Bringing the industry back together
Returning this September for the first time since before the pandemic, The Print Show is still the only industry show dedicated to the UK print sector. Specifically designed for UK visitors, the event pledges to deliver the solutions they need in order to succeed in the modern, competitive market.
Taking place from September 20th to 22nd at the NEC in Birmingham, The Print Show 2022 will run under the banner ‘Bringing the industry back together’, serving as the first key meeting point for the UK industry since before the pandemic.
O Factoid: The Print Show 2022 will run from September 20th to 22nd in Hall 17 of the NEC, Birmingham – tickets are free O
With a wide range of exhibitors, a packed speaker programme, and even celebrity speakers, there is plenty to see and do at the show this year. Here, Print Monthly picks out some of the many highlights to look forward to at The Print Show 2022.
More important than ever Chris Davies has served as event director since the show’s launch back in 2015, overseeing its evolution into the biggest event on the UK print calendar.
“From day one, our aim has been to provide an event that showcases the solutions print-service-providers (PSPs) need to succeed and grow,” Davies says, adding: “Over the years, we have achieved this and so much more, with The Print Show now serving as a major platform for exhibitors to launch and showcase new technology.
“This year, a whole host of print and finishing kit will be demonstrated in the UK for the first time, while visitors can also find out about the latest developments in other technology such as software and online tools.
“Simply put, nowhere else can visitors see such a range of equipment in one location, and The Print Show 2022 is absolutely an event that cannot be missed.”
Simply put, nowhere else can visitors see such a range of equipment in one location, and The Print Show 2022 is absolutely an event that cannot be missed”
While exhibitors and their new solutions will undoubtedly be the main highlight of the show for visitors, there is plenty more to see and do at the event this year, with all sorts going on in Hall 17.
A mainstay of The Print Show since its early days, the Business Seminar Theatre will play host to a series of specialist speakers, each of which will focus on a key talking point in the industry and advise visitors on how to best approach these trends.
Also returning this year is the ever-popular Diversification Zone, where visitors can get an exclusive insight into a number of growth markets. Experts from the worlds of engraving, sustainability, and vehicle wrapping will speak with attendees about these areas and offer advice on how they can make the most of these trends.
Finally, visitors will be pleased to learn that the unique celebrity speaker feature will also be back. Following on from the phenomenal success of its debut in 2019, the area will this year welcome boxing icon Frank Bruno, former Countdown host Nick Hewer, and gardening legend Monty Don; each of which will take part in a live Q&A with visitors before posing for photographs and signing autographs.
Boxing icon Frank Bruno, former Countdown host Nick Hewer, and gardening legend Monty Don will all appear at The Print Show 2022
“Given the events of the past two years, we’re more excited than ever before to welcome thousands of visitors to The Print Show,” Davies adds.
Engaging applications
Among the companies showing new kit at The Print Show this year will be Hybrid Services, the exclusive distributor of Mimaki in the UK and Ireland, which will demonstrate a range of new print technology from Mimaki on its stand.
Visitors will be able to view two of the new 330 Series; Mimaki’s latest platform that currently includes solvent print and printer/cutter solutions, plus a dye-sublimation model. Featuring the two solvent machines at the event, Hybrid Services will demonstrate the productivity enhancements that the pair of 1.6m machines sport.
“Mimaki has continuously developed its solvent print technology over this time, ensuring it’s been at the forefront of innovation, and the new 330 Series is no exception,” Hybrid Services reseller account manager Martin Southworth says.
“Sign-makers, commercial printers, print-service-providers, and graphics professionals looking to invest in the latest models will see substantial productivity benefits and we’re delighted with the response we’ve had so far.”
Other highlights on the Hybrid Services stand will include the new UJF-3042MkII e Series and UJF-6042MkII e Series. These are Mimaki’s latest direct-to-object printers with the ability to print onto an extensive variety of soft and hard media including plastics, leather, wood, acrylic, metal, and glass. The UJF-3042MkII e Series features a print area of 300mm x 420mm, while the UJF-6042MkII e Series offers a larger print size of 610mm x 420mm.
Hybrid Services will display two new Mimaki 330 Series solvent machines at The Print Show this year
Finally, Hybrid Services will showcase the new Mimaki 3DUJ-2207 full-colour 3D printer. Utilising UV-curing inkjet technology, the high-definition colour reproduction made possible with the printer provides new opportunities across a range of industries.
Meanwhile, print technology giant Konica Minolta has announced that it will be running live demonstrations of its new AccurioShine 3600 digital embellishment press on its stand at The Print Show 2022.
The AccurioShine 3600 has been designed to offer special effects in commercial printing, finishing, and packaging
Launched in June, the AccurioShine 3600 is the first Konica Minolta-branded MGI product built on the success of the MGI JETvarnish 3D One and is likely to be an incredibly popular attraction.
Also on the Konica Minolta stand will be the AccurioPress C4080, feeding print to the AccurioShine 3600. The 81ppm press is one of Konica Minolta’s most popular models for cut-sheet colour production and despite its small footprint, it delivers superior media performance right out of the box.
Jon Hiscock, head of production and industrial print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK, comments: “The market is changing at pace and demands of the end-user to look at sustainable print, and ways of increasing the impact of print and packaging through embellishment, are increasing exponentially; and of course our customers still need to do more with less and drive production efficiencies through the use of Industry 4.0 innovations.”
With this in mind, Konica Minolta has decided to focus on these key topics and product areas at the 2022 edition of the show.
Exciting solutions
Also showcasing new kit this year is ADAPT – Amari Digital Printing Technologies, which will be exhibiting across two stands at the show, with the aim of showcasing that it has a range of solutions to help visitors from all backgrounds and markets.
The smaller section of the stand will be dedicated to promoting ADAPT’s new partnership with Liyu UK, a specialist in large-format printing kit. Here, visitors will be able to view the Platinum Q2, a 2.2m x 2m hybrid flatbed machine that has never before been shown at a UK exhibition.
“We’re really excited to be displaying this solution for the first time in the UK,” says ADAPT’s general manager Dominic Bowen, adding: “It is an incredibly good-looking piece of kit, and we think visitors to the show will really enjoy seeing what it can do.”
Along the walkway on the larger part of the stand, ADAPT will also be running a number of other machines from some of its major manufacturers, including leading brands such as HP, Epson, Mimaki, Summa, and Canon.
Being demonstrated at a UK show for the first time will be the Arizona 135 GT, a UK flatbed printer that both enables sign-makers and print-service-providers to open up exciting new commercial opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Canon Colorado 1650 will be showcased at a UK exhibition for the first time since The Print Show 2019, with visitors able to view the new FLXFinish+ technology.
ADAPT will showcase the Canon Colorado 1650 with new FLXFinish+ technology
From HP, ADAPT will be displaying two of the manufacturer’s leading Latex solutions in the form of the HP Latex 800W and HP Latex 335, while a Summa plotter will also be running on the stand throughout the event.
In addition, ADAPT will showcase a Mimaki UCJV 300-160, a machine that was launched at The Print Show a few years ago, as well as a Mimaki UJF printer, which Bowen says will appeal in particular to promotional printers due to its ability to print on a range of objects such as golf balls and mouse mats.
“With everything opening back up and the fact that we have had a good year, we felt the time was right for the show,” Bowen says, adding: “We are expanding into different areas and the commercial print market is expanding again, which is fantastic for everyone.”
Integral to visitors
Elsewhere and print finishing specialist Duplo will use the event to showcase a range of new and high-quality finishing equipment. Among the highlights will be the new DC-648 slitter cutter creaser, which offers users advanced levels of speed, quality, and automation.
Print finishing specialist Duplo is a long-term supporter of The Print Show
Also due to feature on the Duplo booth at The Print Show 2022 is the latest PFi Di-Cut 310 rotary die-cutter, which allows users to die-cut, kiss-cut, crease, perforate, slit, hole punch, and cut round corners in one process, on both digital and offset-printed sheets.
Other key highlights for visitors will include Duplo’s benchmark in class DC-618 multi finisher, with the ability to process up to six slits, 30 cuts, and 20 creases in one pass, as well as the PFi Blade B2 digital cutting table that can cut, kiss-cut, crease and perforate substrates including paper, laminates, boards, adhesives and synthetic stocks.
The DBM-150 bookletmaker, one of the most popular products among Duplo’s customers, will also be on display, with visitors able to learn more about the benefits of taking bookletmaking in-house with this modular solution.
Duplo will also bring a Bagel iLAM Pro Laminator, following the launch of its new, UK-exclusive partnership with Bagel. The modular system is compatible with a whole host of presses from the industry’s leading manufacturers.
In addition, Duplo will display some spectacular embellishment and packaging samples from the new DDC-8000 B2 format DuSense and the DC-20K B2 cutting system.
“Duplo’s stand will be integral to The Print Show’s visitors if they are looking to improve their finishing, or they’re looking to integrate and automate finishing into their pre- and post-press workflow,” Duplo managing director Martyn Train says.
Duplo’s stand will be integral to The Print Show’s visitors if they are looking to improve their finishing, or they’re looking to integrate and automate finishing into their pre- and post-press workflow”
Staying with the subject of finishing, Plockmatic International’s print finishing specialist Morgana Systems will use The Print Show 2022 as a platform for the global debut of its new Morgana BM4000 Series of bookletmakers.
Heralded as a new kind of bookletmaker, these products can produce both A4 landscape and 297 x 297mm booklets, and offer either corner or edge stapling as standard, plus the option of the unique SquareBack finish.
The Morgana BM4000 Series can staple and fold booklets of up to 35 sheets (BM4035) or 50 sheets (BM4050), with the ability to produce booklets in sizes from A6 up to A4 landscape, and in the 297 x 297mm format.
The Morgana BM4000 Series will have its worldwide debut at The Print Show 2022
“The BM4000 is a versatile bookletmaker designed to work with low- to mid-volume digital production printers,” Morgana says, adding: “It delivers booklets of exceptional quality, and the ability to feed long printed sheets means that it can produce a wide variety of work, including A4 landscape photo booklets – a product that is becoming increasingly popular.
Other highlights on the Morgana stand will include the AeroDieCut, described by Morgana as traditional meets digital, as well as the AutoCreaser and DigiFold Pro XL units, the latest 50cm AutoCreaser in the form of the Pro XW, bookletmakers from the BM5000 and PowerSquare ranges, including the PowerSquare 224 with VFX feeder and Barcode reading, and the Valiani Integra flatbed cutting table.
With all this and more to look forward to in September, plus the fact that the exhibition is free to attend, The Print Show 2022 is an event that cannot be missed.
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