Fespa 2010 to be dominated by digital

"Innovation is essential," said Fespa sales & marketing director Marcus Timson. "We want to provide visitors with a unique programme to help them innovate through presentations and workshops."

Kicking off the show will be a keynote address from TrendOne researcher Nils Mueller. Other events will include the Great Innovation Debate, the Digital Debate and a one-hour innovation workshop.

Other events include the European Sign Summit, organised in conjunction with the European Sign Federation, the Planet Friendly Summit covering environmental issues, the Fespa 2010 Awards and the Wrap Cup, sponsored by Avery Dennison, to find the best vehicle wrapper in the world.

The event will occupy five halls at Messe Munich, compared to four in 2005, when it was last held in the Bavarian capital, with a total floorspace of 27,000sqm.

Of those five halls, three will be dedicated to digital, with one each to fabric and screen printing. In 2005 two halls were dedicated to screen print with one each for textile and digital.

The space taken up by digital vendors will also be 30% bigger than the last dedicated Fespa Digital event, which was held in Amsterdam last May.

"The change in the distribution of exhibitors at the show reflects the change that the market is undergoing," said Fespa events managing director Frazer Chesterman.

"Digital is a major force for innovation and Munich will be many vendors' launch platform. Screen is still important but it is shifting towards vertical applications, industrial processes and blended production."

He added that the show was still the biggest screenprinting exhibition in Europe and would also be the biggest garment-printing show.

Fespa Fabric will run as a show within a show with 180 exhibitors occupying 8,000sqm.

Events will include Fabric Live!, a daily catwalk show featuring work by show sponsors Ralk & Ross and Gildan, along with demonstrations from garment printing experts Charlie Taublieb and Scott Fresener.