The event, which takes place from 21 to 24 February 2012 at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via exhibition centre, is expected to attract a greater number of visitors Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and north Africa compared to this year's Hamburg year.

Neil Felton, managing director of exhibitions and events at Fespa, said: "With 400 exhibitors in a single giant hall, and the captivating city of Barcelona as the backdrop, a trip to Fespa Digital 2012 is guaranteed to give wide-format print service providers all the information, insight and inspiration they need to plan the next stage of their own journey and speed their progress."

The show organisers said that print service providers in more than 80 countries will be targeted through direct marketing in the coming months while a series of promotional events will be taking place to publicise the event.

Fespa marketing manager Lynda Sutton added that the show is "by far the best environment" for innovative wide-format printers to explore the market.

She added: "Whether by implementing new technologies or processes, increasing automation, diversifying into different wide-format applications, experimenting with new substrates and inks or developing new services, no printer needs to remain stationary."

This year's Fespa Digital kicked off with HP unveiling the latest addition to its Scitex offering and Azon debuting its DTS White offering.

For more information on the show and to pre-register visit www.fespa.com/digital.