At Media Expo 2016 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, visitors from got a chance to see the newest and leading signage and display technologies from companies like Mimaki India, HP, Epson, Fujifilm, Fuji Sericol, Apsom Infotex, TCS, Rex Tone, ITMS, Fujifilm India, JN Arora, RD LED, Megastar, Neenjas Technologies, Technova, AXYZ Automation, Navratan Speciality, Kartar Corporation, Konica Minolta, SRF, Admart, Infinity Digital Solution, Plasto India, and Arihant Uniglobe. Foreign exhibitors from China, Japan, Korea and the UK could also be seen at the show, where they showcased their latest indoor and outdoor advertising and signage solutions and expertise.
Media Expo 2016 was a clear reflection of how the Indian signage industry is going through a transformation phase from traditional signboards to digital with several technological advancements. Growth in online services, new printing technologies and laserengraved sign boards are emerging as the predominant trends in the signage board industry. “The wide format and signage market is buoyant and growing—a trend reflected very well through the event,” says Raj Manek, managing director, Messe Frankfurt, the organizer of Media Expo.
Manek says, “We sectorized our exhibitors according to their product offerings. We also looked at how we can help our exhibitors grow by ensuring that they get the right type of buyers and visitors. If there is a certain type of visitor missing in any editions of the show, we always try to include them in our forthcoming editions. We are creating a complete business platform for our customers. There is positive feedback from everyone and since we had taken over the show about three years ago, each edition has got only better.”
Messe Frankfurt took over Media Expo from Mex Exhibitions three years ago. According to Manek, the show has more than doubled in terms of exhibitors and exhibition area than what it was when it took off. This year, there were about 204 exhibitors at the event.
If we consider Media Expo 2016, Delhi and some of its previous editions, it seems that in India the signage segment is constantly taking an upward swing—signage guys are coming in and taking more and more LED signage in. The flex printing segment has also been extremely strong in India. In contrast, if we look at it from the European or global perspective, flex is a segment that is slightly stagnating although not declining, while digital and 3D printing is witnessing a major thrust. In India, 3D printing is yet to catch up pace—this could be because of the costs involved. “You look around the country and you will see the different marketing avenues people use here. There are different sizes of different companies and all kinds of advertising and marketing tools are required here,” observes Manek.
