At the show three halls will now be dedicated to digital technologies, compared with just one digital hall at Fespa 2005, the first year that digital impacted visibly on the show’s exhibitor profile. Organisers add that the digital zone of will be the largest event for digital wide format production in Europe this year.

The screen printing area of the show is smaller than in 2005, highlighting the evolution of screen printing as a solution for niche industrial and higher volume printing applications in the face of the rapid migration to digital. Despite this market shift, the Screen zone of FESPA 2010 will be the biggest and best representation of screen printing worldwide for the next three years, according to organisers.

The dedicated Textile zone – under the new FESPA Fabric banner – harnesses the size and success of the diverse garment exhibits within a focused event, organisers add. Concentrating these exhibitors within an entire dedicated hall, FESPA Fabric will shine the spotlight on the latest developments and trends in garment printing and embellishment, straddling both digital and screen processes.

Frazer Chesterman, Fespa managing director for event says, “2010 is expected to be a landmark year for many businesses. For entrepreneurs who guided their organisations through the economic crisis, the direction they adopt for the latter half of 2010 and beyond could define their future success.”

He continues, “Fespa’s own economy survey conveys cautious optimism, focused towards the second half of 2010. What’s more, our own and third-party research underlines the importance of prudent investment in digital technology as a survival factor for businesses competing in a changed economy.”

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