OUTPUT

If less than a year seems to have passed since the last FESPA Digital event, that's probably because there's only been nine months instead of the usual twelve between events. As we have drupa looming on May's horizon, shunting FESPA forward makes sense and it also gives visitors the opportunity to draw breath between exhibitions.

There have been grumblings from exhibitors and visitors alike about the value of having two major international shows taking place within a few months of one another, and there are regular FESPA participants who've opted not to take part this time, favouring drupa. This is a great shame and might well prove to be to their disadvantage simply because of the disparity in audience type. While Düsseldorf offers a far more generic platform covering all print disciplines, there are also other considerations, such as logistics for visitors and the sheer enormity of the venue making it quite difficult to circumnavigate easily.

But FESPA as an exhibition has a unique positioning in the world of print, having sensibly addressed new technologies as an adjunct to screen-printing and set up more regular digital events. And, in common with its main shows, FESPA Digital has a peripatetic nature, moving around Europe to give different countries the opportunity to act as host.

As digital print has evolved, so FESPA has taken up the challenge of making sure different areas are addressed which are relevant now and potentially more so in the future. We have already seen the textile and garment sector being catered for thoroughly at these events; with the increase of ink-jet and related technologies in narrower-format production segments, it is not surprising that this arena is also growing in importance and requiring a platform at a dedicated digital show.

This diversification has, of course, been met by manufacturers bringing to the screen, display and label sectors desktop printing technologies whose roots lie in their wider counterparts. Compact units from Roland, with its VersaStudio BN-20 and VersaUV LEF-12, have joined the existing and established Mimaki UJF-3042 and with them comes a whole new type of end user as they appeal to anyone who wants a cost-effective route into full-colour production.

Desktop-sized ink-jet technology is not new, of course, as photo printers and proofers have been in evidence for many years. But the move into eco-solvent and UV-curable compact printers is a sensible one, and unlikely to stop with the manufacturers that have dipped their toes into the water thus far.

Narrower-format ink-jet broadens the scope of production into a host of new areas including industrial and commercial applications. The continued growth of UV-curable ink in smaller devices is certain to be simplified with LED curing which, although more costly than traditional lamps, makes it possible for more compact machines to be developed. Combined with new generation print-heads, there is every chance that we'll see more machines using this formulation making their way into many sectors of production, including those currently employing toner.

While we can expect to see many of those exhibitors who've become increasingly familiar as the years have passed, there will be newcomers at FESPA Digital, too. It is generally accepted that, in the wide-format space, the established developers and manufacturers are streets ahead of those who decide to introduce a new concept. It can be argued that there are plenty of perfectly good machines, with their successors under continued development, so that there really isn't any need for more to be launched onto a market which many consider already to be overburdened.

The canny developers are those who find complementary segments which haven't been addressed thoroughly and many of these are following through the early promise shown in specific sectors, such as labels, ceramics and textiles. These are the people who find FESPA Digital particularly important and relevant as there are no holds barred on technologies, widths, ink formulations or materials.

Those who are doubting the validity of visiting Barcelona and wondering whether drupa won't be a better option need to consider what exactly FESPA Digital is all about. It's important to remember that, at this event, it is easy to view established and emerging technologies side by side in a concentrated environment.

The exhibitor list is long and comprehensive, and there are certain to be important announcements which are unique to the digital community. Certainly drupa has an important role to play in print, but FESPA Digital's concentration on its specific market sectors mean it's a vital date for anyone involved in digital production.

Part two of Sophie Matthews-Paul's FESPA Digital preview is available here.