Where visionaries meet

With the FESPA Global Print Expo just around the corner, we catch up with Michael Ryan, head of FESPA Global Print Expo, to find out why you should pay the expo a visit.

Why should our readers visit FESPA and why will it benefit them?

FESPA Global Print Expo 2025 will return to the Messe Berlin, Germany next month to welcome a host of like-minded business professionals to network and discover the latest innovations across and beyond print, signage and personalisation.

From May 6 to 9, visitors to the events can explore an array of products and solutions; witness technology launches first-hand; celebrate excellence across print and signage; learn about the latest trends and more. If you want to delve beneath the surface of the industry, I’d definitely recommend taking a trip to the events.

The theme for FESPA this year is ‘Where Visionaries Meet’, can you explain what this means?

This year’s strapline highlights our incredible FESPA community, from our visitors and exhibitors, to our Association Heads and Awards winners. ‘Where Visionaries Meet’ positions our visitors as futuristic and forward-thinking members of the print and signage communities, and FESPA, as the ideal connection point for these Visionaries.

As delegates exchange their thoughts with leading brands and suppliers, industry experts, specialists and fellow peers, FESPA will once again support the advancement of the speciality print industry.

Why did you choose Berlin as the host city? Why has it been three years since you returned?

The FESPA community consists of different organisations across the globe and it’s important for us to accommodate them all. By altering the location of our events each year, we are able to develop new and existing relationships and uncover the trends in each regional market. Returning to a previous venue also benefits many of our returning exhibitors and visitors due to the familiarity of the city.

The Messe Berlin, Germany has over 200 years of experience as a trade show venue, therefore it’s an ideal venue for print sector visionaries to connect at FESPA’s 2025 events. As well as this, Berlin is well-known for its history, as well as its trusted connections and established speciality print market!

What do you think will be the highlights of this year’s exhibition?

Every year, I thoroughly enjoy every element of our exhibitions, watching the FESPA team’s hard work come to life and members of the speciality print and signage industries from across the globe unite at our events. I can confirm that there is already so much to look forward to at the 2025 events, such as our comprehensive feature programme.

We’re delighted to welcome back our feature programme for our 2025 events, this year, comprising of World Wrap Masters, the FESPA Awards and the all-new SmartHub.

The SmartHub feature comprises of showcased smart and intelligent manufacturing, a series of live discussions and production tours. Delegates can also discover the latest on-demand technologies in garment decoration, apparel production and interior décor.

On the first two days of the event, visitors to World Wrap Masters can watch regional competitors go head-to-head, wrapping vehicles and other surprise objects against the clock, in with the hope of progressing to the all-important World Wrap Masters 2025 Final, on days three and four. Alongside this, delegates can also attend a series of training workshops and live demos.

The FESPA Awards are back to once again celebrate excellence and creativity across 18 different categories, including print, signage, packaging, vehicle wrapping, special effects, textiles and garments. The shortlisted entries will be on display throughout the event, with the official awards ceremony taking place on Wednesday, May 7.

Are there any standout exhibitors that our readers should pay a visit?

As always, FESPA Global Print Expo welcomes numerous leading brands and suppliers from across print and signage to showcase their expertise, as well as the latest products, solutions, media and consumables.

At this stage, there are over 550 confirmed exhibitors for the events, these include: AGFA, Brother, Canon, Design Huddle, Durst, Ecker Textiles, Fujifilm, Graphictac Film, Kit Builder, Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems, Mutoh, Printess, PrintFactory, Roland and swissQprint.

Do you know if there is any new equipment launching at this year’s exhibition that would

Over the years, FESPA has witnessed some of the most pivotal launches across the entire print and signage industries, and, with over 60 confirmed launches for 2025, we’re expecting many more.

Are there any seminars or talks that our readers can attend to enhance their businesses?

Visitors will also have the opportunity to attend a four-day conference programme within Personalisation Experience, providing a valuable insight into sustainability, automation and more.

Confirmed speakers to date include:

• Phil Ricketts, commercial director, Royal Mail Wholesale on ‘The Power of Creativity: Driving Brand Engagement & Conversion in Advertising’.
• Ben Briggs and Tom Ridges on ‘Jaguar Land Rover: Igniting Engagement with Smart Direct Mail’.
• Rob Flannery, marketing manager Nutshell Creative and Becky Sherwin, client development director, Go Inspire on ‘When Data Meets Creative: Maximising Mail Performance’.

How would you describe the wide-format industry in the UK with all the talk around sustainability and cost efficiency?

Wide-format printers are increasingly operating in a more sustainable manner, in part to save costs but also because consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious and seek to support companies that are committed to sustainability. Many wide-format printers are therefore adopting greener materials such as biodegradable substrates and water-based inks, as well as investing in energy-efficient printers. To remain cost effective, they are also able to reduce waste by using digital printing methods and machines that use less energy and materials.

You are co-locating again with the European Sign Expo. What is it and how can it bring greater benefits to wide-format printers as a whole?

FESPA is dedicated to providing a pivotal platform for suppliers and printers, sign makers, manufacturers, brands and retailers. While each event targets distinct business communities, we will see a crossover between the exhibitions and the potential value they can deliver for visitors.

European Sign Expo is set to become the meeting point for forward-thinking signage experts to connect in Halls 3.2 and 4.2. Visitors can explore an array of cutting-edge technologies and solutions across channel lettering, digital signage, dimensional signage, engraving and etching, illuminated displays, out of home media, LED and sign tools, and more.

Convergence within large printers is also becoming an ever-present thing with greater demands being placed on the equipment. What sort of emphasis, if any, would there be on this point at the show?

Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

The final day of the event will be centred around youth engagement. The initiative invites the younger audience to attend show floors tour led by our sustainability expert and head of associations and technical lead, Graeme Richardson-Locke. He will give a presentation on careers in print and will also highlight the opportunities available with the FESPA Australia Young Leaders programme.

As we prepare to welcome visionaries back to the Messe Berlin, Germany, for four days of networking, knowledge exchanging and decision-making, I am confident that each visitor will leave this year’s events with a broader vision on the future of the speciality print and signage industries.