The upcoming Fespa Global expo in Berlin was front of mind at the first Sydney outing of the local Fespa, which took place on a balmy evening in the convivial environs of the Sydney Rowing Club.
Local Fespa president Nigel Davies told the assembled crowd from the local wide format world that the organisation was planning a leadership development programme for later in the year, which he said would be leveraged from the knowledge of the 37 national Fespa organisations around the world.
Davies then flagged what he said would be a “short sharp” Fespa Australia conference, which will take place in October.
He also paid tribute to the founders and early drivers of the local Fespa, which came into being in 1958, including Trevor Cunningham from All Print Graphics, who was in the crowd with his son Grant, who now runs the company.
However it was the big Berlin show, slated for 31 May to 3 June, that occupied the thoughts of many of the guests on the banks of the Parramatta river, with all confident the show will go ahead, despite the current tribulations in Europe.
The last Fespa was in 2019 – there was Fespa-lite in Amsterdam late last year, but it ran without several key exhibitors, and printers from down under were banned from leaving the country at the time. The May event is set to return the show to its blockbuster status, with wide format printing, fabric printing, interior décor printing all set to be on the show floor, and the Aussie print community it seems keen to get over there.
Despite the early 6pm start for the Fespa Sydney Social no-one was in a hurry to leave, with conversations and drinks flowing well into the evening, as the print commiunity rediscovered the art of being out at an industry event.
