FESPA Africa Attracts Major Industry Players

FESPA Africa 2014 is set to be the largest exhibition in the region to date after securing commitment from major industry players. A large number of global companies including Canon, Agfa, Mimaki, Fujifilm and Epson have confirmed their most significant presence to date. Increased exhibitor interest means that FESPA Africa and Africa Print event is 50% larger than the 2013 edition*.

Other leading brands who will showcase their latest products include platinum sponsors Roland and Avery Dennison, as well as manufacturers HP, Kornit Digital, DTG Digital, Durst, Antalis, MS Italy, Sharp, OKI, Evonik, swissQprint, and Vista System International.

25% of exhibitors this year have increased their stand from 2013*, and 28% of exhibitors are new to the combined FESPA Africa and Africa Print event. With the broadest range of manufacturers and distributors in the region to date, the event promises to provide visitors with a comprehensive showcase of technology, including a strong line-up of screen printing manufacturers, with global players like MHM, M&R, Extris and Fimor all present.

The event, taking place from 2-4 July at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, is set to attract visitors from across Southern Africa. With invite support from FESPA, last year's edition of Africa Print gained an increase in international attendees coming from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Bob Glenister, CEO Telpro Management, Roland distributor for Southern Africa comments: “FESPA's partnership with Africa Print has showed a vote of confidence in the African visual communication industry. We see FESPA Africa 2014 as the platform to present the South African industry example to the rest of Africa and the world. Showing the possibilities of the region's printers, it is also an excellent opportunity to network and build relationships with new and existing customers.”

“This is the first time Canon South Africa is exhibiting at the event, in the past our solutions were exhibited through our partner channel. We have a large presence at FESPA Africa in order to launch Canon South Africa as a premier supplier of print solutions to the market. FESPA is a massive brand, especially in the wide format market and we believe the event will not only attract local visitors, but also those from Sub-Saharan Africa,' states Jimmy de Waal, Production Print Product Manager: Business Imaging Group, Canon South Africa.

For more information about FESPA Africa and to register for free entry, printers should visit www.fespaafrica.com.
* Comparisons are made to Sign Africa, Visual Communications Africa and Africa Print 2013 organised by Practical Publishing, FESPA Africa's partner. In 2014 Sign Africa and Visual Communications Africa are incorporated into FESPA Africa, which is located with Africa Print.

About Practical Publishing
Practical Publishing is a specialist exhibition organiser and publishing house, founded in 2002 by Charnia Yapp and Dyelan Copeland to serve the interests of the sign, print, display and digital graphic industries. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the company organises FESPA Africa and Africa Print. Its flagship exhibitions are supported by: a series of Sign Africa & Africa Print regional expos held in key regional business centres such as Nelspruit, Cape Town, Polokwane and Durban; three online publications (www.SignAfrica.com, www.AfricaPrint.com and www.ViscomAfrica.com); online digital newsletters; and two printed magazines (Practical Sign & Digital Graphics and Africa Print Journal). www.practicalpublishing.co.za

About FESPA
Founded in 1962, FESPA is a global federation of 37 member associations for the screen printing, digital printing and textile printing community. FESPA's dual aim is to promote screen printing and digital imaging and to share knowledge about screen and digital printing with its members across the world, helping them to grow their businesses and learn about the latest developments in their fast growing industries.

FESPA Profit for Purpose
Our shareholders are the industry. FESPA has invested millions of Euros into the global printing community over the last seven years, supporting the growth of the market. For more information visit www.fespa.com

Forthcoming FESPA events include:
FESPA Africa 2014, 2-4 July 2014, Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.
FESPA Mexico 2014, 21-23 August 2014, Centro Banamex, Mexico City.
FESPA Digital Textile Conference, 2 October 2014, Milan, Italy.
FESPA China 2014, 19-21 November 2014, Guangzhou, China.
FESPA Eurasia 2014, 4-7 December 2014, CNR Expo, Istanbul, Turkey.
FESPA Brasil 2015, 18-21 March 2015, Expo Center Norte, São Paulo, Brazil.
FESPA 2015, 18-22 May 2015, Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany.