Gulf Print & Pack sets sights on bumper show

More than 10,000 printing industry professionals are expected to head to Dubai to attend Gulf Print & Pack 2015, taking place across April 13-16 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Gulf Print & Pack 2015 is taking place across April 13-16 at Dubai World Trade Centre

Billed as the premier print industry event in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, Gulf Print & Pack 2015 will connect senior level buyers with over 300 exhibitor companies, including Heidelberg, Kodak, AFRA, Bobst, Green Graphics Trading, Nilpeter and Prestige Graphics Trading.

2015’s edition has reported a large increase in first time exhibitor numbers, with 45 new companies, such as Holostik India and Primera Europe, signing up to showcase their products and services.

The show will also feature dedicated pavilions for country-specific suppliers, plus feature areas addressing cutting edge print technologies, including smart and interactive tools and processes, and 3D.

This influx of new exhibitors and other statistics, such as a rise in digital technology providers and label businesses attending, support Pira international’s Global Print Markets to 2016 forecast that the Middle East’s market share is expected to grow to 20 billion USD by next year.

Mike Simmonds, event manager for Gulf Print & Pack, said: ‘Growth in the Middle Eastern printing industry has been following the same pattern being seen in Asia and Latin America with demand overtaking more mature markets such as Western Europe and North America.

‘Technologies and their capabilities are always advancing and that is directly influencing brand owners in their product development choices and in turn consumer behavior and habits. Print processes are experiencing marked trends worldwide in how they are used with an increasing appetite for digital, flexo and inkjet technologies emerging. Increased personalization and shorter print runs are growing the production of labels, flexible packaging, active and intelligent packaging formats and photobooks.

‘The market is moving fast, so this year’s show will be even more invaluable to visitors looking to capitalize on these profitable growth areas.’

Entry to Gulf Print & Pack 2015 is free, with pre-registration advised and possible at www.gulfprintpack.com.