positive move for all involved.” FM Brooks has worked with print technology manufacturers, print businesses and consultants in the development of InPrint.
Other exhibitors include Epson, Xaar, Arranged BVBA, Caldera, Blase and DP Solutions. Also showing will be Durst Phototechnik Digital Technology, Eckart, Industrial Inkjet, SignTronic, Xennia Technology, TTP Metor, SunJet and Tritron.
Visit www.inprintlive.com for details.
