The pro wrap element will remain the focal point of the competition, in which 36 individuals from across the globe going head-to-head to become the World Wrap Master; however, this year’s participants will have to wrap an array of challenging items in order to reach the final.
“Historically it’s been a vehicle wrapping competition. What we’re doing this time is changing the format slightly in terms of what they’re wrapping,” said Fespa’s head of new media and events Duncan MacOwan.
"We’re starting with cars and then we want to showcase some of the wider applications of vinyl wrapping which will include toilet seats, mannequins and loudspeakers. In the final it’s back to wrapping a car.
"We noticed that if competitors are wrapping the same car round after round they get better and better at it and the competition becomes easier. We wanted it to become more challenging for them as they reach the final.”
Pro-wrappers will compete in the four day competition to win the €2,500 top cash prize. The first runner-up will receive €1,250 and third place will win €750.
The three judges are Piotr Cinski, who was crowned Fespa World Wrap Master at Fespa 2013 in London, regular Wrap Master judge Ole Solskin and experienced vehicle wrapper Klaus Willekens.
They will be on hand at lunchtime each day to offer insight and guidance about wrapping and discuss the business opportunities open to the wrap community.
The competition will start at around 11am on Tuesday 20 May in the Wrap Hub (stand 150, Hall A2) and continue throughout all four days of Fespa.
“It’s a knockout competition so there’s more happening on days one and two. But each round lasts longer than the last so they’re wrapping more in the final than they are in the first round. There will always be something happening on the stand,” said MacOwan.
Registration for World Wrap Masters will remain open until the first day of the show and there are still a handful of places remaining. To register your interest in competing visit: www.regonline.co.uk/worldwrapmastersfinal.
This year Fespa will also introduce a new wrapping competition that will be open to all visitors.
“We wanted to give people a chance to have a go at this and see how tricky it is. It’s basically two car doors, including mirrors, mounted on a wall and you go head-to-head against the clock to get it finished. The main criteria is the quality of the wrap and then the speed of the wrap and we will have some small prizes available,” said MacOwan.
