With a shift in economics and New Delhi getting ready to grab the spot for advertising capital of India, Media Expo New Delhi 2018 offered a glimpse to the impeding change. This year, the event, which was held from 7 to 9 September, witnessed a 21% surge in visitor attendance attracted by the vibrant product displays of 194 exhibitors, marking 10% growth in international exhibitors and 17% growth in overall exhibition space. 

According to Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India, the organiser of the show, the show this year broke all previous attendance records with a footfall of 15,338 trade visitors, which is a 21% increase over 2017. 

Attracting marketers, print buyers, graphic specialists, distributors and retailers from seven countries and across the nation from 42 states and 371 cities, the 2018 edition tracked notable increase from key regional markets such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur, Patna, Raipur, Varanasi, among others. The record-breaking attendance was further fuelled by exhibitor reports of business closures and leads for orders. 

On a positive note
Like every year, Media Expo explored innovations in Indian advertising, printing and signage technologies, besides focusing on the industry’s attempt to go green, with exhibitors displaying eco-friendly products, new concepts and product launches.

Raj Manek, managing director, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India, says, “Media Expo is the leading exhibition to source optimum quality solutions to enrich campaign experiences for the print, advertising and outdoor media. Business being the prime focus of this platform, we are assured that this show will increase its geographical reach and will explore new potential markets.”  

The show had a good mix of national as well as international technologies from countries like India, China, France and Korea. The show floor was packed with advanced solutions from key companies like Colorjet, Apsom Infotex, Esko, HP, Caldron Graphics, Mehta Cad Cam, Rextone, Monotech, Fujifilm, Mimaki, Epson India, Technova Imaging, SRF, Keith Electronics, Jindal Specialty, SY Century and Encres Dubit, to name a few.

Betting on growth
The 43rd edition of the show witnessed a major surge in participation of new companies, with 25 new companies from Mumbai and other cities like Jaipur, Ludhiana and Lucknow showcasing solutions to enhance the overall quality of brand campaigns. 

Some of these companies include Hacer Enterprises; Aaradhana; Technology Systems; Laser Lab India; Unidos InstaPrint; Sarthak Advertising; Siddharth Enterprises; L&Q India; Aar Kay Universal; Koncept Imaging; I-Print; Tarang Electricals; Lions Industries; Print Delta; Colors Digital India; Xenons Digital; Sun Digital Technology, to name a few.

With advertising expenditure in India expecting to grow at 10.5% to touch Rs 62,400 crore in 2018, Delhi is emerging as one of the latest hubs for the advertising world. With some of the biggest advertising spenders situated here, Delhi has risen to as one of the largest markets in India that spends on advertising, making this another high point for the exhibitors.

Bringing in a fresh wave of brands and companies to choose from, visitors from sectors like designers and consultants, brand marketers, advertising agencies, media agencies, and retailers got the opportunity to meet businessmen with new ideas, advanced solutions, and better price competency. 

Brand visibility
There was something for everybody. Santosh Nair, country manager, HP, says, “Visitors come with a purpose, and that’s more important for us rather than the crowd. We have generated a lot of inquiries.”

Bhavesh Patel, country manager, graphics, Print Delta, adds, “Through our brand AT Inks, we provide 360 degrees solutions in printing, inks, media solutions. We got a list of hot prospects during the show and are identifying potential partners.”

With international exhibitor numbers going up by 10%, the event saw many foreign brands looking for visibility. First-time participant from France, Caroline Bonnafoux, marketing manager, Encres Dubit, says, “We are exhibiting for the very first time and it has been very exciting meeting printers, distributors from across India. We are already known for screen printing and the objective was to be more visible in digital printing sectors. We hope we will close deals soon. We are a known brand in Europe and many of our competitors are present here at Media Expo, so our participation will really give us more visibility and credibility.”

A vibrant display of digital prints, 3D prints, signages, POP’s and outdoor advertising products from 194 companies ensured that visitors did not leave without new ideas and business opportunities. 

Mohit Jhunjhunwala, proprietor, Simphix, who visited from Kolkata, says, “Media Expo is a fantastic platform. We are into content development, 3D, holography, and there are so many new things here to witness. The organisers and exhibitors have done a great job. I have closed a couple of deals already and hoping to seal a lot more.”

Representing the community of Asia’s biggest association for the paper industry, Anil Gupta, vice-president, Federation of Paper Traders Association and Paper Merchant’s Association (New Delhi), says, “The paper industry has a major involvement with print media and our strong community of members fulfil this requirement for the industry. So it was worthwhile to see the new innovations at Media Expo that recharge us for the next phase of growth and show us what’s next for the niche sectors such as boards, mobile or even flexes considering the speed at which technology is progressing.”

Product launches
Like every year, Media Expo New Delhi 2o18 was also an occasion for companies to introduce new products. 

Keeping up with the tradition, Fujifilm launched Acuity LED 1600R, an entry-level roll-to-roll model UV printer, keeping in mind the company’s strategy to target the mass segment.

Roland launched Roland TrueVIS VG640, a 64-inch printer with print and cut technology. According to the company, with three years of outdoor life, it delivers brilliantly vivid, sharp graphics.

Meanwhile, DCC Group introduced a range of dry sublimation printers for high fashion, fast fashion and performance apparel printing featuring a robust print mechanism, high-performance printhead technology and advanced ink technology.

Colorjet inks record number of deals
Colorjet India had the best showing ever during Media Expo 2018 New Delhi, led by its Verve Hybrid UV flatbed/ roll-to-roll printer, which was launched during the show, after a successful launch in Australia. Other Colorjet products during the show included digital printers like the Vulcan, Polo HQ, Verve Mini, Softjet Grand and Irisjet Pro.
The Verve Hybrid is capable of being a flatbed printer as well as a roll-to-roll printer. It is capable of printing 3200x2000mm in flatbed size and 3200mm in roll form. This machine is equipped with V8 processor.

Smarth Bansal of Colorjet

The Verve Hybrid is equipped with unique UV LED Lamps, has a precisely calibrated wavelength, delivers emboss effect and long lasting quality. In case of breakdown, the carriage in the Verve Hybrid starts from the same place, as against the carriage moving back to its original position in case of conventional printers. This results in savings in inks, production time and wastage of media.

“It is the perfect printing solution for complex and technical or industrial printing applications, where accurate and repeatable print geometry is critical,” Smarth Bansal, DGM (product management) at Colorjet India, says.

“The Colorjet team is very happy with the overwhelming response received during the exhibition, especially for our UV printers. In fact, we have recorded the highest number of UV printer sales, particularly of Verve Hybrid during the show. This kind of response gives us an immense confidence to go more beyond expectations,” he adds.

HP highlights its Latex 315, 335 and 570 printers
HP demonstrated the indoor and outdoor signage printing capabilities of its Latex printer portfolio at the Media Expo 2018 New Delhi, held from 7 to 9 September. The demonstration, which was conducted at Creative Experience Zones set up by HP, showed the potential application of these printers in strengthening a brand’s appeal and identity.

Vitesh Sharma of HP 

Visitors at HP’s booth witnessed live demos of various Latex applications printed on the devices on display in the five experience zones.

These printers displayed at the expo were equipped to provide traditional signage jobs and explore new revenue streams with an extesive range of application offerings. To fit the needs of businesses and brands alike, HP’s portfolio of Latex printers has a range of applications that are used for outdoor and event banners, point of purchase posters, vehicle graphics, backlit, textiles (Latex 315 and 570) along with labels and stickers, floor graphics, wall decals, window graphics (Latex 335).

“Printing can play a pivotal role in helping brands drive impactful experiences with their customers. HP Latex printers provide improved workflows that can enable our customers to differentiate themselves in terms of print quality and serve their clients in a more cost-effective manner,” Vitesh Sharma, head of sign and graphics, HP, says.
HP Latex 570 printer, on the other hand, has been especially designed to help customers accomplish top quality and high-volume print jobs in a cost-effective manner while experiencing quick and easy loading in one minute with the spindle-less pivot table.

Esko shows how to cut waste  
At the show, Esko offered ways to reduce waste and improve efficiency with solutions focused on streamlining end-to-end sign production workflow. According to Esko, production is enhanced and operational efficiency is increased with software that delivers faster approval cycles, eliminates file errors, reduces idle time, improves workflow control and simplifies complex manual steps of digital finishing equipment.

Arnab Maiti, sales director South Asia, says, “Sign-makers these days are looking for ways to optimise their businesses. They need to keep up with the demands of their customers for shorter runs, faster turnaround and more choice.”

During the show, Esko highlighted its digital finishing solutions for the sign market. In addition to its cuttings tables, the company also demonstrated its entire workflow solution.

Among them was the Automation Engine QuickStart for Sign. Maiti says the turnkey solution boosts a company’s production capacity by automating the complete process from order, design and finish through to shipping. Preloaded, proven workflows for sign and large format production make it very easy for repetitive tasks to be quickly executed. 
Also on the show was the Kongsberg X24 digital cutting table. “The 50m/min system stands for value, durability, reliability, precision and ease of use at an attractive investment level. It features a lightweight carbon composite traverse to consistently provide the fastest throughput,” Maiti says. 

Monotech highlights its Pixeljet range 
Monotech Systems highlighted its Pixeljet range of wide-format printers during the show. These included Pixeljet 2512RMO UV hybrid printer; Pixeljet UV mini entry–level UV flatbed printer; Pixeljet Powerpro 3.2M UV LED roll-to-roll printer; Pixeljet 1800TS eco-solvent printer and Pixeljet KM512i digital inkjet solvent printer. 

The company also had a UV print gallery at the stall to highlight the UV printing capabilities of its machine. 

(l-r) Manoj Garg and Akash Kumar of Monotech

According to Akash Kumar, senior manager, marketing and communications, Monotech Systems, the response from the expo was brilliant. “We got an opportunity to interact with visitors from different parts of the country and also found many potential customers,” he says.

Kumar says this year, the company’s participation was themed on green printing and innovative products. “We have an array of products which are already popular and proven in the market as our customers have shown their trust. We leveraged our brand Pixeljet through this show,” he says, adding, “Looking at the increased sensitivity about eco-friendly practices in the market with various regulatory compliances anticipated in the future, the demand for eco-friendly printing solutions has increased manifold. Our focus is to offer solutions with eco-friendly UV inks. Also, printing on various recyclable media instead PVC helps in reducing environmental hazards.”
Daya debuts at Media Expo

New-Delhi based Daya (Sheth Printograph) was at Media Expo for the first time. “We noticed that the demand for cold laminator in large-format, especially for outdoor advertising is on rise,” says Sonal Sheth. “There was a special requirement to laminate liner-based film with vinyl prints and sun boards in both sheet-to-sheet and reel-to-reel format.”

Sheth says Daya designed machine accordingly, which is cost-effective yet high on quality and additional features. “We received a good response and generated large enquiries and also concluded few deals during the show,” Sheth adds.

Apsom showcases Lithuanian digital printer 
Recently, Apsom Infotex inked an exclusive distribution agreement with Dimense 3D wallpaper digital printer from Lithuania for the Indian market. The product, manufactured by Veika, was presented during the show. 

Veika, a manufacturer of materials for wallpaper production has developed a completely new printing technique called ‘Dimense,’ a process which gives digital printing a ‘dimension’. The technique makes it possible to effect embossing simultaneously with digital printing. As a result, the structure and motif can be perfectly adapted to each other - in any required size. This opens up doors for new possibilities for the wallpaper industry. For example, with this, a tree bark wallpaper not only looks real, but also feels real.

Until now, the embossing had limited the production of wallpaper. To achieve the 3D effect, a printing cylinder had to be produced for exactly this embossing pattern. 
“We were dissatisfied with the fact that only identical imprints were possible, and we wanted to produce wallpapers where the imprint fits the motifs,” says Dr Aleksey Etin of Veika. “The solution we found is Dimense, because it just prints the imprint.” 

The result is one in which the environmental-friendly inks and raw material are used, also invented by Veika and sold under the brand name Ecodeco. 

The base material for sustainable wallpapers as an alternative to PVC is made of  an environmental-friendly polymer composite.

The Dimensor printer allows continuous printing and embossing simultaneously. The Dimensor Model S comes with piezoelectric inkjet, two offset printheads; 1440 nozzles (eight rows by 180 nozzles) per printhead; printing speed max 20 sqm/ hour; resolution from 0.2 to 0.5 mm; the inks are water-based, CMYK plus effect. n