Sign and Graphics Imaging 2008 completes a decade with great success
As anticipated by the industry’s experts, the
10th anniversary edition of the region’s largest signage
and outdoor publicity exhibition, Sign and Graphics
Imaging (SGI) Middle East 2008, received tremendous
response from the UAE and other participating
countries. Organized by International Expo Consults (IEC),
a member of the national group, Falak Holding, it was held from
February 17-19, 2008 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
As always, we bring you a glimpse of this year’s show.
As Sign and Graphics
Imaging (SGI) enters its
11th year, it continues to
grow with every passing year. In
short, it has become the signage
industry’s ultimate gathering spot
for everyone involved in selling
and sourcing products and services
from around the world. It was the
biggest show so far in terms of
space taken, exhibitors and leads
generated worth over USD 800
million. This time also, organisers
got overwhelming response and
around 90% of this year’s
exhibitors assured that they would
be back at the show with larger
spaces in 2009.
The one-of-its-kind show in the
Middle East, Indian sub-continent
and CIS, it has steadily grown over
the years in tandem with the
exponential increase in ad spent
in the region. Commenting on the
enthusiastic response, Abdul
Rehman Falaknaz, president,
Falak Holding and International
Expo Consults, said, “The major
participation from UAE-based
companies at Sign and Graphics
Imaging 2008 is a salient
reflection of the continuing
growth and increasing potential
for the industry players in this
market, which is estimated to be
growing at some 22 per cent a
year. For signage and outdoor
publicity companies, this growth
of the industry, which comes in
the context of the economic
boom in the UAE and the region,
represents a major opportunity to
grow their business. And this
show offered these companies a
significant vantage point to pursue
their growth goals.”
The 2008 edition of the show had
attracted over 300 participants
with an impressive growth of 35
per cent compared to last year.
“The UAE’s economic boom has
spawned many growth sectors
for the signage and outdoor media
companies - significantly led by
the realty segment. Both public
as well as private sector have
increased their spending on
advertising and outdoor media to
reach out to the growing market,
a trend that will continue to help
signage and outdoor media
companies reap dividends,”
Falaknaz added. This year, 25%
of the participants of the show
were new while 95% of the
earlier exhibitors came back to tap
the regional opportunity.
According to Abdallah Ghalayini,
regional managing director,
ME&A, Gandinnovations, FZCO,
“It has been the best show for
them worldwide.”
“It was absolutely fantastic and
a very good show for us. Our new
machines attracted lots of
attention. Next year, we will be
bigger and will come in with more
cutting edge technologies and
products which nobody will have
seen,” added Kunal Avari,
regional sales manager, Hewlett
Packard- Large Format Printing
Solutions.
As per Ashish Goel, marketing
specialist, 3M, “The show was well
organised and it is an excellent
platform to demonstrate the
latest in digital printing and
corporate signages. The quality of
visitors was good as we received
serious business enquiries.”
With over 300 exhibitors from
30 countries, Sign and Graphics
Imaging 2008 brought together
the largest debut of innovative
technologies in large format
digital printing solutions,
cutting/engraving and moulding
equipment, sign components,
multi-faceted advertising display
components, thermal and dye
sublimation equipment, laser
cutting and display equipment,
sign equipment and supplies,
LED Signs, lighting and
accessories, etc. All in all, it was
a complete show with broader
prospective and with an
assurance “Not to be missed”
show next year.
