The Print Show celebrated its 10th anniversary at the NEC, with an expanded show – and increased footfall – with a range of big-name manufacturers choosing the event to launch new devices or give them their UK debut.
People from across the print sector came together at the NEC from September 29 to October 1 to celebrate the best in print and signmaking at the 10th Print Show.
The Print Show has grown consistently over its decade and is becoming a destination event for the sector, especially those working in the wide and large format part of the market.
Delegates at The Print Show, which again ran alongside The Sign Show, said that it felt busier than last year’s event, and this was borne out in the official figures, with the total attendance being 5,567, according to the organisers.
The overall attendance figure represented a 4% increase on last year’s total of 5,336. However, organisers highlighted that the 2025 show included around 350 visitors from the PPMA Show, driven by a partnership between the two events. After excluding ‘crossover’ visitors, attendance was 12% higher year-on-year.
“We are delighted with the response to both The Print Show and The Sign Show this year,” said Chris Davies, event director of the two events. “More people were in the hall across the three days and that is a reflection on the quality of the events we put on. It was the best line-up of exhibitors we’ve ever had, with some of the biggest names in print in attendance.”
HP, Epson, Roland DG, Agfa, Hybrid Services (Mimaki), swissQprint, Konica Minolta, Vivid Laminating Technologies, CMYUK, Plockmatic Group, Fujifilm and Soyang Group were just some of the companies exhibiting this year across the two events.
At the event, there were plenty of live demonstrations, with many companies showing the best of what their printers can do, whether it was large format printing, textured printing or printing stickers or designs onto a myriad of media.
Launches
Some of the big names at The Print Show took the opportunity to launch new products or give new models their public debut.
For instance, Mimaki showcased three new UV flatbed printers: the large-format JFX220-2515, and the small-format UJF200 Series (UJF200-3042 and UJF200-6042). These models have been developed to make advanced UV printing easier to operate and more accessible to print service providers, the new products combine simplified workflows and increased automation to support more efficient, productive print operations.
Elsewhere, Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd showcased the capabilities of its AccurioPress C14010S series production press through a collaboration with artist Greg Horn, whose works have appeared on the cover of Marvel, DC and Star Wars comic books.
Visitors had the opportunity to claim one of 300 limited-edition artworks made for The Print Show. Each piece was printed on the AccurioPress C14010S series installed at Konica Minolta’s Client Engagement Centre
Meanwhile, CMYUK took the largest stand in the show’s history, allowing it to showcase a range of leading kit, including the EFI VUTEk M3h 3.2m wide UV LED hybrid printer.
Epson also had a large presence at the show, and debuted three new solutions, which aim to help businesses break into new markets. On the stand was the SureColor V4000, a compact A1+ UV flatbed printer designed for precise promotional and industrial printing, as well as the SureColor G9000, which is aimed at the growing direct-to-film sector or high-volume commercial garment decoration and textile transfers.
Fujifilm also showcased its range of Revoria production presses – including the new Revoria PC2120 and Fujifilm’s ‘This Changes Everything’ campaign – as well as the ApeosPro C810 press; Revoria PressReady workflow software; and the Acuity Triton wide format printer, featuring Fujifilm’s water-based, UV-curable AQUAFUZE ink technology.
Visitors saw how Fujifilm’s print and workflow technologies can help printers ‘Make More’, from taking on more applications and adding value through speciality colours, to improving efficiency through automation. Fujifilm’s SUPER COLOUR capabilities extend print beyond standard CMYK, with additional colours and effects for more distinctive applications.
Knowledge transfer
The Print Show again had an engaging series of speaker sessions, with experts from across the sector imparting their knowledge on a range of issues that were relevant to delegates.
For instance, Ben Large, head of cyber and CISO at Cybit talked about how to precent cyber attacks and avoid supply chain shocks – something that is becoming increasingly relevant with the advances in AI.
AI was a recurring theme in the sessions, with Simon Cooper, CEO of Solopress, focusing on it in his talk about how print can still thrive in an AI-disrupted world.
Elsewhere, Steve Lister, founder of stevelister.com, told delegates how they could win business with sustainability – something that is cropping up in ever more customer conversations.
Sign of the Times
For a second year, The Print Show ran in tandem with The Sign Show. Again, a range of manufacturers and businesses exhibited, showing off the latest in sign technology – and, of course, showcased some of the technology that printed them.
Ready for 2027
As mentioned, the Print Show was busier than last year, and this was also indicative of a sense of optimism among delegates and exhibitors, be they large or small. While it was acknowledged that there are challenges in the industry – rising prices being just one – there are also plenty of opportunities for growth out there, especially in wide format and specialist printing. This area of print is thriving, especially with many businesses now looking for bespoke or small runs of items, whether for marketing or merchandising, which the print technology can now deliver.
While the success of this year’s event is still fresh, the organisers of The Print Show have already begun planning for next year’s event. “We’ve had some excellent feedback from exhibitors, some of which have already begun the process of booking their stands for 2027, and we’ll be making announcements on that in due course,” says Chris.
“We’re taking some time to recover and regroup before the planning really starts for 2027. That said, we have already had conversations with several leading companies, which have not exhibited before, about being at the show next year. On this point, it’s crucial that we continue to evolve the two shows year-on-year with new exhibitors, fresh technologies and exciting features. Watch this space!”
The Print Show 2027 will again be held at the NEC, from September 21-23.
The article first appeared in Print in the Channel magazine issue #41
