FESPA GLOBAL WILL HAVE 500 EXHIBITORS

The upcoming Fespa Global wide format expo, slated for Amsterdam in March, is on track to have 500 exhibitors, with 487 already signed up to the four-day event, which runs under the Opportunities tagline.

Fespa Global is one of four co-located expos happening at the same time in the RAI Centre, with related shows Sportswear Pro, the European Sign Expo and the Personalisation Experience all running simultaneously.

Speaking to the trade media last night, Neil Felton, CEO of Fespa, said the expos are taking over six halls at the RAI, which he said was a ten-minute train ride from the airport, and had easy access to Amsterdam itself.

Felton said, “The RAI was the location of the first Fespa expo back in 1953, and has been used many times since, it is an excellent facility. We look forward to welcoming thousands of print professionals from around the world, to what will be four days packed with valuable business information, insights and demonstrations.”

Sportswear Pro is running for the first time, and is intended to highlight print opportunities in the fast-growing printed sports apparel market, with some 85 exhibitors showing a range of technologies, including many new DTF solutions.

There is a one day conference at Sportswear Pro, which will cover all aspects of printing for the market, with Personalisation Experience, which runs with a dozen exhibitors, also having a one day conference.

The European Sign Expo will be 50 per cent bigger than last time out in Munich, with LED, digital and neon signage technologies included, the Sustainability Spotlight returns with a stand built entirely out of recyclable corrugated by Reboard, and the World Wrap Masters will take place in the final two days of the show.

Fespa runs just eight weeks before drupa, but the organisers say 80 per cent of Fespa exhibitors do not exhibit at drupa. Some 170 of the exhibitors are new to the show, or returning for the first time since Covid.

Tickets for Fespa Global, which runs 19-22 March, are now available, with one ticket covering all four shows. Amsterdam is a one-stop flight on many airlines leaving Australia, including Emirates, Qatar, Cathay and Singapore, and for those on a tight budget, a host of Chinese airlines fly there with fares from as little as $1150 return.