Want to know where the market gains and growth are in industrial printing? ESMA, the leading, non-profit association in Europe for specialist printing manufacturers of screen and digital print technology detailed how it shares its wealth of expertise via its Knowledge Hub at FESPA Digital 2014.

Jon Bultemeyer from Marabu and chairman of ESMA, provided an update on the new directions ESMA is taking - including a closer look at what the Knowledge Hub can offer from product information and expertise to understanding market drivers and challenges.

Bultemeyer comments: “This industry is fast-growing and vibrant with a huge number of opportunities and we look forward to highlighting what our Knowledge Hub can offer. We are also keen to demonstrate how we can help operations maximise their potential to diversify, expand and improve profitability.”

Peter Buttiens, CEO of ESMA dived deeper into the influence of digital printing in industrial printing. He will detail how it is used to add value, notate, label or perform a function on a wide variety of items. Being shared too will be details on ESMA’s own fast-approaching Printed Interior Decoration Conference (PID), www.printedinteriordecoration.org and The Inkjet Conference, www.theijc.com with support from ESMA members Thomas Poetz (3T consultant) and Steve Knight (Digital Direct) but also from the Technical Exchange Committee (TEC) and its member and chairman Robin McMillan (SunChemical).

“Knowledge sharing is crucial to supporting our members and that is why we are keen to be a part of exciting exhibitions like FESPA as well as creating industry leading events such as the ones we have mentioned here above but also others such as the Advanced Functional & Industrial Printing event (AFIP) and GlassPrint” states Mr Bultemeyer. Furthermore, ESMA is also increasingly involved with coordinating EU-funded projects (Horizon 2020) that benefit new research and future developments in the printing industry.

Frederic Blancher from Encres Dubuit will highlight the market potential for 3D decorated objects using UV digital direct printing. Its Machine 9150 can print on a broad range of substrates at up to 800 pcs/h and a resolution of 720 x 720.

ESMA (European Specialist Printing Manufacturer’s Association) is a non-profit organisation started in 1990 which since 2007is based in Belgium, near Leuven with a permanent staff. The association is representing manufacturers, printers and consultants from screen, digital or pad printing technology and includes machinery, software, inks, consumables, chemicals and substrates. ESMA represents currently 57 members. The objectives of ESMA are to raise value for its members through technical conferences, projects, pavilions and 3 committees with each specific workgroups.