FESPA Eurasia Fair which has become a reference for printing sector will be carried out at CNR Expo Center between the dates 10- 13 December 2015. In the fair where innovative solutions will be presented for Turkish printing industry, leading firms of the sector will present their products to the visitors’ tastes. As well as exhibiting of screen printing, digital printing, textile printing and garment industry ornament segments, commercial printing and industrial advertisement products at the fair, sharing of commercial practices and information transfer will be realized.
We carried out an interview with Lorraine Harrow who is the Marketing Manager of FESPA on FESPA Fairs which will host for local and international many brands and the things that the fair will bring. Lorraine Harrow is looking forward to host Textile World readers who can invent textile printing and ornament Technologies at FESPA Eurasia 2015. In the direction of FESPA Printing Survey which is a global searching and realized more recently, Harrow who said that textile printing sector has a great developing potential and with the purpose of benefit from these advantages and learn much more, he invites all visitors to FESPA Eurasia 2015.
In how many different locations are FESPA exhibitions held?
In 2005, FESPA had just one European event. Now ten years on, FESPA has expanded globally thanks to the strength of the FESPA brand and recognition among industry stakeholders, delivering several events annually covering five continents. Our exhibition portfolio includes: FESPA Global Expo & FESPA Digital in Europe, FESPA Africa Johannesburg, FESPA Mexico, FESPA Brasil, Fespa China and Fespa Eurasia at İstanbul.
In line with market changes, we have introduced sector specific events alongside our European exhibition which include European Sign Expo, focused on traditional non-printed signage, and Printeriors (launched earlier this year), a showcase for printed interior decoration. In addition to our exhibitions, we also run standalone events, including the Digital Textile Conference, Printeriors Conference, Brasil Signage Expo, and our thought-leadership event, the Global Summit. In 2015 we also supported a series of local tailored Congresses delivered in conjunction with local member associations. The Congresses took place in Southern Europe (Barcelona, Spain), Nordics (Copenhagen, Denmark), Mexico (Mexico City) and South Africa (Johannesburg).
What are the reasons and the importance of FESPA Eurasia being held in Turkey?
The launch of FESPA Eurasia in 2013 was a result of monitoring the market, and liaising with key stakeholders such as local printers, suppliers and our member association, ARED.
Turkey and the surrounding economies are vibrant markets with growth potential for the printing industry across different sectors, we have seen that the area is keen to explore industry innovations and embrace new technologies. Since 2010, we have experienced increasing attendance and interest from the region at our European events: FESPA Digital 2014 in Munich we had almost 2000 visitors from the region, and at FESPA 2015, Turkey was among the top 10 visiting countries.
At FESPA, our mission as a federation is to support the global print community, providing them access to the latest industry information and trends to sustain business growth and build print demand. Hosting FESPA Eurasia in Turkey, means we can reach a wider audience who may not be able to visit our European event, but are keen to see international brands at a vibrant, innovative show that reflects their outlook and passion for the graphics arts industry.
How do you see the digital printing industry in Turkey? What are your expectations and predictions regarding the sector in Turkey?
The opportunity for digital printing here is exciting. Economic growth, while recently slowing down, is still impressive compared with developed markets. The retail, hospitality and leisure sectors here are strong, which creates dynamic opportunities for print. As the 6th most popular travel destination in the world - and with a number of hotels in the development pipeline - there are obvious benefits for related sectors like restaurants, retail, etc. This presents ‘boom’ sectors full of potential for creative Turkish printers.
Turkey is also an established force in the textile and garment industries, making this another exciting area for continued adoption of new techniques. At previous FESPA Eurasia shows we have seen a high level of interest in machinery and consumables for this sector, and digital textile and sublimation printing are increasing in popularity among producers, in particular for the home furnishings and textile markets, in addition to garments. But no matter what segment people are involved in, we see a strong entrepreneurial spirit among Turkish printers and sign-makers. This combined with a young population, sees an increasing amount of untapped potential to be exploited.
What is your target number of participants and visitors of FESPA Eurasia 2015 this year?
2015 marks the third edition of FESPA Eurasia and we’re seeing growth year on year. 85% of the floor space has been allocated and the exhibition is 20% ahead of FESPA Eurasia 2014 the same time out from the show. Our unique visitor numbers are mirroring this growth, and we are building a strong following. The show will attract around 9000 individuals, a figure which purely measures unique people in attendance; we don’t include people who visit the show on several occasions or exhibitor personnel.
It’s great to see the FESPA brand growing in the region; this year 27% of our exhibitors are new to the event demonstrating that we have something new and of value to offer. We’re also seeing exhibitors taking more space than usual, with a number of exhibitors doubling the space compared with the 2014 exhibition.
In FESPA Eurasia 2015, which technologies will the visitors have the opportunity to examine?
Visitors to FESPA Eurasia (10-13 December 2015) will be able to experience a range of technologies and opportunities all in one location, with the display of the latest industry-leading hardware, software, machinery, media and consumables. Wide format digital printing solutions will form a large part of the show offering, alongside signage and finishing equipment that will enable printers to explore the full production possibilities of graphic arts.
Textile printing will also occupy a large area on the show floor incorporating digital techniques such as sublimation. Attendees can discover the versatile applications and markets for this growth area - from the fashion industry, to soft signage, and home furnishings – and the product equipment facilitating these. In addition to these sectors, visitors will also be able to see screen printing, 3D printing and industrial printing applications at the event.
Could you tell us about FESPA's co-operation with ARED?
Often people in the printing industry know FESPA for its events but are less aware of our role as a not-for-profit federation of trade associations. ARED is the member association of FESPA within Turkey, and are our partners to deliver FESPA Eurasia. ARED are active in delivering benefits and activities to printers and sign-makers across Turkey by lobbying with governments, working with educational institutes, hosting seminars, offering business advice, and many more items to support the industry and its stakeholders.
For us, they provide essential insight into the needs of regional markets and challenges it faces, so that together we can tailor the direction and content of the exhibition to fulfil market requirements. They also help promote the event on the ground through the various provinces in Turkey and form strategic alliances with relevant bodies in the country.
