Messe Frankfurt India and Showcase Trade Fairs & Business Media collaborate for PrintExpo

PrintExpo, one of South India’s popular and biggest trade shows focusing on the printing, packaging, signage and advertising segment, will now be organised by Messe Frankfurt India in collaboration with Showcase Trade Fairs and Business Media.

26 May 2023 | By Rahul Kumar

(l-r) Raj Manek of Messe Frankfurt and Ashok Neelkant of Showcase Trade Fairs And Business Media

With over 25 years of experience in the Indian market, Messe Frankfurt will further strengthen the position of PrintExpo by leveraging its intelligence, worldwide network, trusted brand name, operational excellence and streamlined processes developed domestically and internationally over the years. 

The upcoming 13th edition in August 2023 will mark the first PrintExpo with the involvement of Messe Frankfurt India. 

Taking place in Chennai, the show is projected to evolve as a robust platform displaying cutting-edge technological innovations in machinery, processes and products, to meet the burgeoning demands arising from eCommerce and economic developments. Printing and packaging solutions are the indispensable needs of every industry, except for those whose products and services are consumed digitally like the entertainment industry. Product manufacturers and brands are consistently hunting for cost-effective, creative, qualitative and sustainable solutions in the areas of printing, packaging, designing, advertising and related domains.

Industries like agriculture, consumer durables, beauty, fashion, food retail, FMCG products, components, spare parts, eCommerce, real estate, building materials, furniture, hospitality, healthcare, automobiles and many others rely on printing and packaging solutions. 

Based on recent reports, the industry is witnessing demand and shows signs of gradual progression. According to GlobalData, the Indian packaging market size in 2021 was USD 373.6-billion and is growing at a CAGR of 6% while the global packaging market is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2022 to 2031, reaching USD 1.5-trillion. 

Looking at the commercial printing side, according to IMARC Group’s recent report, India is one of the largest markets in the Asia Pacific region. Its market size was at USD 33.2-billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 41.6-billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% during 2023-2028. The push comes from fast-paced economic growth and eCommerce developments. 

Raj Manek, executive director and board member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings, said: “We are pleased and prepared to expand our Indian portfolio by entering into this strategic alliance with Showcase Trade Fairs and Business Media for organising PrintExpo. I think a medium like this unifies the Indian printing and packaging industry and offers a competitive edge to the SMEs exhibiting beside the global names in the field. It gives an equal opportunity to the SMEs aiming to expand their businesses, showcase the potential they bear and bring to the forefront the technovation happening across the layers of this industry. Messe Frankfurt will boost the scale of this show by expanding its reach in terms of domestic exhibitors, expanding the visitor base to PAN India, and offering international exposure and outlook.”

Ashok Neelkant, managing director, Showcase Trade Fairs & Business Media, said, “I am delighted to have entered into a strategic tie-up with Messe Frankfurt India, a global leader in organising trade shows. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our journey and opens up exciting new opportunities for growth and success. By joining forces with Messe Frankfurt India, we will combine our expertise, resources and industry knowledge to create a formidable synergy that will enhance our ability to deliver bigger, better and more dynamic PrintExpo. This collaboration will enable us to broaden our reach, attract a wider array of exhibitors and attendees and provide an even more enriching platform for business networking and innovation.”

With its humble beginnings in 2009, the show has completed 12 successful editions, with the last three editions garnering an average of 10,000+ visitors and 150+ exhibitors for the show.