FESPA London 2013 getting ready to take off

FESPA has created a host of show features to guide visitors around the upcoming FESPA 2013 event. The show will provide valuable educational content and hands-on features, showcasing innovative real-life examples of print at the ExCeL London exhibition centre between 25th and 29th June 2013.

Bringing to life the central ‘Destination London’ campaign theme, visitors will start their business journey at the North hall N1 entrance. FESPA ‘airline stewards’ will be on hand to help guide visitors around the exhibition floor exploring the many possibilities of print.

Set to land in London for the first time, the Jet Set conference will be held on the show floor on stand B75N. For the duration of the show seminars will address key areas of opportunity for today’s Print Service Provider (PSP) including topics on digital textile, digital printing, business building skills and industrial printing. Speakers already confirmed include Paul Noble - Banner Box, Nick Del Verme - Advanced Digital Textiles, Nick Devine - The Print Coach, Andrew Hodson - Icon-world, Chris Martin - Syntax121 and NooPix Ltd, Melanie Bowles â€" Chelsea College of Art and Tim Claypole - WCPC, Swansea University.

A short walk across the hall will take you to FESPA Fabric, the show within a show for garment printing and decorating. PSPs considering the opportunities in promotional products should take a stroll through the Promotional Products Business Academy (PPBA). The PPBA is being delivered in partnership with the CTCO and visitors to the feature will be guided through different zones â€" Garment and Gift â€" where they can explore the full array of promotional merchandise on show including: writing and office products, electronics, promotional clothing, fashion, sport and outdoor wear, eco-friendly garments, accessories and headwear. (see separate release for more information)

Travelling through FESPA Fabric, visitors looking for more information and advice on garment applications can enjoy a hands-on experience at the Pilot’s Briefing Zone. Building on the past success of Charlie’s Corner, this year Charlie Taublieb will be joined by other leaders in the garment community incorporating theory with valuable practical workshops where visitors will design and print their own t-shirts. The workshops will get progressively more technical throughout the week so visitors can experiment with the technology as well as benefitting from expert advice.

The garment conference will provide delegates with a sound understanding about garment print processes, trends and new technologies and innovations. One panel session not to be missed is the screen printers’ panel where four of garment printing’s biggest world players - Ningbo (China), ETF (Turkey), Latitudes (USA) and Lynka (Poland) will discuss what’s new and innovative in the industry.

Visitors looking to inject their visit with some creativity during their stay at FESPA 2013 will find what they are looking for at the Print Inspiration Runway, located in the North hall. A real showcase of innovative ideas, the feature will be a real life example of awesome print. Each piece will be supported by a case study about how it was created and how effective it was for its intended purpose. Visitors looking to find out more will be directed to the exhibitors stand to speak to them directly. Confirmed pieces of print to be displayed include: interior design, garments, printed electronics, outdoor, screen print effects, instore and augmented reality.

Next stop aboard FESPA 2013 is the Creative Corner, the packed programme targeting PSPs, designers, creatives and brand directors aims to showcase what print can do, opening up the relationship between PSPs and end-users. Located on stand Q100N, seminar topics will look at packaging and instore graphics, interiors, outdoor and extra large format print. Global brands already signed up to the packed seminar programme include, Coca-Cola, TBWA and Heineken.

Travelling down the North hall, visitors can taxi through FESPA’s Hall of Fame, which highlights worthy printers from across the world who printers hold up as an inspirational role model. PSPs can vote for who they think deserves to be honoured until 7 June 2013. The top five printers and overall winner will be announced at the FESPA Gala Dinner on Thursday 27th June 2013. Winners will be inaugurated into the Hall of Fame on the show floor on Friday 28th June 2013.

Cruising across halls to the South hall will take you to FESPA’s characteristic crowd magnet the Wrap Cup Master Series â€" the grand final. Since the launch of the Wrap Cup Series at FESPA 2010 Munich, the series has enjoyed pit stops at FESPA Americas, FESPA Mexico, FESPA Digital 2011, Digital 2012 and FESPA Brasil 2013, picking up finalists along the way. At this year’s three day event contenders will go head to head on stand S90S against regional winners for the ultimate title of FESPA Global Wrap Cup Masters Champion. Day one of the show will see the final qualifying heat giving one lucky vehicle wrapper a chance to compete in the grand final. The remaining two days will host the knock out events where the overall Wrap Cup Masters Champion will be crowned on Saturday 29th June 2013.

Day two and three at the Wrap Cup Masters Series stand will host the inaugural event â€" the Cup of Nations - the world cup of vehicle wrapping. This highly anticipated competition will see National teams compete against each other for the sought after title to become the best vehicle wrapping country in the world!

Duncan MacOwan, head of events and new media at FESPA comments: “Our show features at London emulate the Destination theme and highlight the effectiveness of print and its innovative applications. FESPA’s content-led approach is designed to inspire printers by presenting them with creative ideas and opportunities enabling them to explore wider business opportunities.

“In today’s multi-channel world the relationship between PSPs, designers and marketers is essential to achieve the highest quality, innovation and ROI possible. That’s why at this year’s event with features like the Creative Corner and Print Inspiration Runway, we’re also targeting creatives and brand owners, showing them the possibilities that can be achieved through print and providing real life case studies of how PSPs and agencies can work better together. Through our educational content and hands on practical sessions we want to continue to inspire and inform printers to give them the confidence to communicate the value of print. FESPA 2013 in London really is the destination to kick off the printer’s business journey.”

For more information, please visit www.fespa.com/london.