Fespa Global Print Expo opens

At the show’s opening ceremony, Daniel Sunderland, vice-president of Canagraf (La Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Artes Gráficas, Fespa’s local association in Mexico, was sworn into office as Fespa’s 19th president. Sunderland has more than 30 years of experience working in the speciality print industry and also holds a seat on behalf of Fespa on the Board of Conlatingraf, a coalition of 14 Associations in Latin America. He succeeds Christophe Aussenac, founding director of ATC (Autorise Toute Creativité), who held the position since 2021.

Daniel Sunderland, president, Fespa, said: “It’s a great pleasure to take on the role of Fespa President. As a printer myself, I see the important role that Fespa plays and the support it provides to the speciality print industry. I’m looking forward to helping drive that forward. Looking ahead to my term in office, I will build on the work that Christophe and previous Fespa Presidents have done, so as an organisation, we remain dedicated to our community and help our members and the wider speciality print community to navigate the evolving print landscape.”

Over the next four days (6-9 May) thousands of print service providers (PSPs) and sign makers from across the world will attend the exhibitions to see the latest technologies and trends in speciality print, as well as hear and learn from experts in the industry.

Occupying eight halls of Messe Berlin, visitors will have access to over 580 global exhibitors with over 100 product launches expected, providing plenty for visitors to explore.

Visitors to European Sign Expo will be able to meet with over 112 exhibitors in the sign and visual communications space, who are showcasing both digital and traditional signage solutions. New to European Sign Expo this year is the ESE Pavillion, which resembles a lively shopping High Street, displaying innovative and emerging members of the sign industry.

In addition, visitors interested in maximising the benefits of personalised print solutions will be able to find cutting-edge technologies, as well as learn about the latest trends and strategies at Personalisation Experience.

In addition, Girls Who Print Global is organising a Lunch and Lead event to bring together industry professionals, discuss current challenges and hear from female leaders in the sector. 

The new SmartHub Conference, located within Personalisation Experience, is a three-day (6-8 May), free-to-attend programme delivered in English, highlighting the importance of personalisation in the marketing mix. The sessions are presented by experts sharing their experiences of personalisation and smart production, as well as exploring the impact of new technologies, such as AI.

Visitors can also take advantage of the new Smart Factory Trail, a comprehensive guide showcasing the latest personalisation and intelligent manufacturing technologies, software and on-demand printing solutions, from a variety of brands and experts across the three co-located events.

Crowd favourite World Wrap Masters is home to the European and final rounds of the World Wrap Masters competition. Taking place all week, visitors can also attend live technical demonstrations, presented by the Wrap Institute, to support graphic installers’ development and provide top tips for wrapping.

The winners of the 2025 Fespa Awards will also be announced this week and visitors to the show can see the shortlisted entries across 18 application led categories, up-close, on display in the South Entrance of the Messe Berlin.

Meanwhile, Fespa has announced the relaunch of its Print Census, involving a new and more frequent approach to gathering and sharing vital industry intelligence with its members. 

Returning in 2025, the revamped Print Census – which is being run in partnership with FESPA’s Thought Leadership Partner, Keypoint Intelligence – is designed to reflect better the changing nature of the speciality print and signage landscapes. Surveys will be conducted at an increased frequency of two every 12 months and each one will focus on three topics. Subsequently, after each survey, three reports (one for each of the focus areas) will be released.

Fespa also announced that its flagship annual Fespa Global Print Expo and co-located events (European Sign Expo and Personalisation Experience), will take place at the Fira de Barcelona, Spain, from 19 to 22 May next year. The 2026 show will also welcome back Sportswear Pro for its second edition.