Rudi Blackett, event director for Sign & Digital UK, is optimistic that the show will demonstrate that printers in this sector still have something to celebrate.
“The sector’s success is still going and being driven by advances in technology, faster print speeds, ink developments and improved software and finishing,” he explains. “It’s also an area that’s offering a range of new applications and markets for people working in the commercial print industry.”
By way of backing this up, Blackett points to the glut of new releases being announced at the event, which is being held at the NEC.
“Sign & Digital UK is known as the launch pad for the industry’s latest products and technology, and we’re looking forward to plenty of on-site launches this year,” he says.
These new releases include the first appearance in the UK for the Mutoh ValueJet 1638X and visitors to the Colourgen stand can also check out the recently launched Seiko II ColorPainter M-Series and a range of other systems, including Seiko II’s exclusive Neon Inkset.
Ricoh, meanwhile, will be unveiling the Pro L4100 Series latex large-format printer. The roll-to-roll machine comes in 53in or 63in widths and prints up to seven colours. “The launch of the L4100 series is very exciting,” says Gareth Parker, strategic marketing manager at Ricoh UK. “The show will help us to explain to a new audience how and why this series and Ricoh’s broader portfolio of digital printing technologies can greatly enhance a business’ core competencies.”
Parker adds, though, that he expects technology to be just one part of the focus of the show. He believes a big trend this year will be the seeking of printer-manufacturer relationships that can bolster revenue.
“Partnership is as important as the technology and I think many printers will be attending the show looking for a manufacturer who acts as a genuine business partner over the long term,” he explains. “The stronger this relationship, the more confidence the printer has to diversify their business and continue to invest in new technology. Finding new revenue streams with wide-format technology along with the vast range of applications that can now be printed on these machines, offers printers a real chance to change the way they do business and expand the products and services they offer.”
Parker adds that another big trend will be fabric-specific products. “There are some very exciting developments in the field of textile printing and soft signage on the back of new inks and substrates coming on stream. I expect to see a lot of focus on this at the show as well,” he says.
Roland DG UK will also be at the show, demonstrating the VersaCamm series and the Soljet Pro4 XF-640, among other machines. Rob Goleniowski, business manager for sign and graphics at the company, agrees that developing partnerships and new technologies will be key. But he says that discovering new applications possible on existing machines will be just as important to visitors.
“The wide-format market is growing rapidly and this presents many opportunities so we want to work closely with our customers to ensure they are using their highly versatile machines to the maximum potential,” he says. “In line with this, the show gives us a chance to demonstrate to our customers, first-hand, just how many new applications and products can now be produced on our machines. Hence, our Roland Academy & Creative Centre manager, Joe Wigzell, will be available throughout the show to talk through applications, techniques and Roland Academy courses that will help printers and signmakers to create new revenue streams and grow their businesses.”
Commercial opportunities
Showcasing versatility will also be the aim on the Epson stand, where the manufacturer’s SureColor range will be printing POS, signage, interior décor, textile and garment printing, and promotional items. Phil McMullin, sales manager for Pro Graphics at Epson UK, believes the vast array of products on offer this year will mean many commercial printers will be among the more traditional wide-format printers wandering the aisles.
“The quality, flexibility and cost of digital large-format print on a variety of materials is attracting more and more buyers for a huge range of applications,” he says.
The statistics would seem to back this up. Last year, there were 150 exhibitors and this has increased to more than 175 exhibitors for 2014. Visitor numbers in 2013, meanwhile, were 5,650 whereas a conservative estimate for 2014 is 6,500.
Blackett agrees that there will be plenty of would-be entrants to the sector swelling those numbers. “Commercial printers are perfectly placed to take advantage of new wide-format opportunities to build their revenue opportunities,” he explains. “Entry into wide-format print can also be surprisingly cost-effective. Hence, business advice is also a key element of the show, and visitors can attend a wide range of free seminars and workshops such as HP’s seminars on wall art and interior décor, and the Adobe and Corel workshops.”
Indeed, the seminar programme is extensive (see box) adding to the feel that this is not just a show about new machines, but about new business opportunities in a myriad of forms. Unlike in previous years, when it was all about showcasing of new releases, the mood in 2014 is less concentrated on bells and whistles and more on effective strategies for improving how a print company operates. It is that, all agree, rather than the latter, that will be the reason printers attend. And the reason why those that didn’t wish they had.
SHOW DETAILS
Dates 29 April-1 May 2014
Venue NEC Birmingham
Opening times 29-30 April: 10am–5pm; 1 May: 10am-4.30pm
Expected exhibitor numbers 175-plus
Predicted visitor numbers around 6,500
Entry price free
SEMINAR PROGRAMME
Adobe Theatre
Six workshops daily, focusing on practical tips and advice for mastering Adobe software packages. Topics include managing colour quality, intelligent upsampling, camera shake reduction and real-time image asset generation.
Corel Theatre
Combining a range of practical workshops and product demonstrations, the seminar sessions include an overview of new features in the CorelDraw Graphics Suite, a practical step-by-step guide to poster design and an insight into how you can use DecoNetwork and Corel technology to enable shoppers to customise products and buy online.
SignLab Theatre
Wide-format design and production software specialist Cadlink Technology will present a series of seminars focusing on best practice print and cut, sign and display design and production workflows.
Business Theatre
Seminars will provide practical skills and identify new revenue opportunities for business owners looking to expand and improve their services in 2014.
Sessions will include:
The HP Workshops will explore the new digital developments in wall decoration applications in the HP WallArt suite
Vicki Hughes, PR consultant and founder of Fugu Public Relations, will explore how public relations can help small business owners get ahead in their industry
In the Direct to Garment Printing session, Colin Marsh from Resolute DTG will look at the direct to garment printing process and the opportunities for digital printing and sign companies to take it on as a new revenue stream
The British Sign & Graphics Association will run two workshops to help small business owners get to grips with changing industry legislation
The Signmakers’ Workshop, presented by expert signmaker Paul Hughes, is designed to help business owners get to grips with some of the industry’s most in-demand skills and services, with workshops covering vinyl application, vehicle livery and the basics of sign-board making
The Textile Trail is a new feature intended to highlight those exhibitors with products and services on display at the show for textile-related printing and finishing, or display systems. Businesses taking part in the Textile Trail include Hybrid Services, Colourgen, Corel, The Magic Touch and GDL
The New Business Trail, meanwhile, will show printers practical ideas for increasing revenue and sources of information for identifying developing markets in the UK. Businesses taking part in the New Business Trail include Perspex Distribution, Eurobond Adhesives, Lion Picture Framing Supplies and Banner Ups Europe
