There's been a flurry of trade shows this year as the post-Covid world plays catch-up. One that is looking impressive on the floorplan is Printing United from September 10th-12th. Yes, that's the same dates as Labelexpo Americas in Chicago; but it's down to a booking mix-up by the centre, so it's nobody's fault.
The Printing United Hall plan looks very busy with all the major digital suppliers there, but little perceivable offset exhibitors, (apart from manroland sheetfed, muller martini and plate/chemistry suppliers.) Print finishing is also well represented with the likes of Horizon, Duplo and MBO exhibiting, as is platemaking with Screen and Fujifilm there. A telling indication is the participation of Landa Digital Printing on booth C2995. Sales of Landa Nanographic presses have really taken off in the USA, with some printers installing a second and even third S10 or S11 press.
Cut-sheet digital is well represented with perhaps glimpses of the new generation of B2 inkjet digital devices from Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Canon and Fujifilm. SRA3 has a firm presence including these exhibitors plus Kyocera, Riso and Screen. Finishing both inline and offline is also amply represented.
In the Southern hall there is a large area dedicated to printing on textiles, with many leading fabric and garment suppliers there. Reflecting the merger of Printing United with the SGIA, wide format display and signage is well represented.
Earlier this year, Printing United formed an alliance with the Advertising Specialty Institute, which focuses mainly on promotional products, so this sector looks well represented at the Las Vegas show, including Mutoh, Mimaki and Roland DG with their LED-UV 'print on anything' object and promo devices.
Certainly there is an air of change, identity and convergence in print shows these days, with offset press makers struggling to justify high investments in bringing heavy equipment to trade shows. Even some of the suppliers of larger digital equipment are faced with the same dilemma, preferring to bring prospective customers into their demonstration centres. Even at drupa, companies such as Heidelberg and Kornit were bussing people out to their nearby showrooms.
However, if digital applications are your main interest, Printing United is packed with opportunity and new ideas that can lead commercial printers into new areas of profit - and established Sign, Display and Textile printers into greater efficiencies.
Plus, it's in Las Vegas! Viva that!
