PrintPack India 2013 rolls out the red carpet

Since the last PrintPack India a couple of years back the Indian print industry has changed by leaps and bounds. PrintPack India 2013 has not remained immune to the shifts in the industry and the new and (hopefully) improved PrintPack promises to be a interesting show, with the who’s who of the Indian print industry and some global movers and shakers expected to make their presence felt at the six-day long at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida, NCR Delhi between 23-28 February 2013.

 The eleventh edition of the PrintPack India is perhaps one of the biggest in Asia, and the fourth largest in the world, according to Indian Printing and allied manufacturers Association (IPAMA), the organisers of the event. PrintPack India’s previous edition in 2011 attracted over 400 exhibitors from India and 16 overseas countries. These included Canada, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and USA. During the six day event, there were 40,000 business visitors and several foreign delegates.

Spread across more than 15,000 sq/m with more than 350 confirmed exhibitors till the time we went to print and a few more expected to join in before the show kickstarts on 23 February PrintPack India 2013 looks set to replicate 2011’s encouraging numbers if not surpass it.

For the first time since its inception PrintPack India moves out of New Delhi and the iconic Pragati Maidan. Many have feared that this shift of venue can backfire as the new venue has raised worries about accessibility and standard of facilities available at India Expo Centre and Mart, Talking to PrintWeek India about this shift C P Paul, general secretary of Indian Printing Packaging & Allied Machinery Manufacturer’s Association (IPAMA) defended the shift and said, “Facilities in Greater Noida are world-class and far better when compared to Pragati Maidan, which is almost an historical structure now.” He also brushed aside claims that the new venue’s location will deter visitors from attending the exposition, he added, “In our opinion, when you upload the face of PrintPack India, distance will not be a deterring factor for a serious visitor.” He further addressed the connectivity problem by highlighting the excellent connectivity and accommodation facilities at the new venue. “The India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida is spread over 58 acres and is India’s first fully integrated state of the art exhibition cum convention facility. Adjacent to the Centre, about 1,500 rooms are available, ranging from five star quality to budget category. Road connectivity to NCR Delhi is through eight lane expressway.”

Another new idea which had been added to the show, but subsequently scrapped was charging visitors an entry fee which was inclusive of a metro card and a free shuttle service from the metro station to the venue. There were two kind of passes available one-day pass which would have cost Rs 200 and a three-day pass was priced at Rs 500. The organiser believed that such an entry fee will act as a filter and help bring in genuine visitors.  

The exposition will be accompanied by a comprehensive two-day NPES Print Business Outlook Conference 2013 which is intended to act as a forum for participants to learn first-hand about the opportunities and challenges in the global print market and to provide an opportunity to forge partnerships and alliances.

It will be held in association with PrintPack India 2013 and is co-sponsored by NPES and the Indian Printing Packaging & Allied Machinery Manufacturing Associations (IPAMA). It is also supported by the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS), the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), and the All Indian Master Printers Association (AIFMP).  It will be held on 24–25 February, 2013 at the same venue. The theme for this year’s conference is “Mission Possible: How to Profit from New Technology”