Key takeaways from FESPA 2023

Hosted between the 23rd and 26th May in Munich, FESPA 2023 Global Print Expo is Europe’s leading exhibition for screen, digital, wide format printing and textile printing. The event in Berlin last year attracted 11,647 visitors from 126 countries.

The print sector is a strategic market for equipment maintenance and repair provider Veritek Global Ltd. For this reason, Business Development Manager Alberto Marcos attended to meet the event’s 500 exhibitors. Alberto observed, “In contrast to last year’s event, where attendees celebrated overcoming the COVID challenges of two previous years, under the strapline of ‘New Perspectives’, this year’s FESPA looked firmly to future growth opportunities.”

Personalisation is driving print sector innovation

One of the themes on the conference agenda was personalisation, an area highlighted as playing a significant role in driving innovation in the print sector.

Innovators in this field explained how they can leverage data and integrate technologies like AR to create customised printed materials. These advancements enable end users to improve customer engagement and deliver tailored experiences that meet the evolving demands of today’s consumers.

Implications of personalisation for the print sector

Direct mail and targeted marketing

Despite the rise of digital marketing, direct mail continues to be an effective advertising and communication tool. Direct mail allows businesses to target specific demographics and deliver personalised messages to potential customers. With advancements in data analytics and printing technologies, the print sector can offer integrated solutions that combine data-driven targeting with personalised messages, offers, and promotions, increasing the chances of customer engagement and response.

In addition, incorporating AR elements into printed materials, such as QR codes or markers, enables print manufacturer customers to offer interactive and personalised experiences.

Packaging

The rise of e-commerce has fuelled the demand for packaging materials as companies ship more products directly to consumers. What’s more, the ability to customise packaging and labels to individual customers or specific product variations helps companies stand out on store shelves. It also enhances brand loyalty and provides consumers with a more tailored product experience.

Branding and tactile experiences

Many companies recognise that printed materials offer a tangible and sensory experience that digital media cannot replicate. Moreover, personalisation plays a crucial role in brand building and creating memorable experiences through items, including business cards, brochures, packaging, and promotional merchandise.

Prominent speakers on the topic of personalisation

On day one, Author and Gen Z and Gen A Expert Chloe Combi enlightened her audience with a talk on ‘How for the youngest generations – Gen Z and Gen A, personalisation is everything.”

Then, Global Head of Behavioural Sciences at IPSOS, Colin Strong, continued the conversation when he spoke about how behavioural science is shaping a new agenda in personalisation.

On day two, Chief Innovation Officer at Precision ProCo Group, Jon Tolley, explained how to deliver personalisation at scale.

Bringing the conference sessions to a close on Thursday, Co-Founder of Printless Christoph Clermont explained why all printers are tech companies. They just don’t know it yet!

Notable announcements

• Fujifilm used FESPA 2023 to launch its new Acuity Prime Hybrid printer. The manufacturer confirmed that a beta model will be installed in the UK in June, with commercial availability scheduled for the end of the year.
• Agfa Graphics used FESPA 2023 to announce the development of new inks for its Onset and Avinci printers. These inks minimise ink usage while delivering high quality and performance.
• Durst showcased its fastest roll-to-roll printer – the new 3.5m-wide P5 350, which features a feeder stacker unit comprising two Kuka robots, modified and programmed by Durst. Launched under the banner of ‘360 Production Excellence’, the P5 350 helps customers sustainably automate and increase profitability with efficient large-format print production.
• Roland DG used FESPA 2023 to launch its TrueVIS range, including Roland’s first-ever resin printer, the AP-640, the MG & LG series of UV print and cut machines and the VG3 & SG3 series of eco-solvent printer/cutter machines.

Attendee feedback

“We welcome the opportunity that FESPA gives us to meet new clients and resellers.” Said Michael Hock, CEO of Aristo GmBH.

“We really enjoy FESPA,” Paulo Cervi from Fujifilm told us, “and are delighted that our stand attracted lots of visits.”

General Manager Francisco Javier Osorio of ST Control was delighted to report “The sale of an exposed cutting machine on the stand.”

“We appreciated meeting our customers, suppliers and partners who visited our booth,” said Service Manager Dominik Schmitz of Agfa Gevaert, “and having the opportunity to demonstrate our robot-powered Onset X3 HS supersonic page-wide flatbed inkjet system as well as other technologies.”

Key learnings

Alberto said, “Attending FESPA 2023 was an invaluable experience as a salesperson. The show demonstrated that amidst the digital era, print remains an irreplaceable tool for engaging customers on a deeper level. The show unveiled an abundance of innovative printing techniques and materials. From exquisite textures to vibrant colours that leapt off the page, each booth showcased the immense potential to captivate and leave a lasting impression. In an age where screens dominate our attention, FESPA 2023 reaffirmed the enduring allure of tangible marketing, reminding me that sometimes the most impactful touch is a physical one.”

And finally

We’ve put together an easy-to-read datasheet that answers questions and provides helpful information for anyone involved in industrial print and graphics after-sales service.

The Veritek datasheet, titled ‘Empowering industrial print manufacturers to scale after-sales service capacity’, is free and is available for download here.

This blog is relevant to the following Veritek industry sector verticals:

Print & Graphics