The FESPA 2015 Global Expo recently held in Cologne, Germany welcomed a significant increase in Asian visitors, including nearly 300 from China. Among the 23137 visitors, there was a 59% increase in representatives from Asia compared with FESPA 2010, making up five percent of the total visitor base. This shows the FESPA brand strengthening its presence in the region.

According to the organizers, the FESPA Awards 2015 were also a very popular contest for Asian printers which accounted for nearly 50% of the shortlisted entries across all categories, with particular emphasis on posters, fine art reproductions, special effect screen, and t-shirts and other garments, the skill set from Asia was certainly showcased to its best advantage.

Asian printers won three of the seventeen categories. The Posters (Single Sheets & Multi-Sheets) and Fine Art categories were both won by Kumazawa Screen Printing, Inc., Japan. Sincerely Screen Co., Ltd. from Thailand was awarded Gold in the T-shirt category.

The popular Hall of Fame Award dedicated to an outstanding individual in the printing world and voted for online by the FESPA community, was awarded to Mark Gervais from Ningbo Shenzhou Knitting Co., Ltd in China. This proves how exceptional developments in Asia are recognised across the globe.

Roz McGuinness, Divisional Director of FESPA said that the impact their FESPA China brand is having on awareness of FESPA in Asia is very positive. They are delighted that visitor numbers from Asia to their Global Expo have grown significantly since FESPA 2010, and the increase in numbers from China in particular is very encouraging. The main FESPA exhibition not only allows visitors from the region to see new technologies first hand, but also to attend demonstrations and seminars from industry leaders which provide insight into where the future may lie.

When FESPA China was first launched in 2013 their goal was to increase the number of international visitors to the existing event, while also providing more focus on digital technology. The fact that more Asian visitors are attending their flagship European event shows a greater interest in digital printing in the region, as people travel across continents to see the latest digital technology and to meet the principal manufacturers. With more and more international brands exhibiting at FESPA China, local printers can also benefit from the same exposure to leading global suppliers at the regional event in October 2015.