Ipex organiser IIR has unveiled the new face of its marketing campaign for the April 2002 print show.


"Cyberian" Ipexia will act as a cyber guide and appear on the shows website (www.ipex.org) direct mail, press advertising, posters and merchandise.


"Shell be the star of the industry for the next two years," said marketing director Ashley Whitworth.


Ipexia was conceived to help reposition Ipex from a traditional print and publishing show to one that encompasses all forms of media, in particular digital. It is hoped she will also help lure print buyers and marketers to the event.


The show, which takes place at the NEC from 9-17 April, will have two dedicated digital halls: the new halls 3 and 3A. Halls 4 and 5 will be dedicated to pre-press and pre-publishing. Additionally the show will have a dedicated flexo and converting hall (19) for the first time.


There will be 15 halls in total covering 98,000m2, 18% more space than Ipex 1998, 80,000m2 of which has already been reserved by some 500 standholders.


"Ipex 2002 is yet again set to be a record breaker. Were very proud of it," said IIR managing director Caroline Eden.


MAN Roland has confirmed it will again head up the PrintCity event. It will be held in halls 17 and 18, which cover approximately 10,000m2.


First staged at Drupa 2000, the event is designed to demonstrate a complete workflow solution.


Around 40 suppliers will take part in PrintCity, including Oc, Optichrome Computer Systems, Nilpeter and Synapse.


But Agfa, which participated in the Drupa PrintCity, has yet to confirm if it will be involved in the Ipex version.


Story by Lauretta Roberts