Visitor numbers at FESPA 2015 Global Expo which was held from May 18-22, 2015 grew 17 per cent over the 2013 edition to reach 43,775 visitors, and in the process drew its largest audience ever.
According to a FESPA press release, more than 750 exhibitors participated under four distinct event brands; FESPA 2015, FESPA Fabric European Sign Expo and Printeriors.
FESPA 2015 stands for screen, digital and textile printing; FESPA Fabric for garment printing and decoration; European Sign Expo for non-printed signage and Printeriors for printed interior décor.
FESPA 2015 Global Expo also offered visitors an Educational Hub, Sign Hub, Wrap Cup Masters vehicle wrapping area, 3D and Industrial Print Showcases, a gallery of FESPA Awards entries and the Printeriors conference.
An increased emphasis on textile applications, including soft signage, interior décor applications and garment printing was notable throughout the halls of FESPA 2015 Global Expo.
This was reinforced by the publication of six directional trends emerging from FESPA’s global Print Census, one of which was the rise of textile applications as a means of diversification for print service providers.
FESPA CEO Neil Felton stated, “This was the most colourful, most comprehensive FESPA event we have ever delivered, and printers from all over the world came to Cologne, ready to discover their universe of print.”
“This record attendance is an unmistakable signal of the renewed energy, optimism and engagement of our global community of suppliers and service providers,” Felton added.
“The fact that so many visitors committed more than a day to the show cements FESPA’s reputation as the most comprehensive global event for wide format and speciality print,” he observed.
“Each FESPA exhibition is a reflection of the inventiveness and vitality that runs through the veins of our community, and the 2015 show floor was buzzing with imagination and opportunity,” FESPA noted.
“What’s clear from these five days is that the word ‘print’ barely does justice to the diverse and imaginative technologies, products and concepts that now come together under one roof at FESPA,” it too observed.
A strike by Deutsche Bahn employees impacted national train services in Germany on day 3 and 4 of the five-day show, with some service disruption continuing towards the Whitsun holiday weekend.
FESPA responded by providing free shuttle bus services from Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt airports, enabling international visitors travelling by plane to reach the exhibition with ease.
