A decision on whether the show will relocate to London or remain at the NEC in Birmingham will be made within the next two months.

“Clearly we have to keep an open mind about venues,” said Ipex exhibition director Trevor Crawford. “We are in serious discussions with both ExCel and the NEC and with our major stakeholders – exhibitors and visitors – about the decision.”

Crawford added that it was only three weeks ago when ExCel opened its second phase, that the venue had sufficient floor space to accommodate a show as large as Ipex.

“We now have a genuine alternative to the NEC in the UK and we owe it to our stakeholders to consider the option.”

Following this year’s event, which Crawford said many exhibitors had praised as the “best yet”, he said he had to consider ways to continue to raise the bar.

“To meet the needs of an international audience and engage with printers from the UK, maybe London has that,” he said.

If Ipex does move to ExCel it will be the second major print show to be held at the venue, following Fespa 2013, which will be held in June that year.

ExCel is set to benefit from transport infrastructure improvements for the London 2012 Olympics that should improve its accessibility, which is currently cited as its biggest downfall by visitors and exhibitors.

Read the original article at www.printweek.com.

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