Trade show organiser Fespa is launching a series of online events to help printers plan for business recovery. The new ‘FIT - Fespa Innovations and Trends’ programme kicks off with a wide-format orientated event on 26-27 May, followed by a printed clothing event on 9-10 June.
Each FIT event will feature a minimum of 16 exhibitors and visitors will have open access to virtual demonstrations, exhibitor insight and Q&A sessions. Participants can see the event programme in advance, and use the online platform to join live chats, network via video chat, and schedule timed meetings.
Fespa CEO Neil Felton said: “Speaking to printers across our communities it’s clear that - while their strong preference is to do all of this in a live event setting - there’s a pressing need to access information in a time-efficient way. They want the opportunity to ask questions, take advice, interact with suppliers and nurture relationships with like-minded entrepreneurs. By launching the FIT series of virtual events, we’re supporting our community in the most effective way available until we can meet in the real world again at a Fespa live exhibition.”
Gold sponsors of the wide-format event include: Durst, highlighting its latest P5 portfolio; EFI, showcasing its Vutek Q5; HP, showing its Latex 700 and 800 portfolios; Kornit Digital, explaining how printers can harness its NeoPigment inks; Mimaki, presenting its new 100 series of UV, solvent and sublimation printers; OneVision, highlighting its automation suite; and PrintFactory, discussing the benefits of using correct workflow and colour management tools.
Other participating suppliers include Ahlstrom-Munksjo, Aleph, Aslan, Avery Dennison, Dataline, Elitron, Fotoba, Hanglory, Kala, Klieverik, Kongsberg, Mactac, Mutoh, Pigment, PlastGommet, Pongs, STS Inks and TTS.
The second FIT event will focus on the textile printing and garment decoration sector, covering direct-to-garment (DTG), screenprinting, software and materials. Gold sponsors include: B-Flex, showcasing its heat transfer vinyl portfolio; EFI Reggiani, introducing its integrated offering for digital textile production; Gemini CAD, highlighting its software solutions for fashion designers, manufacturers and e-commerce brands; Kornit Digital, presenting the Kornit HD industrial DTG printers; Polyprint, presenting its DTG and direct-to-fabric (DTF) printers and pre-treatment machines; PrintFactory, highlighting its suite of textile software tools; Roland, introducing a new compact DTG printer; and ROQ, showing its latest innovations in automatic screen printing and hybrid printing.
Other exhibitors include technology suppliers INO, Klieverik, Lotus Holland, Melco, Pigment, Sport PrintLab, Vastex, customised software solution provider Zakeke, and transfer film producer Coveme.
The events are free to attend, but numbers are capped so pre-register online.