Second edition of ISD Expo upsurges new business tempo

A response to the current market pulse of newer business verticals sprouted in diverse segments, the India Sign + Digital 2012 Expo fruitfully executed from October 29-31, 2012 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. UV flatbed technology was one of the key exhibits at the second edition of the expo which delivered in-shop/in-store display solutions to exploit the newly arrived FDI opportunity in the retail sector. Jyaneswar Laishram of Print & Publishing catches a glimpse of the expo which stages an array of latest printers, routers, engravers, medias, technologies and others from more than 55 exhibitors on an exhibition floor of 5,500 sq m in presence of more than 8,000 serious visitors from various parts of the country. Cordially supported by Delhi Printers’ Association (DPA), SS Events’ second edition of India Sign + Digital (ISD ’12) Expo spotlighted various prospective segments like the retail sector with the execution of a string of UV flatbed printers as major highlight, in addition to the usual showcase of machineries, materials and technologies. Other core exhibits which engrossed visitors during the show included a series of innovative displayed related to digitally printed items, textile prints, wall arts and others.

Grand opening

A galaxy of eminent guests of honour who unveiled the expo in a gracious gesticulation were Narendra Tyagi, vice president – Brand & Marketing, Reliance Communications Limited; Visal Handa, general manager commercial – Mobility HQ, TATA Teleservices Ltd; Anupam Gupta, JMD Digital Art Xchange, New Delhi; Arun Berry, president-DPA; Joseph Perumayan, Signtek, Cochin; Kamal Chopra, general secretary, OPA; Rajesh Poddar, Wonder Group, Kolkata; and Vinod Gupta, Hannu Marketing Pvt Ltd. Mention of the some fresh developments during the expo this year included new visitors from Home Shop 18, ITC, Meru, Reliance, Cheil Worldwide, Field Fresh, Crossing Infrastructure, DSC, Kapoor Watch who were not among the core targeted group.

Outdoor domains

Stressing on the opportunities lurking in the retail domain following the foray of FDI in single retail brands, those exhibitors who physically and non-physically showcased a spectrum of UV flatbed printers at the show included AGFA Graphics, Canon/Oce, Infinity Digital Solutions, Caldron Graphics, Apsom Infotex, NEGI Sign Systems & Supplies, Hewlett Packard (HP), Monotech Systems, UV Printers, FUJIFILM India and Epson. “Opening of the FDI will push the retail sector to a more receptacle level where signage players engaging in-shop/in-store displays would surely boost their overall activities to a new horizon,” said Manesh Shetty, regional business manager SAARC, GS/Inkjet Dubai Office, AGFA Graphics. 

Consumable line

Material suppliers who stole the show were Aron International, Alucopanels, AT Inks, VSM Impex, Knowell Corporation, Benson Polymers, Tanya Enterprises, Ajit Industries, Sun Sign & Technologies, Mono Sign Systems and Taneja Digital Solutions. “Sales of our O2 has been double since last year and we are here to promote this brand through ISD Expo and we are happy to be part of the show which pulls a right kind of visitors,” said Navneet Gupta of Aron International. Vineet Rathi, director, VSM Impex Pvt Ltd remarked that ISD Expo is the right place to meet the right industry people.

Innovative displays

Be it mug prints, modular signs, standies, table tops… innovations that surged in the current market had been flaunted at the expo at the stalls of Amazing, Amitoje Creations, Sahil Graphics, Print Factory, Autotisement, Zenith Weaving Strings, Suncolor Display, Print Expressions and Kumbhkaari. “Percentage of visitors to our stall is pretty enough to make us happy,” said Maniraj Singh Juneja of Amitoje Creations. He added that ISD is an immeasurable platform where the company can make a good impact to the visitors, be it new customers or their existing lot.

Bare necessities

Some exhibitors at the show showcased some basic necessities like software, UPS, printing service, etc. Some of them can be named as Sign Supply, Enventa/Omkam Electronics, Delhi Printers’ Association, Rakesh Press, Arrow Multimedia, Abhikruti Digi-Soft, Bizz Duniya, Info Creations, Amont Software & Equipment and UTL. Sayed Anwer Hussain of Sign Supply said, “Main objective to take part in this exhibition is to explore the north Indian market covering all far off corners of the region.”

Offbeat exhibits

Two exhibitors at the show unveiled their products and services which are a bit off-tracked from the conventional signage printing. APL Machinery and International Electronics & Communication Systems (IECS) staged two new machines at the show – Atom and Digi UV screen printers. According to Rajiv Kapoor, CEO, APL Machinery Pvt Ltd, a unique feature of ATOM 4-colour screen printing machine for UV spot coating is that its screen is stationery while its bed is moving. And International Electronics & Communication Systems (IECS) exhibited bizhub digital presses.

Cut & finish range

Those exhibitors whose stalls showcased a string of cut and fishing machineries and materials included Fotolaminate, ACE Infotex, GB Tech (India), Graftech, Surindra Brothers and Pal Associates. “I am happy with the visitors who are genuine at the show. The 74 inch CODAMLAM machine at the Fotolaminate stall marked fresh introduction during the show,” said Rajeev Vig of Fotolaminate. In this context, Narain Dutt Jaimini of GB Tech (India) said that their cold lamination technology is particularly for signage segment which was highly demanded during the expo.

Live Experience Zones

Designed to deliver ‘live’ demos during the show, Live Experience Zones at the show were trumped up by some of the leading innovators, such as Avantika Printers, Imagine Creations, Print Expressions/HP, Caldron Graphics/Insight Print Communications, NEGI Sign Systems & Supplies, Buzz IMC and Scodix Gallery. A big crowd puller at the WrapperZone was Print Expressions’ activities in which the company wrapped a Hummer jeep using 3M IJ180 material being printed on HP printers. “Despite not being into the signage industry, we are happy that ISD gave us a right platform to get in touch with a number of visitors who took ardent interest in our items of digital prints,” mentioned Himanshu Pandey, head-Digital Operation, Avantika Printers Private Limited.

Special appearance

Trinity Inks and Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn participated the show in different manners. The former was responsible for fabricating the food court and latter for the VIP Lounge. “At the expo, we sponsored space for VIP Lounge as well as the refreshment and registration counters. It was just a pre-launch activity for us and we got good responses,” said Kingsuk Gupta, general manager, sales & marketing – Technical Textiles, Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn Limited. Amar Patel of Trinity Inks remarked, “I would like to appreciate SS Events for such an opportunity to let our (Trinity) brand visible in a mass scale to the visitors during the expo.”

Visitors react

“This is one of the finest and exclusive expos I have ever experienced so far,”
–Ashok Singla,
Ashok Import Export Company, Delhi

“It’s quite small in terms of scale, but I am quite impressed to see the compact way of presenting the show.”
–Donald Frazer,
sales manager – Asia & Europe, Sun Chemical

“Every aspect of this expo is attractive. It lends a very good relation with every visitor.”
–Rajneesh Kumar,
business head, Ergin Imaging Systems Private Limited, New Delhi

“Live Experience Zones of the exhibition are my favourite area which imparts a new appeal.”
–Deepak Shukla, founder & CEO,
Glitters Ads, Mumbai

“The expo is very disciplined and uniform. I foresee better editions in the years to come.”
–Dinkar Misra, marketing head,
Mehta Cad Cam Systems Pvt Ltd