According to event organiser Faversham House, the signmaking, display and digital print show is expected to attract more than 7,000 unique visitors this year, up from 6,807 in 2015.
“‘Creativity, innovation and choice’ is the theme for 2016 and this really sums up where the show is at – new products, new technology, new applications and the best choice,” says event director Rudi Blackett.
He highlights the show’s standing as a “true business event” offering visitors insight and opportunities for expansion and diversification.
“It is an upbeat market and as the economy has improved the signage and promotional display sector has seen an increase in work,” Blackett says. “We have seen an increasing number of visitors from the creative industries, brand managers and graphic designers as well as increasing attendance from the commercial print sector, in-plants and a growing number of end-users.”
To help this growing number of visitors navigate the show in the most effective and productive manner, and to help put the right people in front of exhibitors throughout the show, there will be two new features on offer at this year’s event.
First, a schedule of live demonstrations of new equipment, available to see online from the start of the show, will enable visitors to head to a specific stand at a certain time to see a full, live demo rather than frustratingly just catching the tail end of one as is so common for exhibition goers.
The second new feature is an on online meeting booking facility allowing visitors to book time-slots with various exhibitors ensuring they will have dedicated and uninterrupted time with the right suppliers.
Of course there will be the usual raft of launches and UK debuts at the show, most highlighted on the live demo schedule, including the GoTx wide format textile printer from new exhibitor Impression Technology Europe, the LX5 from Inktec/Jetrix, the firm’s first LED UV printer, Epson’s latest range of professional SureColor devices, the new six-colour Jeti Mira UV inkjet flatbed device from Agfa Graphics and the new Apache range of multi-purpose flatbed printers from Axzyra.
UK distributor Colourgen, attending for the 16th consecutive year, will feature the latest range of large format sign and display Valuejet printers from Mutoh as well as the manufacturer’s first ever direct-to-garment printer the VJ-405GT. Managing director Jeff Biggs says: “The technology now is incredible and allows people to really use their imagination and find new opportunities. That’s what we’ll be doing at the show - putting things in front of visitors to give them new ideas that could lead them to new revenue streams.”
Canon UK, upping its stand size to 190m2 this year, is also focusing on firing the imagination of 2016’s SDUK visitors, with the first UK outing of the Océ Arizona 1280GT flatbed printer.
Launched at Fespa Europe last month, the device “can go wherever your imagination takes you”, according to Canon UK market programme manager Derek Joys.
He adds: “We really want to inspire people and show them what is possible so we’ll have a lot of applications on the stand with really unusual materials. People are printing on all sorts of things now, interior décor is really taking off but it’s also about industrial applications, packaging and prototyping at the moment.
“There are new people entering this market all the time and I think the strong exhibitor presence at the show this year really demonstrates how healthy it is.”
Alongside the impressive range of wide-format and finishing kit on show, visitors will find digital signage – new this year – soft signage, textile printing and signmaking products and services, software and colour management and a huge range of consumables, a side of the show that has grown in recent years. This year is no different with substrate suppliers increasing their presence and really taking the opportunity to get creative with their stands.
One of those is Antalis, whose coffee bar-themed stand will be built using a range of the distributor’s interior and exterior substrates.
“We wanted an environment that reflected how these materials would actually be used in situ and for our customers to feel welcome, so we’ll of course be providing a lovely cup of coffee and a piece of cake,” says UK sales manager Mike Collins.
Collins says the real emphasis is on interiors, particularly easy-apply wall coverings, and he is expecting the show to attract visitors from key retail groups interested in the latest trends and developments.
Continuing the emphasis on the tailor-made show, returning this year to help visitors pick and choose the most relevant stands to visit are the Materials World, Textile and Retail Trail routes through the halls.
The show also incorporates five ‘education theatres’ and workshops offering around 35 seminars daily including practical business advice, colour management tips, extensive software demonstrations and advice and, new this year, a series of case studies on interior wall decor.
Blackett says that while he believes moving image digital signage will inevitably begin to take market share from print, there is a bright future for print in the sector.
“Retail, interior and exterior signage and promotional display will continue to be key markets, the focus on applications will continue to drive new opportunities and I think digital textile printing will see a move further into the soft furnishings and clothing markets.”
Blackett says for those already running a business in wide-format, looking to diversify or just getting started then SDUK, “the buyer’s show”, really is a must.
“The market is driven by technology and new products and it’s easy to get left behind, so to remain competitive you need to be at the cutting edge. When margins are tight new products at an attractive price point are a priority for suppliers and end-users,” he adds.
