Big business conducted at Gulf Print & Pack 2015

There was a mix of direct representation at the show and agents representing their clients to the market, with the likes of Heidelberg, Kodak, Sanki, Uteco, Rotatek, Primera Technology Europe, Nilpeter, AB Graphic, Hybrid Software, UPM Raflatac, Henkel and Mendel having a direct presence, and AGE, AFRA, Emirates Trade Graphics, Ali Alhashemi, XOL Automation, Green Graphics Trading and Printech representing Xeikon, Nuova Gidue, Omet, Berhalter, Martin Automatic, Prati, Flint Group and more.

HP was also present, with Jacky’s Business Solutions having a number of Scitex units on its stand and printing samples.

New attendee Heidelberg was present at the show to introduce its Linoprint digital press platform to the Middle East market, and had a presence alongside key technology partners such as Gallus, Fujifilm and IST Metz.

It reported a number of sales of machinery during the show, including a large number of Linoprint presses and a CtP/plate package.

Other exhibitors also conducted business on their stands, with Primera Technology Europe selling all the machinery on its stand on the first morning of the show, and Al Saadi Silk Screen Works and Al Saleem Printing selling all of the machinery on their stands.

Rotatek held a number of meetings on its stand throughout the show with important contacts from throughout the MENA region and Sistrade, another supplier to the label and package printing market exhibiting directly at the show, reported very interesting leads from countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria and Angola.

First-time exhibitor D2M Solutions, which was showcasing Stratasys 3D printing technology on its stand, saw a high level of interest in the technology, as well as software and 3D scanning technology to provide an end-to-end 3D prototyping workflow.

At 11,918, attendance was up 26.7 percent on the 2013 figure, with visitors still registering to enter the halls up until the end of the show. A number of exhibitors have already rebooked to attend in 2017, when the show will run March 27-30 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Mike Simmonds, event manager at Gulf Print & Pack, said: ‘We are delighted with the amount of business conducted at Gulf Print & Pack 2015. The show has being gaining momentum every year and this edition has been the biggest and best ever to date.

‘This year’s show was unquestionably upbeat and was a real buying show with many exhibitors selling everything on their stands! The exceptional level of business being done on the exhibition floor firmly positions Gulf Print & Pack as the region’s largest and most effective exhibition for commercial and packaging printers, brand owners and industry suppliers.’

See photo highlights from day one of Gulf Print & Pack 2015 here, day two here, day three here and day four here.

Selected label and package printing industry highlights can be seen below in the photo gallery.