H.H Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, director general, Dubai Department of Information, opened the Sign and Graphic Imaging Middle East (SGI) exhibition at Dubai Airport Expo this morning. Running for three days, the industry trade show will showcase the very latest product innovations in the signage, digital imaging, and screen, digital and offset print sectors.

 

Supported by the Advertising Section of Dubai Municipality, the show welcomes exhibitors from across the GCC, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, East Africa, Europe and even as far a field as the USA.

 

“SGI has always attracted a global gathering with many of the leading names from the print sector exhibiting at the show. We are expecting a lot of new to market products to be unveiled at the show this week as companies continue to expand in the Middle East,” said Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of International Expo-Consults (IEC), the organiser of SGI Middle East.

 

The list of exhibitors for SGI 2011 includes some of the biggest names in the industry. Global brands such as AGFA, Epson, Hewlett Packard and EFI will all be showcasing their products, while regional print industry leaders such as Dynagraph, Gandy Digital, GIC, GSS, Giffin Graphics, Flex Europa and Colorbyte will also have huge representation.

 

“Gandy Digital decided to exhibit at SGI Middle East as it is the most important annual trade show in the Middle East and Africa. This exhibition will allow Gandy Digital to introduce the Pred8tor and be in touch with many customers from the Middle East and Africa to show Gandy’s loyalty to the digital market. The Middle East market has grown and we have been part of helping it develop into one of the major markets in the world spreading its professionalism and quality all over,” said Emile Azar, General Manager ME & Africa, Gandy Digital.

 

“Graphic International Centre LLC (GIC) had been a part of SGI for more than 12 years. SGI is an excellent opportunity to get concentrated exposure in front of a targeted audience,” said David Shelly, Marketing Manager, GIC.

 

GIC is the Sole Authorized Distributor of a wide range of world-renowned products that cater to the Large Format Print Industry. Though Dubai is a gateway to a market of more than a million people in the Middle East, a huge area still remains untapped opening opportunities for the LFP industry.

 

“Dynagraph is a newcomer to the LFP industry and our presence - independent from HP's stand - is to send out a statement to print service providers that they now have the choice of another HP partner in the Gulf region,” said Antoine El Kara, Vice President, Dynagraph.

 

Industry education also plays a central role in the show. Dr Nicholas Hellmuth, Founder, President and Director of FLAAR, USA and the founder and author of several publications and websites on high-end scanning and large format printing, will lead two seminar sessions on day two of the exhibition.

 

At 11am on January 25 he will lead a seminar on ‘Green Inkjet Printing (Ink & Media) vs Greenwashing’ looking at the over-exaggerated claims of some products to be eco-friendly and tackling the issue of greenwashing in the print industry.

 

Later that same day, at 2pm, Dr Hellmuth will look at ‘After-Market Inks: How to Assess and Evaluate’ talking about the use of after-market inks in relation to wide-format inkjet products.

 

Both seminar sessions will take place at the seminar room, Dubai Airport Expo.

 

“We are honoured to have such an industry authority as Dr Hellmuth lead our seminar sessions this year. He has extensive experience, working in conjunction with some of the largest international printing corporations, including Hewlett-Packard, MacDermid ColorSpan, Epson, Heidelberg and Calumet Photographic, and we are sure that his educational component will add a true value to the SGI 2011 programme,” said Abdul Rahman Falaknaz.

 

The show is endorsed by the Advertising Section of Dubai Municipality and supported by industry associations such as the Visual Industries Suppliers Association (VISA), Australia. ME Printer takes on the title of the Official Media Partner along with World of Print.com as the International Media Partner for SGI 2011.