Maiden edition of India Sign + Digital (ISD) last year underlined the visible aspects of growth surging across the country’s contemporary signage and digital industry. ‘Something for Everyone’ was the theme under which the expo showcased a wide range of products, technologies and services which gratified the need of every visitor. Over 85 prominent exhibitors showcased the upcoming ultra-innovative trends on the exhibition floor of 5,500 sq m. A crowd of more than 8,500 industry professionals from all across the country thronged the three-day expo.

Reasons for visit

There are specific reasons why visitors attending the ISD last year overwhelmed with the expo’s unique exhibits. Visitors came to the expo to evaluate and compare products for purchases. Also, they could keep themselves up-to-date on trends and issues sprouting in the contemporary market. The expo set as a right spot to observe specific range of products and meet specific companies engaged in diverse signage activities. It also formed a network where industry peers and vendors could meet and discuss on new applications.

Concerning the nature of crowd gathered at the ISD, Vineet Arora of Crayon Advertising, New Delhi said, “The show attracted serious trade visitors from the industry. I am amazed to see the whole of corporate world attending the show. I met people from corporate like Phillips, Tata Motors, etc.” Stressing on the focused crowd visiting the expo, Rajesh Taneja of Printing Palace, Bareilly admitted that ISD expo got the right presentation, which was meant for a well-defined target group.

Expanded zones

Drawing inspiration from the variants of ‘Seven Notes’ of music, ISD 2012 is offering expanded LiveExperience Zones with some new features in it. ScreenExpression Zone, CeramicPrint Zone and NarrowFormat Zone will be three new additional zones adding to the previous WallArt Zone, Wrapper Zone, TextileTemptation Zone and Events&Show Zone. The seven LiveExperience Zones will elaborately showcase various activities, such as screen print excellence, customised ceramic printing, digital print capabilities, vehicle wrap and applications, wall covering, textile printing and event graphics like neon lights, LED displays, etc.

The newly introduced ScreenExpression Zone would demonstrate the expanding possibilities of screen printing, which redefines a wider scope of the technology for newer revenue streams. Showing today’s preferred choices for customised bath, kitchen and other applications will be a new fascination at the CeramicPrint Zone. Quite a fresh entry into the show, NarrowFormat Zone would give a highlight of print-on-demand digital printing for photo books, labels, event collaterals, etc.

Life like demos at the LiveExperience Zones outperform anything carried out virtually or online. So was the reason the live zones easily capture the attention of visitors. And these experience zones are set to be the right corner where visitors could effectively interact with those creators face-to-face.

On displays

One of the fast emerging premier signage expos in India, ISD creates room for a broad array of products, technologies and services of a crowd of eminent exhibitors from different parameters of the industry. Such versatile participation of diverse companies makes the exhibits a myriad of everything in signage. Now a highlight of the materials, services and other items at the expo this year would include: large-format digital printers, CNC routers, print substrates, vinyl, plotters/cutters, print finishing equipments, digital signage, A-boards/pavement displays, anti-graffiti/bacterial signage, cut/moulded/built-up letters, exterior signage, finished sign systems, flex-face signage, floor-graphic signage, heat transfer, sublimation, labels/decals, POS/displays, software, to mention a few.

Visiting crowd

Visitors from different segments thronged the three-day ISD ’11 expo. Major visitors from the north Indian cities and town (48%) were succeeded by those rushed from south India (15%). Also, those from west India comprised a big turnout (13%) and even visitors from the overseas (4%) were quite noticeable amid the crowd. It has been assured that almost 90 percent of the visitors would be turning out to be decision makers at the expo this year.

The 23 key market segments wherefrom the relevant visitors would be pouring in at the expo this year will be ad agencies, architects, automobile accessories dealers, commercial printers, copy shops/repro houses, corporate/business signage and print users, designers/design studios, digital printing, education sector, exhibition/event organisers, facilities management, graphic outputs, lifestyle/events signage and print users, local authorities/government departments, outdoor media, photo studios, POS, reprographic departments, retailers, screen, boutiques, customised textile printing, sign making and transportation/fleet service providers.

Growing opportunity

India is now on the lookout for fresh innovations in sign and graphics technologies. Being a home to more than 12,500 sign makers minting a turnover of Rs 5,700 crore with over Rs 3,750 crore capital investment and around 3,95,000 employed manpower directly/indirectly, industry sources reveal that the Indian large-format market is now standing at around 995 million euro and OOH segment (ad spending) will attain 400 million euro. In addition, opening up of FDI in the retail sector in the country will bring a sunshine opportunity to the industry.

For further details on participation as exhibitor or to be a sponsor to select opportunity,
please contact VN Kutty at: kutty@smediagroup.in