This year’s event opened today (8 May) at 10am at the Hamburg Messe and runs until Friday 12 May, leading with the tagline 'Dare to print different'.

Exhibitors for this flagship event include EFI, HP, Agfa, Canon, Ricoh and Durst. More than 700 exhibitors are spread across nine halls, with footfall expected to be more than 23,000 inline with recent flagship European events. The Messe is split into three distinct zones, devoted to screen print, digital wide-format and textile printing.

A number of exhibitors are using the show to launch new products, including HP, Fujifilm and Mutoh, with Canon today hailing Fespa 2017 as its most important ever.  

"Thank you so much for coming to this event,” said Fespa divisional director Roz Guarnori at the opening ceremony, where Fespa board members cut the official ribbon.

“We're delighted to welcome our global print community here to Hamburg this week at our largest ever Fespa global print expo and European Sign Expo.

“As you enter the halls, look around you, you are entering a world where your imagination can run wild. Many exhibitors are introducing innovations here that will empower yet more print and signmaking businesses to boost their productivity, streamline their workflow, add new services and move into lucrative new application areas.”

Guarnori added that 150 countries were being represented at this Fespa “from across the globe”.

Along with the raft of exhibitors, visitors can also see the co-located European Sign Expo event, along with the Printeriors conference and showcase, a hotel-themed exhibit featuring printed décor created using a range of technologies and materials. There will also be a Fespa gala awards dinner at the Grand Elysée hotel, Hamburg, on 10 May.

Visitors are also being encouraged to visit the Fespa Print Census booth and fill out the second edition of the global Fespa Print Census. The survey aims to gather insight into key trends to understand the challenges the market faces.