Printers Head to Barcelona to Explore The Wider Opportunities at FESPA Digital

FESPA's fifth digital print exhibition in Europe opens today (February 21, 2012) at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, the first time the event has been hosted in Spain.

Covering 16,500 square metres of hall space in Hall 3 of the exhibition centre, with more than 350 exhibiting companies, FESPA expects the Digital show to attract an international audience of print professionals looking to 'explore the wider opportunities of digital print' highlighted by the show's extensive visitor promotion campaign. When pre-registration closed on 20th February, more than 16000 printers had indicated their interest in the show.

In developing the event content, FESPA has focussed on bringing to life the wealth of opportunities that exist for print service providers to grow their business, from technology investments and workflow optimisation, through diversification into new applications and business models taking advantage of the latest developments in substrates and inks.

In addition to the show floor exhibits, there are eight free visitor attractions under one roof at FESPA Digital 2012.

Explore Conference - NEWPlanet Friendly Zone - NEWPrint Shop Live! - NEWBig Buck$ Cafe - NEWNarrow Format Zone - NEWHall of Fame - NEWWrap Cup Masters SeriesWrap Rally II

FESPA Managing Director Neil Felton comments: "We're delivering the richest and most relevant Digital visitor programme yet here in Barcelona, with a raft of new content that matches the specific needs and interests of the wide format printer community, all free of charge.

"FESPA's central mission is to use our collective expertise in wide format print to educate, share knowledge and highlight best practice to help our community succeed. We hope visitors to FESPA Digital 2012 will take full advantage of this programme, using every opportunity that's here to complement what they see on exhibitor stands with expert knowledge, insight and a dash of inspiration to help grow their business."

The free onsite Explore Conference offers more than 40 individual educational sessions in English and Spanish on topics including: Business Building, Technology Issues, Narrow Format Print, Sustainability, Digital Signage, Customer Insight, Printed Electronics and Planet Friendly Printing.

FESPA's long-standing commitment to sharing knowledge and best practice in the field of sustainability is manifested in the shape of the Planet Friendly conference stream within the Explore Conference, as well as a series of hands-on clinics and workshops running on the FESPA Planet Friendly Zone on the FESPA stand (B15A), inviting printers to share their queries about improving their environmental performance and receive direct advice from FESPA's four subject experts.

In addition to the vast array of technology innovations on display on exhibitor stands around the show, FESPA's Print Shop Live! offers PSPs their first opportunity to tour a real end-to-end workflow within a European FESPA show. Live jobs including conventional and textile applications are being produced using GMG colour management software, Onyx ripping and preflighting tools, with output across multiple print devices from Epson, HP and Mutoh. Media are supplied by Ilford and final output is being finished using Esko Graphics cutting solutions.