Fespa has attracted its most internationally diverse visitor group yet, with delegates from 133 countries attending its Cologne show in May.
Of the 23,137 visitors, 88% were from Europe, 5% from Asia, 4% from the Middle East and Africa and 3% from the Americas. As anticipated, Germany had the largest visitor delegation, followed by the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium, Italy and France. 68% of attendees came from outside of the host nation.
Cologne's proximity to the Netherlands meant that FESPA 2015 welcomed its largest number of delegates from the country to a Global Expo. There was also a significant increase of visitors from Belgium, with more than double the number attending the 2015 event compared with Fespa 2010, the last time the Global Expo took place in Germany. Cologne's Northern European location also meant that there was a 37% increase in printers from Scandinavia, compared with Fespa 2010.
Fespa Eurasia has impacted visitors from the area, with a 27% rise in attendees from the country. The Fespa China brand has also had an effect, with a 59% increase on representatives from Asia compared with Fespa 2010.
CEO Neil Felton said: “Fespa 2015 has been our biggest Global Expo event by far, with the most exhibitors, the most visitors and the richest international visitor mix. It's excellent to how our expansion outside Europe has stimulated even greater interest in our flagship event. Next year, as we move to Amsterdam for Fespa Digital 2016, we will aim to keep our loyal following, while engaging new visitor audiences from a range of vertical markets, building on the 10-year heritage of the digital event."