As in previous years, the make-up of FESPA Digital clearly reflects the prevailing industry trends. Alongside the many expected innovations in digital output, visitors can expect to see significant developments in software and workflow automation, meaningful advancements in finishing and mounting, and the widest ever selection of substrates optimized for digital print. The reviving interest in environmentally sustainable print will also be a dominant theme, with the majority of exhibitors sharing solutions that reflect this growing concern among buyers of wide format print products, following the clear price orientation of the recession years.

The current boom in textile printing, and the expanding use of digital processes for industrial applications like ceramics and glass, will also be reflected by exhibitors around the show. Textile will of course will be the focus of the third FESPA Digital Textile Conference, which takes place on May 25 (Day 2) alongside the show-floor, moderated by the editor of industry authority publication Digital Textile. Education continues beyond the conference, with a series of knowledge-sharing sessions taking place throughout FESPA Digital in the Showcase Theatre, and in the Fresener's Fabric program within FESPA Fabric.

Following closely on the contest at the recent FESPA Americas event, the world tour of the FESPA Wrap Cup Masters continues in Hamburg, to be followed in Asia in October this year. The winner from Hamburg (and from next year's FESPA Digital show in Barcelona, Spain) will join the winners from other regions at a grand finale at FESPA 2013 in London.

"Ours is a dynamic industry, with print service providers constantly reshaping their offering to respond to shifts in customer demand, and developing new niche applications and specialisations. Great digital wide format print never ceases to be exciting and inspirational. With FESPA Digital 2011, our aim, once again, is to give our community an event to match," said