According to event director Chris Davies, while the final numbers were still being processed, he was confident visitors were up on last year’s 3,800 “for sure”.
“The general consensus from exhibitors is that the quality of visitors has been fantastic, building on the success of last year,” he said.
This was echoed by Andy Kent, general manager at Fujifilm UK Graphic Communications who estimated that the business had generated around 60 leads on day one and 80-plus on day two, from a mixture of pre-booked appointments and walk-ons.
“We were a little overwhelmed at times,” he said.
Speaking on the second day of the show, Kent said the business, the show’s largest exhibitor, had secured two sales on the opening day (Tuesday 17 September).
The firm's on-stand kit focus was commercial and inplant print, with its Apeos light production and full production Revoria engines on display, including the Drupa launched 85ppm SC285 toner press, it was also showing packaging applications.
While Fujifilm made its debut at least year’s event, Vivid Laminating Technologies has exhibited at every show since it launched in 2015 and, according to director Lewis Evans, at the halfway point this year’s show was shaping up to being it most successful to date – something of a relief as the post-press manufacturer’s 2024 presence was its biggest so far.
“For about four hours on the first day we were absolutely packed and today has been busy as hell. So fingers crossed we should do all right.”
The firm was showing a wide range of its latest kit including a Veloton digital die-cutting system with multi-head cutting, Veloblade Volta digital die-cutter, and a Easymount Hybrid laminator.
“The show really works for us, I’m hoping for around 140 leads across the three days,” said Evans.
Hot on the heels of global events like Fespa and Drupa, this year’s show featured a number of UK firsts, many in the wide-format space, including the Agfa Anapurna Ciervo and a quartet of new Mimaki's on the Hybrid Services stand.
First-time exhibitor SwissQprint used the event to premiere the Fespa launched 304sqm/hr Kudu 3.2x2m flatbed.
“It’s been a good show for us so far, really good quality of visitor and it’s been nice to be at a show in the UK that’s well attended by our competitors [exhibiting] too,” SwissQprint UK managing director Erskine Stewart told Printweek at the halfway point.
“We’ve been proudly showing off the Kudu and talking to visitors about our 36-month warranty.”
Building on the wide-format presence at the show, which this year included the likes of Agfa, China Print Supplies, CMYUK, InkTec, Liyu UK, Mutoh, Resolute DTG and debutant Summa, is a key target for next year’s event.
As a result, Davies is launching a new show to be co-located with The Print Show, The Sign Show.
“We felt now was the perfect time to offer an event for the UK market that covers both the print and signage industries in one place,” he said.
“Signage events have become heavily influenced by wide-format print, and while this is of course crucial for many signmakers, The Sign Show will offer a co-located event dedicated to traditional signage from signwriting and vinyl wrapping to sign fabrication and engraving.”
Expanding on the The Print Show’s ‘Knowledge Zone’ which featured standing room only sessions from the likes of Webmart founder and chairman Simon Biltcliffe and Solopress managing director Simon Cooper, The Sign Show will focus on workshops and demonstrations as well as kit.
“It’s more important than ever to evolve and expand the show to offer visitors an even greater reason to attend, year-on-year,” said Davies.
Both shows will share Hall 3 at the NEC, which at around 10,600sqm is more than 30% larger than The Print Show’s usual Hall 17.
The co-located events will share an entrance but have their own archways and carpets. The Print Show 2025 and The Sign Show 2025 will take place across 23-25 September.
