Bye Bye Birmingham - Ipex flies to London

Next Ipex in 2014  will return to a post-Olympic London, moving into the ExCel Centre in the East End, severing its long association with The National Exhibition Centre in the Midlands. The largest English-language printing show will move to the Victoria and Albert Docks area within sound of the Bow Bells, the true cockney heritage.

The decison was taken because of the growing importnace of international visitors to the premiere English-language printing exhibition.

According to Trevor Crawford, director of the show's owners, Informa Print Group, there was detailed consultation with exhibitor and visitor groups prior to making the decision.

“While our UK audience will always remain critically important to the show, Ipex is a truly global event, and the attraction of London as a venue, and the remaining legacy of the 2012 Olympic investment into the area, will certainly add to the attraction for our international visitors.”

Ipex has been located at the NEC since 1980, which according to the organisers was until now the only venue in the UK that could handle the sheer size of the event.  Since the expansion of its event halls in May 2010, ExCeL London has now become an alternative venue.

Expressing its endorsement of the move, Picon, the UK's leading industry trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers,said it is delighted with the announcement. "We have been in constant dialogue with the Ipex team during the consultation process and there is enormous enthusiasm from our members for the decision to return to London," said Tim Webb, executive director of Picon.

Even the Lord Mayor of London got in on the act with Boris Johnson declaring, "It’s tremendous news for London, and certainly befitting to our Olympic legacy and standing on the international events stage that the ‘Olympics of the global Printing Industry’ returns home to our City.”