In a real sign of strength for the show, and for the wide format digital printing market, there were all positive reports from vendors that were exhibiting and in attendance at SGIA in Las Vegas last week.SGIA (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association) is one of the biggest annual events in the wide format digital printing business, and coming on the heels of Graph Expo there was some concern that show attendance would be light. SGIA Expo was not only well-attended, SGIA has reported that it was the biggest event they’ve ever had. The leading vendors in the wide format digital printing market were all exhibiting, and many of them brought the biggest hardware they offer. The manufacturers we interviewed and met with were all effusive about not only the foot traffic, but also the amount of deals they were signing at SGIA. All this despite the fact that there were really very few new products or technologies introduced at the show.
SGIA in true Las Vegas style
I believe the excellent SGIA attendance is due to several factors: first is a loyal SGIA audience that is seeing a lot of need to examine the latest products and technologies that allow them to add new capabilities and produce and compete more cost effectively. SGIA added “zones” on the show floor that highlighted digital signage, digital apparel production, industrial applications, and screen printed apparel for those that are looking for new markets. Second is an upsurge in interest in wide format digital printing products and services from other types of printing organizations not presently in the wide format digital market. Many of the vendors on the show floor, particularly at the high-end of the wide format market, were not talking about new printing technology per se, but about the way their products and equipment would fit into a production workflow. At the lower-end of the market, the applications that companies were highlighting were frequently unconventional, with a lot of focus on vehicle wraps, POP displays and dimensional signage created using print and cutting devices.
Another element that was unconventional was the more industrial inkjet products that were on display at SGIA. There was a device on the INX booth for printing round objects such as bottles and cans, Kornit introduced a fast direct-to-garment printer, there were several devices at the ITW booth that were printing directly onto large round cafe-style table tops and at several other booths there were digital inkjet devices intended for printing on golf balls and other novelty items. Many of these various products are designed to make digital printing apply to market segments that have historically been the exclusive or primary domain of screen printing.
So, in terms of attendance and sponsorship SGIA was a very strong show, indicative of a turnaround in the wide format digital printing market that many have been hoping for. As one panelist, a printer, said during the HP Innovators’ Forum, “our wide format business declined by 50% in 2009, so far in 2010 it is up by about 100%, and we plan to grow from there, so we are investing “. Reports like these are welcome signs of strength in the wide format digital printing market.
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