FESPA expands leadership team

FESPA has expanded its leadership team, with the addition of two experienced senior executives.  Neil Felton now assumes the role of CEO, making him responsible for the overall direction of all the organisation’s activities, including the global exhibitions and events portfolio, interaction with FESPA’s 37 national associations, and direction of FESPA’s Profit for Purpose mission.

Neil retains specific accountability for the strategic direction of FESPA’s developing markets and its online and new media portfolio. The developing market events include the established exhibitions in Mexico, Brazil and Eurasia, as well as FESPA Africa which launches in Johannesburg, South Africa, in July 2014.

Roz McGuinness joins FESPA as Divisional Director, taking full responsibility for FESPA’s market-leading European exhibitions â€" including the flagship ‘screen + digital + textile’ event, the focussed FESPA Digital edition, and the recently launched European Sign Expo. Roz’s portfolio will also include FESPA’s Asian events. Roz will oversee all aspects of these events, including sales, marketing and operations, working with an eight-strong team.

Roz is an exhibitions management professional with over 17 years’ experience, including four years as Group Exhibitions Manager for printing industry research and consultancy body Pira International. More recently, Roz worked for nine years at i2i Events, where she steered the sustained growth of the Autumn Fair and Spring Fair, annual business-to-business events covering 90000m2 at the Birmingham NEC, hosting 4000 international exhibitors from 11 sectors, and attracting an audience of 75000 professional buyers.

Neil Felton comments, “Roz’s experience of directing a major B2B exhibition addressing multiple sectors will be important in helping FESPA to expand its reach and attract new audiences for our exhibitors. In addition to her grounding in the digital print sector, Roz’s recent career has given her invaluable insights into several vertical markets which represent growth opportunities for FESPA’s community of print service providers, including retail, interior décor and housewares, promotional products and fashion.”

FESPA has also appointed Sean Holt to the position of General Secretary, to coordinate FESPA’s support for its national associations, including the organisation of educational, knowledge-sharing and networking initiatives funded through the Profit for Purpose programme. Sean will foster deeper relationships with FESPA’s community of member associations, supporting them to expand and develop their services to members, and devising new initiatives with FESPA’s financial and practical support.

Sean Holt calls on career experience gained over 17 years in the not-for-profit sector, most recently as CEO of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMPSA). In more than three years in this role, he set the strategic direction of the organisation, engaging with multiple stakeholders and partners and over 5000 members. He directed and developed CIMPSA’s service offering, which comprises education, training, professional development, events, conferences and other member services. Prior to joining CIMPSA, his 13-year service with Sport England culminated in a two-year tenure as director, with responsibility for planning towards the London 2012 Olympics.

Neil Felton will work closely with the two new members of the senior team, and will continue to draw on the experience of Nigel Steffens, who now assumes a part-time consultative and ambassadorial role. Nigel joined FESPA in 1993 as Assistant General Secretary and has occupied the role of CEO since 2003.

FESPA President and Board Member Lascelle Barrow comments: “In the two and a half years since his appointment with FESPA, Neil has driven an ambitious growth strategy with determination. While continuing to grow and improve our market-leading European and Mexican events, he has directed the successful launches of new FESPA editions in three key global growth markets â€" Brazil, Eurasia and China â€" and has formed an important joint venture in South Africa which will establish the FESPA brand on a fourth continent in 2014.

“By attracting these highly experienced people to work alongside Neil, we will be able to give equal focus to all areas of our organisation’s ongoing development. The FESPA Board - which represents the interests of FESPA’s 37 national associations - has absolute confidence that Neil and his enlarged team will continue to deliver all FESPA initiatives with consideration of the rapidly evolving needs of our global community of members, exhibitors, and visitors.”

PixartPrinting appoints Andrea Pizzola as Sales and Marketing Director

Andrea Pizzola has been appointed to the role of Sales and Marketing Director at Pixartprinting.

With a passion for the Arts and a Degree in Philosophy, Andrea Pizzola's career in the printing world started in Arvato Print in Italy. In 2008, Andrea was awarded a Master's Degree by MIP-Business School, Politecnico di Milano; he then joined YOOX where he was in charge of marketing and product development for the Italian market before being posted to Hong Kong as Commercial planning manager for the Asia-Pacific area.

Andrea's printing expertise combined with his knowledge of e-commerce for the fashion world are perfectly in line with his new position in Pixartprinting.  He explains, “Pixartprinting is more than just printing, it is pure technology and logistics. Here I have re-discovered the passion for innovation that enabled Yoox to become a world leader. The transition to the 2.0 version for on-line purchases has been extremely interesting: what Pixartprinting now offers its users, who are mainly business users, isn’t just a finished product but a range of options to personalise that product.”

Pixartprinting boasts 95,000 active clients throughout Europe and, based on its constant growth trends, it is expected to achieve a portfolio of 125,000 users by year end. These numbers are the result of commercial growth strategies implemented in new markets outside the national borders. Pixartprinting has just launched its new on-line shops in Rumanian, Dutch, Swedish and Russian.

“We believe that localisation is crucial to enter into foreign markets. This means not just dedicated e-commerce facilities, but also employing customer care staff who are native speakers. We are also conducting an in-depth customer segmentation research to identify our customers' behaviours and buying habits. Our declared mission is to make our customers' life easy. Bearing this in mind, we want our communication campaigns to target specific requirements, allowing us to satisfy their needs,” continues Pizzola.

Contex releases wide format scanning Buyer's Guide

Contex has released a Buyer's Guide for wide format scanning. The comprehensive document provides an overview of standard usages for scanners and the main factors that end-users should consider before investing in the technology.

According to the guide, scanning usage falls into four distinct scenarios: productivity, convenience, copy and print, and flexibility. By identifying and understanding a scanner's flexibility, usability, and image quality, users are more prepared to choose the right scanner for their requirements. The Buyer's Guide is free and available for download from Contex's website. 

"Contex is sharing its wealth of knowledge and expertise to help the community gain a better understanding of the options available wide format scanning," states Steve Blanken, General Manager Contex North and South America. "This Buyer's Guide provides clear explanations of scanning technologies and scanner capabilities, and is an invaluable tool for anyone considering the purchase of a wide format scanner."

Contex's Buyer's Guide explores the technologies central to a scanner's operations. It defines CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) and CIS (Contact Image Sensor) technology, the two prevailing image capture technologies in scanners, and which types of documents are best handled by each one. Similarly, the guide breaks down components of image quality, explaining the different roles optical resolution, lens quality, color bit depth, light source, and accuracy play in capturing an image. The guide then highlights which components end-users should pay most attention to given their scanning needs.

The Guide also presents users with versatile scanning options and categorizes scanners into five groups -- classic scanning, productivity, convenience, single footprint, and side-by-side. It includes descriptions of Contex's current offerings and details the scanners' different imaging applications, familiarising readers with the depth of Contex's product line. 

For more information about Contex scanners, email sales@contexam.com.

EFI to be represented by Fleksmedia at Sign Istanbul

EFI is being represented on the stand of its dealer Fleksmedia at the Upcoming Sign Istanbul event in Turkey.  Fleksmedia will be demonstrating the 3.2m wide VUTEk GS3250LX LED hybrid printer which will be shown printing direct to rigid substrates and roll-fed materials, including sensitive media that cannot be used with machines running mercury arc lamps.

Sign Istanbul gives Fleksmedia its first opportunity to put EFI’s LED technology through its paces and the company’s Ahmet Erben is eager to show visitors to the exhibition the true potential available with the VUTEk GS3250LX printer. The printer's LED technology not only broadens the array of application possibilities with the ability to print on thinner and heat-sensitive materials, but it also offers customers a greener printing alternative with no VOCs, fewer consumables, and less waste and energy consumption. It has risen rapidly in popularity world-wide because of its superior imaging quality with 8 colour plus white and true 600 or 1000 dpi, accurate PMS colour matching, high production speeds and low temperature curing. It also features a remarkably compact footprint making it easy to accommodate in all production areas.

Fleksmedia expects interest to be high in the VUTEk GS3250LX as businesses in Turkey are looking to take advantage of the benefits UV-curable printing can bring, with the added versatility available with LED technology. “Sign-makers and display producers increasingly are looking to make the transition to UV-curable production and the addition of EFI’s ‘cool cure’ capabilities brings another level of versatility to this 3.2m wide-format printer,” confirms Erben.

Also on display at the show will be the high-value EFI R3225 UV roll-to-roll and EFI H652 UV hybrid wide format printers; both excellent choices for those looking to add incremental revenue opportunity with wide format graphics printing.

Sign Istanbul 2013 takes place at TÜYAP Beylikdüzü Fair & Congress Centre, Istanbul, from 28 November to 1 December. Now in its 15th year, the show is expecting at least 25,000 visitors from Turkey, the Balkan states, the CIS, Middle-East and North Africa.

EFI VUTEk GS2000LX printer selected for Visual Impact

Casablanca, Morocco-based printing company Visual Impact has chosen the EFI VUTEk GS2000LX wide format printer to differentiate itself and provide added value in the digital printing markets.

Founded in 2000, Visual Impact was among the first digital printing companies in Morocco. It now employs about forty people and has greatly diversified its offerings.

"Over the years we have expanded our skills and developed completely integrated visual communication production", explains Nabil Mikou, founder. Visual Impact is now able to provide A to Z management of projects that include the production of structures, stand layout, signs, vehicle decoration, flags and bunting, etc. "With the arrival of presses from China, we have seen a fall in prices and drop in average printing quality. For us, there was no question of standing strong in the digital market. We have chosen to differentiate ourselves by providing added value and high quality. This is why we took the advice of Saga Digital and invested in an EFI VUTEk GS2000LX."

The GS2000LX provides eight-colour plus white and three-layer, in-line printing for outstanding image quality. It has two resolutions: true 600 dpi (24 pL) or 1000 dpi (12 pL) selectable. It also guarantees changeover from rigid to flexible substrates in less than one minute. With 186 m²/h and 45 1.20 m x 2.40 m-size sheets per hour, it is highly productive.

The ability to print point-of-sale advertising directly onto the substrate (instead of printing on vinyl and then having to laminate), as well as the ability to print white ink on transparent substrates, produce mirror printing, selective white effects, reverse indoor window stickers, etc. offer new opportunities.

"The VUTEk has allowed Visual Impact to attack new markets with very demanding colour-rendering requirements: events, stage decoration, photo exhibitions, interior design. We mainly use innovative new substrates, such as honeycomb cardboard, that are still not found very often in Morocco. It's another way to differentiate ourselves,” adds Mikou.

The ecological aspect is a plus. The new printer does not emit VOCs (organic volatile compounds), uses fewer consumables, reduces waste and has low energy consumption. As for productivity "the printing time has been reduced to 25 percent of what it was with the old printers, and immediate LED curing gives us a significant saving in time for markets like events, where time is often of the essence,” concludes Mikou.

BSGA to run workshops at Sign UK focused on new legislation

The UK sign industry is facing increasing legislation governing its activities and at Sign & Digital UK, the British Sign and Graphics Association (BSGA) will be running two workshops to explain what the changes are and what must be done to meet the latest requirements. Failure to meet the standards could, in the future, result in criminal proceedings and custodial sentences for offenders.

The first workshop, ‘An introduction to new standards for sign design and construction’, will explain what the new European Standards (Eurocodes) demand from both sign manufacturers and sign buyers and will show how they relate to BS 559: 2009 (the UK standard for sign design). The potential impact the UK Building Regulations could have for the sign industry will also be discussed.

The second workshop will deal with the contentious issue of Planning Regulations and how planning law has a direct impact on sign maintenance.  A case study illustrating the consequences of failure to maintain a sign will be explored and the BSGA will detail a new addendum to BS 559 covering sign maintenance and warranties.

Changes to planning laws are happening on an almost daily basis and the association will also show how it is involved in a constant battle to prevent planners implementing restrictions, which would adversely affect the sign industry.

David Dyke, BSGA President said:  “While changes to legislation and planning laws are often ignored or simply condemned as interference by bureaucrats, both can have a direct impact on the success or otherwise of sign businesses.”

“Anyone who commissions, manufactures or installs a sign is bound by the rules and it is vital that everyone involved in the industry understands what is required of them. Those sign makers who use this knowledge in the appropriate way will stand above those that don’t.”

Dyke continued: “The workshops at Sign & Digital UK provide a perfect platform to talk directly to the industry and we are grateful to the event organisers for providing this opportunity.”

Rudi Blackett, event director for Sign & Digital UK, said: ‘‘We are very pleased to be working with the BSGA to help to bring these vitally important issues to the attention of the industry. These really are ‘must attend’ sessions for all sign making companies.’’

Sign & Digital UK 2014 runs from 29 April to 1 May 2014 in Hall 2 at the NEC, Birmingham. The BSGA workshops will feature each day of the show.

Soyang Europe’s fabrics making an 'Impact'

Bury, UK-based Soyang Europe is seeing a continued upward trend in customers investing in superwide and wide format polyester fabrics for use in soft signage, POS and exhibition installations. With a substantial year-on-year increase in sales, one of the most popular products is the German-made Impact Prime backlit material.

Its crease-free finish and ability to diffuse light while retaining punchy colours are two reasons Soyang Europe’s sales manager, Tim Egerton gives for its success. “The Impact Prime product suits a variety of printer types and it delivers a vibrant and attractive result,” he confirms. Finding customers using UV and latex printers as well as the more typical direct sublimation methods to print to the product, Egerton expresses satisfaction at the breadth of its capabilities. “We’ve worked with Aurich Textilien for over three years and this product has been hugely successful on the continent so it’s very pleasing to see UK and Irish customers gaining a similar benefit.”

Soyang Europe has a policy of carefully selecting its material suppliers and as a fully vertical operation; Aurich’s state of the art premises â€" situated to the east of Dusseldorf â€" coupled with its quality control processes meet Soyang’s strict industry standards to ensure it delivers class leading materials. “The range of fabrics we source from Aurich compliment our PVC products perfectly,” declares Egerton.

Typically utilised to form printed elements of in-store displays and exhibition stands, the Impact Prime fabric is easy to hem with a flat Keder strip for use in tracked tensioning systems and whilst performing perfectly in lightboxes, also sees use in suspended 3D installations thanks to its light elastic construction that ensures a crease free finish.

“The growth of printed textiles is being driven by a number of factors,” says Egerton. “Ease of transport â€" and minimal risk of damage during transit are important, but we’re also finding the retail brands specifying a recyclable substrate more and more.”

The simplicity with which fabrics covering even a large area can be installed is another advantage that Egerton is keen to impress; “One, or at most two people can easily change a fabric graphic with minimal training, meaning the brand’s message can be kept current, there’s no need for special fitters to return to site and the printer benefits from repeat business, so it’s a win-win for all,” he concludes.

For more information, please visit www.soyang.co.uk