Confirmed exhibitors include post-press kit suppliers Duplo, Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS), Renz and Watkiss Automation as well Apex Digital Graphics, which acts as UK agent for RMGT and Cron and supplies a range of other production kit.

“Ipex has listened to the market and taken into account what both the equipment manufacturers and print service providers need,” said Apex managing director Bob Usher.

“The uncertainty of Brexit doesn’t seem to have dampened the appetite for printing companies to renew their equipment. The show has always been an excellent business platform for us and we are looking forward to introducing new and existing customers to our ground-breaking equipment.”

The four-day show, which was announced last November and will take place at the NEC Birmingham from 31 October to 3 November 2017, is having its first outing for three years, and has returned to Birmingham after moving to London’s Excel in 2014. A team of six at Ipex organiser Informa Exhibitions are currently working on the event. 

“This is the first step in what we’ve been developing with Ipex for the last year-and-a-bit really, so it’s the first announcement of many as we go forward,” said event director Rob Fisher.

“Hopefully it will be a good reflection of the UK print industry. We’re looking forward to a busy and vibrant show in such a vibrant sector. I think we have an opportunity to really demonstrate what print can do."

Fisher added that more major announcements would follow in the early part of the new year, in terms of both exhibitors and seminar content.

The show expects to attract around 20,000 visitors and 400 exhibitors. Fisher said he expects around 70% of visitors to be UK-based, and a higher proportion of exhibitors to be either UK companies or UK subsidiaries of international companies.

After the 2017 show, he said it was likely that Ipex would operate on a four-year cycle, in order not to clash with Drupa, which earlier this year dramatically switched its plans to move to a three-yearly frequency, meaning the next Drupa will be in 2020. 

One of the world’s longest-established exhibitions, the history of Ipex dates back to 1880. 

IFS managing director Bryan Godwyn said his business was a long-term supporter of Ipex, and Duplo marketing manager Sarah Crumpler said she was looking forward to its new hands-on “print in action” approach.