The Japanese company, which claims market leadership in the sub $100,000 wide format sector, says it will be concentrating its marketing budget on local events. It will be at dedicated wide format show Fespa in June.

Roland had originally booked and paid a deposit on a196sqm stand for the show which takes place in 13 months time.

However Ipex hasn’t given up hope of Roland changing its mind, IPex director Trevor Crawford says that Roland’s decision was made before Ipex repositioned the itself as a cross media event.

Ipex says that despite Roland’s withdrawal, which follows on the heels of a dozen other high profile companies, the event has more than 50 per cent sold out with some 33,000sqm of the 60,000sqm of space already taken, putting it ahead of its normal cycle

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