FESPA Global Print Expo 2023 (23 – 26 May 2023, Messe Munich), co-located with European Sign Expo and Personalisation Experience, will see the return of three popular FESPA visitor features –World Wrap Masters, FESPA Awards and Sustainability Spotlight.
World Wrap Masters
FESPA Global Print Expo 2023 will host the World Wrap Masters Europe and Series Final (stand B2-D85), kicking off on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 May with the final regional qualifying event – Wrap Masters Europe. The successful competitors from days one and two will then go on to compete against winners of the regional heats in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway and UK & Ireland. The final, which takes place across Thursday 25 May and Friday 26 May, will feature a series of timed events requiring competitors to wrap cars and surprise objects against the clock. Sponsored by HEXIS and HP, the competition will be judged by vehicle wrap experts including Kiss Lajos, Ole Solskin, Justin Pate and 2022 World Wrap Masters Champion Ivan Tenchev. Visitors interested in vehicle wrapping can also access free daily training workshops and demonstrations delivered in conjunction with The Wrap Institute (stand B2-C83).
FESPA Awards
This year also sees the return of the FESPA Awards, which opened for entries in May 2022 for the first time since 2019. Over 210 submissions from 34 countries have been received and judged by a panel of independent experts. The shortlisted entries will be displayed in the West Entrance of Messe Munich for visitors’ enjoyment throughout FESPA Global Print Expo 2023 and the category winners will be announced in a VIP ceremony on 24 May.
Sustainability Spotlight
This year, Sustainability Spotlight (stand B2-B61) offers visitors the opportunity to see and touch a wide range of environmentally responsible graphics and textile material samples, including leather and leather alternatives, natural fibres, cellulosics and synthetics supplied by participating companies. Each substrate will feature an information card so participants can learn more about its sustainable attributes and how to produce innovative, environmentally-conscious products. The headline partner is ReBoard Technology, who will supply the recyclable and reusable material used to build the entire showcase area.
OTHER NEWS
Running with the theme – New Perspectives, the Global Print Expo will occupy four and a half halls at Messe Munich Germany with new online Sustainability hub, which will provide free and universal access to FESPA’s extensive content on this topic. This includes the FESPA Planet Friendly guides, which detail up-to-date environmental information and legislations, and over 150 informative articles and best-practice case studies on how to implement environmental performance improvements in a speciality print business. The hub will also feature a new, on-demand video series hosted by FESPA sustainability expert Graeme Richardson-Locke. In conversation with suppliers, print service providers and sustainability experts, Graeme will explore how to minimise the environmental impact of businesses and print processes. The Sustainability content hub will be accessible via FESPA.com from May 2023 and visitors to FESPA Global Print Expo 2023 can view an edited content stream in a seating area within the Sustainability Spotlight showcase.
Printeriors will also take the form of a virtual showcase hosted on FESPA.com, providing an ‘always-on’ online resource that details the dozens of interior décor applications that have been created for the physical Printeriors showcase since its inception. Launching in May 2023, the new Printeriors microsite will feature case studies explaining the production methods, technologies and substrates behind each application, as well as articles and podcasts discussing the interior décor opportunity.
in a related development, FESPA also launched new events including the FESPA Leadership Exchange (FLEX), which took place in Dubai earlier this month and enabled the organisation to connect with the Middle East region. The fallout is the launch of FESPA Middle East, a new show serving the speciality print, signage, and visual communications community in the Middle East and Africa regions. The first edition of this annual exhibition will take place at the new Dubai Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates city from 29 to 31 January 2024. The exhibition is expected to feature over 100 global brands and, at the event, FESPA will host the first World Wrap Masters competition in the Middle East, a Sustainability Spotlight educational feature, a conference and technical training programme, and a Club FESPA Lounge for FESPA Direct (MEA group) members to network.
