Q&A: MICHAEL RYAN, HEAD OF FESPA GLOBAL PRINT EXPO Embracing Speciality Print at FESPA 2025 With this year’s FESPA Global Print Expo returning to Berlin as well as its usual May timeslot, we speak to Michael Ryan, head of FESPA Global Print Expo, about the thoughts behind this year’s event Can you tell us about FESPA Global Print Expo and its objectives in the print and signage industries? FESPA Global Print Expo is dedicated to providing a pivotal platform for members of the print and signage communities to connect and explore the latest innovations, technologies, and trends within the industries. Our objective is to continue to provide this platform, acting as the ultimate meeting point for printers and sign-makers to congregate. The event has seen some of the most pivotal launches across the entire speciality print industry, welcomed leading brands and suppliers from across the globe, and invited visitors to connect with other likeminded business professionals. Under the strapline ‘where visionaries meet’, the 2025 events place emphasis on our incredible FESPA community, positioning our visitors, exhibitors, FESPA Award winners, association members, and more, as forward-thinking professionals, ready to exchange and share their knowledge and experiences from working in the industry. Why did FESPA decide to return to Berlin for this year’s show? After three years since FESPA was last hosted in the German capital city, Messe Berlin, which has more than 200 years of experience as a trade show venue, is all set to host our 2025 events in May. Returning visitors are familiar with the city and Berlin itself is well-known for its history, as well as its trusted connections and established speciality print market. As our community consists of different organisations across the globe, it’s crucial for us to accommodate all of them to the best of our ability. By altering the location of our events each year, we are able to develop new and existing relationships and uncover the trends in each regional market. What differences can visitors expect in 2025, especially considering the event calendar is less full than last year? In an ever-evolving industry like print, no year is ever the same; different trends emerge, technologies advance, and new players enter the market. Visitors to the 2025 events can discover these and more throughout the exhibitions halls this year. Our comprehensive feature programme is what sets us apart from other exhibitions. This year, I am delighted to welcome back both World Wrap Masters and the FESPA Awards, plus introduce the new SmartHub feature. The SmartHub will comprise of an exhibition space, as well as a series of expert-led conference sessions, delving beneath the surface of trends, including sustainability, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and more for garment decoration, apparel production, and interior décor. Visitors to the feature can also attend a series of production tours. World Wrap Masters is also back for 2025. For the first two days of the event, regional competitors will battle it out, wrapping both vehicles and surprise objects. On the final two days of the event the winners will then progress, competing to be crowned World Wrap Masters 2025 champion. Alongside this, visitors to the feature can also attend a series of live training workshops and demonstrations. The FESPA Awards 2025 are also returning to this year’s event. Delegates can celebrate excellence and innovation across print and signage, exploring this year’s shortlisted entries across 18 different categories including print, signage, vehicle wrapping, packaging, special effects, garment and textiles, and more. The winners will then be announced at the official awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 7th. By altering the location of our events each year, we are able to develop new and existing relationships and uncover the trends in each regional market 39 www.printmonthly.co.uk May / June 2025 - Issue 354
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==