Gulf Print & Pack takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre between 9-11 January 2024

Gulf Print & Pack, the MENA region’s leading exhibition for the commercial and package printing industries, will take place at the World Trade Center in Dubai on 9-11 January 2024.

Barry Killengrey, Gulf Print & Pack event director, commented: “We’re delighted to be back on the biennial calendar for the first time since the pandemic. During this time, the print and package printing industry has evolved immensely, with exciting new trends such as digital embellishment emerging, and this has intensified the appetite to see more advances in digital technology, automation and workflow capabilities.”

The last Gulf Print & Pack event was held in June 2022, when it attracted leading graphic arts suppliers from across the globe and over 7,500 international visitors.

“With the milder climate, January is the ideal time to plan a business trip to Dubai and the best time to kick-start new business here,” says Killengrey. “Dubai is the most populous city in the UAE and has become a center of trade and commerce for the Middle East.”

Gulf Print & Pack 2024 will give PSPs, commercial printers and packaging converters the chance to see a broad range of new technology in action including wide format printers, digital corrugated, cut sheet inkjet, package printing presses and digital embellishment systems.

“The key trend in the MENA market is the transition to digital, not only in terms of print and post-print equipment, but also workflows,” commented Andy Thomas-Emans, Strategic Director of the Tarsus Labels and Packaging Group, which organizes Gulf Print & Pack.

“Conventional offset printers are now looking closely at cut sheet inkjet presses, while both flexo and conventional printers are seeing increased automation in plate making, fully integrated with end-to-end color management. Corrugated printers also have new digital options, both at the high volume end and in continued development of wide format presses and cutting tables.”

Thomas-Emans points out that although the commercial print market as a whole faces challenges, there are niche areas showing sustained growth, including on-demand book and photobook production and digital printing of fabrics and floor tiles. All these applications will be represented at Gulf Print & Pack 2024.

“Commercial printers are also looking at opportunities in the booming package printing market, particularly in folding cartons and labels,” said Thomas-Emans. “We expect to see suppliers of flexo converting equipment and digital presses and finishing equipment in force at the show.”

Another key trend to watch out for at the show is digital embellishment of cut-sheet commercial work, folding cartons and labels, said Thomas-Emans. “The replacement of conventional tooling by high build inkjet varnishing, laser die cutting and digital metalization technologies will transform the value proposition for both commercial and packaging printers”