Gulf Print & Pack 2015 highlights Middle East’s print industry

Gulf Print & Pack 2015 enjoyed its most successful edition to date as it closed its doors last week. As the Middle East region’s definitive platform for the commercial and package printing industry, 2015’s edition of the show posted a 26.7% rise in visitor numbers with a footfall of 11,918.

Running 13-16 April at Dubai’s World Trade Centre, its registration data shows that visitors came from an unprecedented 110 countries (93 in 2013, 83 in 2011 and 65 in 2009) underlining the show’s growing importance in the wider MENA region. Whilst the majority of visitors (both onsite and pre-registered) came from the UAE, the wider MENA regions also put forward good visitor figures; Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Iran and Kuwait. The event also attracted high visitor levels from India, China and Pakistan.

The four day show was inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Director General of Dubai Information Department and featured over 300 exhibitors including: AFRA, Bobst, Emirates Trans Graphics, Giffin Graphics, Heidelberg, Kodak, Nilpeter, Omet, Prati, Prestige Graphics Trading and Xerox. Featuring a multitude of new product launches, there was also an increase of around 30% more working machinery being demonstrated on the show floor.

Predicted industry growth rates were echoed and exhibitor optimism rewarded with packed aisles and bursting order books.  Numerous deals were done with highlights including Saudi Arabia’s Al Khalaf Holding being the first to buy Heidelberg’s newly launched Linoprint C Series machine, Logical Signage acquiring the region’s first Xerox Color 800i/1000i press which also debuted at the show and Eiffel Printing Press LLC buying the brand new Ricoh ProTM C7100X from Giffin Graphics.

Mike Simmonds, event manager at Gulf Print & Pack commented: “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.”