Fespa forecasts record-breaking Eurasia event

Regional tensions have apparently failed to dampen demand for Fespa Eurasia 2016 in Istanbul, with organisers expecting a record turn out for the CNR Expo from 8 to 11 December 2016.

The event, in its fourth year, covers 20,000sqm across two halls showing more than 450 brands dedicated to wide-format screen and digital print, textile print, garment decoration and signage.

Confirmed exhibitors include wide-format digital print manufacturer Roland DG, Mutoh distributor Folpa and Optimum Digital Planet for digital wide-format and textile printers.

Fespa chief executive officer Neil Felton said: “This show is my baby and it's a great product, going from nought to what it is now in only four years.

“Despite regional tensions and August being a traditionally slow month I have been surprised to have our largest selling month, 700 to 800sqm over a two-week period.

“What makes this show unique is the market it serves and its location. It's a major regional show, which is why we call it Fespa Eurasia and not Turkey.

“Visitors come from eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, north Africa and the Middle East. Istanbul is a crossroads where east meets west and is a fantastic location.”

Felton said last year's show drew in a record 9,200 plus visitors, and “we will be looking for an increase, but are sill putting floor plans together so I can't be specific”.

He added: “Textiles are very strong and an entire hall is dedicated to fabrics. Italy and Turkey are very big on textiles and we will see really good names.

Pigment Reklam, distributors of SwissQprint and Bullmer kit, will also be exhibiting along with digital textile distributor AIT and Karya Tekstil, a local manufacturer of sign and textile solutions.

Educational and interactive features will include the first World Wrap Masters to take place at Fespa Eurasia, in association with specialist in sign vinyls, wrapping films and laminates Hexis.

This fast-paced competition will see the best vehicle wrappers from the Eurasian region go head-to-head to be crowned 'wrap master'.

There will also be a signage demonstration area, in partnership with Fespa’s Turkish association, ARED and a digital textile conference to cater to the continuing growth of this market.

Fespa group exhibition manager, Michael Ryan said: “There is a lot of interest from international and regional exhibitors for Fespa Eurasia 2016.

“Many major international manufacturers will be present, either through direct participation or through a local distributor.

“At Fespa Eurasia 2015 we observed two notable growth trends running throughout the event - signage and textile.

“We saw a large number of sign manufacturers and suppliers focusing on interior and exterior signage solutions, a trend we believe will continue this year.

“Working with the sign association of Turkey, ARED, we will enhance our sign offering through ARED’s signage awards and the signage demonstration area on the show floor.

“Textile printing is also a huge growth area in the Eurasia region and one that we expect to see heavily represented on the show floor appealing to the many regional print service providers now adopting digital textile printing. 

“Visitors will see an abundance of screen and digital textile print kit and applications and in the digital textile conference they will hear from experts in this market sector.”

Screen printing chemicals company Feteks' director Tolga Oktay said: “The show has an outstanding regional reputation and offers new opportunities for Eurasian printers.”

Returning exhibitor Serkan Çagliyan who owns Pigment Reklam said: “For us Fespa Eurasia is the best place to introduce our latest technologies in UV print.

“It is the ideal platform, not only for business opportunities but because of its strong local association, ARED.

“Visitors come from all over Turkey and the wider Eurasian market, which translates well with our target customers. We will show our SwissQprint UV models and Bullmer digital cutting machinery.”