The world’s largest English language print trade show Ipex is still losing exhibitors, with Canon / Oce the latest to announce it is withdrawing from the event next March.
This latest high profile withdrawal has forced Ipex, which has already rebranded itself as a digital cross media event to consider its options, it says it will be issuing a statement soon.
Peter Hall, managing director, Informa Exhibitions, comments: "Ipex has been an integral part of the international printing industry for over 100 years, and therefore we do not wish to compromise the brand's credibility.
“We will collaborate with all stakeholders to determine the role Ipex has to play to provide today's printer and their customers with the ideas, insights and solutions to effectively promote the power of print media and its integration in the marketing mix. Further to these consultations, we will issue a statement about the future direction of Ipex shortly.
"The Informa Group remains committed to delivering world class events with the support of key industry stakeholders and we will announce our plans in due course."
Like the other major companies to pull out Canon cites its commitment to print and its believe that its marketing dollar will be more efficiently spent on dedicated customer focused events at its own showrooms, and on its own roadshows.
Canon's withdrawal is a tad embarrasing for Ipex, as the Ipex 2014 president was Canon's European marketing manager David Preskett. He has now resigned from the role.
Ipex has been hit by the withdrawal of major offset press manufacturers Heidelberg, KBA and Komori, with manroland highly unlikely to have a press on the floor. On the digital side Kodak, Xerox, HP, Landa and now Canon / Oce are all no shows. Other high profile absentees include Agfa and Roland DG. That leaves Konica Minolta as the biggest exhibitor left, with a 2000sqm stand.
Ipex is more than 100 years old. The 2014 event is slated to return to London after three decades at the NEC in Birmingham.
