After a successful four-day event in Melbourne last week, PacPrint 2017 show organisers and exhibitors concur that the number of sales and quality of visitors made the show worthwhile. Here's what you missed...
By Day 3, when PKN spoke to Adrian Fleming, chairman of PacPrint, he said the numbers on the first two days of the show were up overall on PacPrint 2013, and there was a "real buzz in the aisles" as 'sold' signs were beggining to appear on equipment throughout the exhibition hall.
Most pleasing was the quality of visitors, Fleming said, with exhibitors reporting that senior management and decision makers once again clearly dominating the visitor cohort.
By the show's end, the overall visitor numbers were down on 2013, which was not unexpected given the continuing consolidation of the industry over the past four years, according to Peter Harper, GM for Trade Shows & Publications for organiser, Visual Connections. "But daily visitor numbers were comparable to the previous iteration, without the sharp drops seen in shows over the past decade," Harper added.
It's the sales that spell success, and business transacted on the exhibition floor looks certain to top AUD $20 million, Harper said.
"Data from both our own information sources and from our exhibitors is still being collected, however, informal feedback at the close of the show on Friday indicated that the sales tally from just three of the larger exhibitors was expected to top $15 million, with others reporting strong – although as yet untallied – sales totals,” he said. [Currie Group topped the charts with $7m in sales].
Over 150 organisations exhibited at the event, with the show’s mix reflecting the changing industries it represents. Packaging solutions having a much stronger showing than in recent years, an indicator that the prospects for print in packaging are growing.
Digital technologies, automation and workflow were key themes, with a marked dominance of digital presses and wide-format technologies demonstrated on site, and – on the back of the increasing versatility of print equipment – the range of media on show was also diverse.
PacPrint 2017 will also be remembered as the show where 3D print took the leap from ‘novelty’ to ‘serious’ status, with several exhibitors demonstrating proven solutions in this key area.
