The IPEX Investigator - Part 2
With thanks to the reader who suggested that the Ipex Investigator should ‘get with the times’ the abbreviation moniker shall henceforth be iI as in iPad, iPhone and ieverythingelse.
That old trade show buzz was evident for much of Ipex, especially in the World Print Summit session featuring moderator Frank Romano, Benny Landa and EFI’s Guy Gecht. The 300-seat theatre was standing room only ten minutes before the start. EFI and Landa appear to be moving closer since the announcement that Gecht’s company will develop the DFE for Landa’s Nanographic presses. Like two buddies in a ‘bromance movie, each joked that the other was to blame for the delayed release of the revolutionary presses first shown at Drupa 2012.
It was a class act themed: “Print: Doomed or on the Verge of a new Digital Renaissance?” Needless to say, both parties were very bullish about print’s brave new future, with the good Professor in violent agreement from the chair.
Primarily, trade shows are about trade and there have been some good announcements of deals sealed at the show – and the Dorothy Dix deals signed before with the show equipment headed to the customer post-Ipex. Fujifilm has shifted its show Jetpress 720 B2 digital press to The Netherlands HuigHaverlag, a 100-strong outfit with both offset and digital. The Komori G40 five-colour with HUV inks is sporting a sold sticker in the Eco Zone while Hans Gohni has sold on most of its offset presses. Scodix has taken its 100th order for the fantastic S75 digital embellisher, sold by Curries in Australia.
Screen announced its first European sale for the Truepress Jet L350UV digital label press, to Hull, UK printer Springfield Solutions and there was even an off-the stand sale of a Xerox iGen 150. Hang on, you say to the iI; Xerox is not at the show! Correct but its largest UK dealer Xeretec is and it was them that took the order. Goes to show, the only way you are going to sell something at a market is to hire a market stall – absentee exhibitors take note. You can hold as many open houses as you like but they will never be a substitute for a well-organised trade fair. Sure, open days, user groups and award clubs are a valuable part of the marketing mix but they are not a replacement for participation at major industry shows.
During the show iI try to catch up with Australian technology with the Rapid X1 and X2 digital label presses and D2 finisher on the Impression Technology Europe stand. I say ‘try’ because every time I tried to engage the stand folk in conversation, they were dragged away by an inquisitive customer – the interest levels were that high. I’ll have another go today.
It was a pleasure to run into Matthew Benn from FAB Equipment on the Watkiss Automation stand. He’s pictured in the photoblog with Sales Director Paul Attew in front of the new Watkiss PowerSquare 244 binder, the only binder that can deliver square-back books using staples, not hot melt or PUR. It folds, forms the spine, staples and trims all in one unit and can handle up to 200 typical pages.
Finishing for digital is big at Ipex and the Morgana stand was a hive of activity on day 2. The iI caught up with Andy Cooper from Morgana and he reported brisk business on the stand, and a probable return to Australia soon.
Looking at how Ipex 2014 is going and the move to London, I can’t help but wonder if the big, long 2-Hall concept works for shows like this. What I see is the central corridor that divides the north and south halls full of people in the coffee shops and bars – well away from the exhibitors themselves. The pillarless 2 halls are cavernous and you get the feeling of being in an aircraft hangar. I have to say, there are some messy areas at the edges that just don’t look right. With Ipex at the NEC and with Dűsseldorf’s Drupa, the multi-hall concept creates clusters of interest and village-like gatherings around Bratwurst stalls for example. With everything strung out as it is at the ExCeL; I’m not convinced it’s a better layout than the NEC and it lacks focus.
Having said that, the show IS in London and the great city does not disappoint, with superb public transport to and from the exhibition, wonderful food and pubs, super friendly people top notch entertainment. I note the organisers put out the attendance figures for the show. At 22,768, which includes 3,532 exhibitors, with a geographical visitor split of 54% UK and 46% international, it's not too bad. Trevor Crawford, director, says the show is the blueprint for the future of print centric events. He could very well be right, because I don't think drupa will escape the reshuffle.
The other good news is that Birmingham City won 2-3 away at Milwall, just a stone’s throw away from Ipex in ‘Sarf Bermondsey.’ It looks like they will avoid relegation now and all we need is for West Ham to beat Hull tonight at nearby Upton Park, and all is well with the world.
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