With Heidelberg, HP and Agfa all confirmed non-attenders, and manroland certain not to show a press, Ipex is working overtime to convince printers and suppliers that the show is a must visit. Trevor Crawford, exhibition director says, “It is not just a big print exhibition, Ipex is far more than that.”

Crawford highlighted a number of initiatives aimed at creating Ipex  as a focal point for the world print community, and an event which he insists has moved with the times to embrace far more than print on paper. There will be a significant focus on cross media integration. There will be a VIP programme, and in internaitional roadshow will kick off next year, with Australia likely the first stop.

Ipex is aiming for more visitors to attend the 2014 show that the last incarnation in 2010, and is aiming for more of them to spend longer at the show. It also believes the 2014 show will see overseas visitors outnumber those from the UK by 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

Crawford pointed out that digital and offset exhibitors at Ipex have been travelling in opposite directions as far as floor space is concerned since digital first appeared at the 1993 show, a trend that is increasing.

Ipex says that its bookings for the 2014 show are stronger than ever, the organiser says that more of the top 100 exhibitors have confirmed at this point in the bookings cycle than ever before, and it says some 63 per cent of floorspace, or 38,000sqm is already booked, with some 200 exhibitors already signed up.

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