FuturePrint Podcast
FuturePrint is dedicated to and passionate about the power of print technology to enable new opportunities and create new value. This pod features deep-dive discussions with the people behind the tech as well as market analysis, trends, marketing and storytelling!
FuturePrint Podcast
#290 - Bonus Episode: Inside the Launch of FuturePrint Industrial Print Munich
In this special edition of the FuturePrint Podcast, co-founders Marcus Timson and Frazer Chesterman sit down together to discuss the launch of FuturePrint Industrial Print, taking place 21–22 January 2026 at Motorworld Munich.
Drawing on more than 20 years working together across major industry events - from FESPA to the original InPrint show - Marcus and Frazer explore why now is the right moment to launch a new event specifically focused on industrial manufacturing.
They discuss how the industrial print landscape has evolved dramatically since the early 2010s. What was once an exploratory space is now home to mature, high-value applications in automotive, EV batteries, white goods, coatings, packaging, décor and additive manufacturing. Innovations in chemistry, ultra-high-viscosity fluids, functional deposition and AI-driven digital factories are creating new opportunities for manufacturers - and new demands for collaboration.
This episode dives into the core concept behind the Munich event:
- A tightly curated group of around 50 exhibitors
- A Lab environment with more than 15 live machinery demonstrations
- A hybrid format combining exhibition, technical talks, and real-world application showcases
- Four content streams covering Packaging & Labels, Functional & Additive, Décor, and AI for Industrial Print
- A venue designed for accessibility, intensity, and high-value networking
Frazer and Marcus explain how the event model differs significantly from traditional print exhibitions: smaller, more targeted, easier to navigate, and carefully designed to maximise meaningful conversations between integrators, chemists, machine builders, manufacturers and OEMs.
If you want to understand where industrial print is heading - and why the manufacturing landscape is embracing inkjet and digital deposition faster than ever - this episode is essential listening.
Register for the event at futureprint.events and if you would like to join as our special podcast listener, use this code, FPBLACKFRIDAY
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FuturePrint TECH: Industrial Print: 21-22 January '26, Munich, Germany
Sorry, we're welcome to the latest edition of the Future Print Podcast. Happy to have with me someone who I've worked with for over 20 years, Fraser Chesterman, co-founder of Futureprint. Welcome to your own podcast as a guest this time, Fraser.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you very much, Marcus. It's nice to be on the other side for once. Um yeah, and we as you said yourself, we've worked together for quite a long time, uh through lots of different iterations, but obviously we worked together at FESPA and we then created the imprint show, which many of you may know. And now we have uh we're doing future print and um we have a new event, which is a sort of reiteration of the imprint concept in Munich in January. And we're going to talk a little bit about that and also our vision on generally on the market and what's going on at the moment.
SPEAKER_00:So on that note then, start with the big picture. So FuturePrint Industrial Print has come together quite quickly, hasn't it? Um, since launch. Give us a bit of a big picture view of it. How would you say progress and momentum has been?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I mean, it's quite interesting doing this again, if you like, with this topic of industrial print, because since we originally launched imprint in 2014, um the industrial print segment is has evolved, and obviously Inkjet has evolved in terms of uh what it can do and the deposition and applications and all those different aspects. Um, and so what you've got is something quite different now in terms of uh the possibilities. So we've kind of narrowed down the particular types of applications that we're focused on. Uh, when we did imprint, it was quite generalist in terms of inkjet could work anywhere. Now we're a bit more specific, we're really focusing on certain segments. There are definitely certain segments that are interesting. Um, and we can see that, you know, whether it be automotive, white goods, EV, battery technology, coatings, um packaging, you know, there's there's certain segments, and that's and that's what we've kind of seen in terms of the evolution of the market. And also in terms of what you'll see at the event, I think um it's gonna be focused a bit more on some niche markets, and uh yeah, I think that's it's gonna make it easier for people to to get their heads around it.
SPEAKER_00:So, with that in mind, really, what led to the decision behind launching it? Um, yeah, why did why well why does the industry need this event now, really? Um, like you say, we had the say, we had the longer exist, but um why now?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I mean that's a good question because you you might argue that uh the markets are now people have worked out where they go. So if you've got injet technology, you might go into uh automotive or you might go to uh additive manufacturing or whatever. Um, but actually, there is still there's still quite a lot of interest in this topic, and there's still people who maybe don't quite get it or don't necessarily know the potential with it. Um, yeah, I was talking to someone yesterday, we were doing a podcast uh talking to a company that are adhesive, so uh but very much in the in the electronics, printed electronics market and the and the battery market. And um that you know there there's there's a sort of very advanced technology in Europe, um, but this but battery technology generally, and obviously, you know, with things like EV, um, that's evolving. So manufacturing markets change, don't they? An inkjet is one way you can deliver a solution. Um, and I think it increasingly gets better at what it does, and that's what you kind of see. You get kind of um, you know, innovation, continued innovation. You know, that's so so that's kind of what I'm feeling. I don't know, what do you what do you sense?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I th I think where you started in terms of imprint being sort of generalists, and I think at that point the inkjet community, if you can call it that, the technology group, had just seen a I guess a big revolution in ceramics and just experienced that and had graphics as well, and textile was starting to get traction. And I I think there was a point then where it was explorative, wasn't it? And that event became a wave wave us to connect with people that perhaps they had never known before and might might lead on to new things, but a level a level of expiration. I I think that expiration is now, like you've said, moved far, it's far more definite now. Over a decade, plenty of um development since then in terms of technology. And as you've hit on one, EVs probably 15 years ago, maybe they existed, but they've become far more of a everyday thing. And Inkjet now has that potential to work with fluids that it wasn't able to work with, I don't know, 10-15 years ago, and provide some significant value for manufacturers. So I'm not saying it's as easy to say back then it was decorative and now it's functional because it's still a decorative is still interesting for the decorative market, but it seems to have it leapt forward as a true functional printing process for a number of manufacturing segments. So there's still a level of exploration involved, but it's far more, I think far more certain. So yes, I think you're right there. Well for those for those who may not have heard of the event, give us a bit of a description around the core concept, perhaps in format, what makes it different, perhaps, to a typical trade show?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I mean, you you know, for anyone who knows us, we we've been running events for over 20 years. So we've been running exhibitions, trade exhibitions for that period of time, and we kind of know the exhibition industry uh and what what it looks like and the dynamic behind it. And I think both of us are feeling a little bit like the event, the exhibition concept, the trade exhibition concept maybe needs uh rethinking a bit, refreshing a little bit. Um not completely, but you know, if if if people are experiencing wanting to come and have a look at uh some technology, do you want to be kind of trailing around, uh struggling with kind of uh to work out where to go? Uh some really poor quality food, transport systems getting you there, um, that kind of whole experience of trawling around a big show, air conditioning doesn't work very well. Um, you know, you're going through hall after hall after hall, um, trying to find the things you want, those kind of little golden nuggets. So I guess I guess what we're looking at is kind of 50 50 exhibitors, uh, something similar in terms of uh content, in terms of um showcase theater conference content. So we're making it a bit more concentrated in a smaller location, Motorworld in Munich, which is really quite a cool venue. Um, it's if you don't know it, it's it's I guess for anyone who's a sort of petrol head, it's uh it's just an amazing place. You basically all the most expensive cars in Germany are being parked there. You've got Bugatti, you've got McLaren with their showrooms, you've got Triumph Motorbikes with their showroom. It's just this really cool venue. Um, it's old and it's industrial and it's in the north of Munich, so it's really accessible from the airport. Um, and we're using this because it just kind of gives us uh a kind of very concentrated hall space with um three or four rooms that you can use that we're using in for different different aspects of the event. You've got um, you're gonna have, as I said, showcase theater conference content. So there'll be you know 20-minute presentations, uh, then there's a kind of connection area where there's food and drinks and um somewhere to connect with the exhibitors, and then uniquely with this event, we're gonna have around 15 or so machinery companies actually showing the machines in action. Um, and we've got some really interesting things on display. So it's a bit like a sort of fab lab, you know, it's kind of a you know, if you're checking out this technology and really want to see it working, then you'll have an opportunity to do that all under one roof. So it's yeah, a little bit of a different formula. Um, food trucks inside the place, so it's a bit sort of you know festivilly. Um, I just I just think it's it's you know, something different. We thought we'd try something different. Um, we both experienced big trade shows, the the the good and the bad and the ugly about them. So we wanted to try something a little bit different, and I think this fits with the kind of lab feeling of the technology that we're showing. So yeah, I think that's uh pretty much why why it's a little bit unique.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and I sort of sort of sort of following on from that really. I I guess we've been in the trade show business and more recently since 20 well, since COVID really developed future print. So we technically do not any longer run trade shows, but having visited a number, you're you're you're right. Uh uh they're exhausting. I think they're exhausting for exhibitors physically and budgetary.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Very difficult and can be really difficult for visitors, as you said, that are coming to find that innovative something among a among a huge space where perhaps there isn't the innovation isn't as visible or as noted or as known. And I I I I think that's become more difficult. Also, actually, mm since COVID two, clearly buying behavior has changed among the B2B landscape as well. It's become more akin, I think, to to consumer buying. So that so therefore that digital journey has become really as almost as important as the kind of in-person things. So I think trade shows are still really important, but people are looking for time optimization. We're we're under more pressure, perhaps that's the key difference, I think, isn't it? To 10-15 years ago, we're in a a more unpredictable uh landscaping uh economy, etc. And and and people need you know time um optimization, I suppose, and ease of accessing the right people. And like I've said before, you know, that we're using this great space, the coal bunker. And my view is you can peel back the you know, the ceiling of the venue, and and and inside will be everything that you will need in order to solve your industrial print technology problems or challenges with the right people and the right technology. So very focused, and you can get everything done in a day. And not only that, we've got four themes in the event, haven't we, in terms of the content. Tell us a bit about the um uh perhaps the content, because like you said, it's a hybrid event, isn't it? So it's it does have exhibition space, networking potential, technology area, but we also have a content stream um or a content program that's quite significant too. Yeah, it's a bit about that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, we've got, I mean, it you know, we we always try and deliver some content available, and you know, if you're a visitor to this event, um then the content is is is available to you to see as you know we don't we don't kind of uh uh uh make it you know a heavy duty 1500 euro conference program. The content here is is very accessible. Um, we've got a range of different speakers. So first morning on the um of the event on on Jan 21st, we've got some really significant keynotes that are talking kind of bigger picture issues, um, you know, technology in in manufacturing, but also things like uh haptics is uh is an interesting one we're we're we're covering. We've got a speaker from uh company called Greywas, uh, who is her major clients are basically BMW and Mercedes, and obviously haptics in the automotive industry, really interesting. Um, and so you know we we wanted to kind of set the scene a little bit to show that inkjet technology and deposition can be used directly in those tier two, tier one customers. Um, so that's kind of kicks it off. Um, we've got lots of different people speaking, covering lots of different uh aspects of of industrial inkjet, um, whether it be Kelentech, Incatronic, uh, you know, Plasmatry, uh, we've got Drop TMISE, RPAC. Actually, RPAC is one of the ones you uh put together for us. Just tell us about them, Marcus.
SPEAKER_00:Well, again, it's um I guess the four content themes are follow the fact that this is an industrial print event. It's not a traditional print event. So we're we're talking about technology for printing in the manufacturing sector, so it crosses a number of different industries. That's what makes this event also unique, I think. As you've mentioned, tier one, tier two. We will get printers at this event, but they may be defining themselves as industrial printers in a different way, tier one and tier two. So, yeah, the four themes are um packaging labels is one of them. We classify packaging labels as an industrial print process, and and an ARPA canary is is talking around packaging and the development around connected packaging. And I think another another key difference compared to 10-15 years ago is the the shift in manufacturing towards digitalization has accelerated, partly because the technology has, but partly also because the economic pressure to change has grown since then. Um, yeah, and Gade, we've been talking around the developments around connected packaging and the links back to printing. You know, uh ultimately manufacturers want to be able to digitize their manufacturing processes, and Inkjet is a digital technology, so it all links well. So packaging and labels is one thing. Functional, an additive, we've got some great tech on show around that, showcasing how Inkjet is an additive manufacturing technology. It's an incredible technology, it works in so many different industries. Um, huge amount of work being done around you know fluid deposition and ink development, ultra-high viscosity is enabling an amazing array of new possibilities, and and it's really the place to come and learn that. So, functional additives are another thing. As we've already said, DECO, Decal continues to be a fantastic market for inkjet. Um and um and and then we've also recognized the need for understanding AI and intelligent automation too, to round it all into uh, you know, digital factory. How does print work within that? And we're we're tackling AI and intelligent automation as well. And we've got, I think we've got a great program of of people within the future print community who are renowned experts, but also we've got a number of people that perhaps you don't typically see at events um within printing that are sharing insight into a whole new world that is linked, but is not I think I think that's the other thing. We didn't want it to be like an echo chamber of oh, everybody's saying the same old thing. We want you know this event's really refreshed uh refreshed us in a way and and also the content. So yeah, I'm excited to see how that how that comes together with the event.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and as you said, you know, new new companies uh at the event that maybe we haven't seen in our ecosystem, which is good news. And I think when when I was um doing a podcast yesterday and we were talking about that kind of uh inkjet for EV market, it really reminded me that um the the visitors to this event will you know if you if you're in that sort of tier two market and you are trying to to work out how to to innovate what you're doing, particularly around the automotive or white goods markets. Umjet is an amazing piece of technology. It can really do some special stuff. And it just is, you know, the way we've laid this out is really so that you can come and have a look at it and see it in action. Not that you're just wandering around chatting to people and having conversations, but actually see it in action. Um, as I said, a number of the manufacturers are bringing their machines and will be showing how this works, and I think it will be very surprising for people um from manufacturing environment um to find out how Inkjet could really make things uh spin for them. And I do, you know, I just I sense that's why this is interesting as an event. Um and looking through the people who are registering to attend, you know, they're getting people from from major manufacturers of products, Bosch, BMW, um, some of the suppliers to those companies. And that's exciting for our industry because perhaps um, you know, we end up talking to ourselves a lot, and actually bringing in new customers for our customers, for the future print community, is is what we've always wanted to try and achieve. And doing it in Munich, good location, because obviously, you know, it's it's the heart of the automotive industry in Germany, but also there's uh a lot of very advanced technologies um in deposition and applications that that are interesting. So so yeah, I think it's gonna be a really exciting event.
SPEAKER_00:And also, like you said, I think as event organisers, we've developed a few conferences over the years. We ran a really good one in Cambridge, we've got Valencia, which is also fantastic, but but I think there's a danger with conferences, isn't it, that they do become kind of like meeting clubs almost. Um this event's different, isn't it? The the exhibitors that we've got are new to us and are you know, you've got a number of new exhibitors that particularly yourself have introduced. Um what what kind of stuff are they showing and who are they? And a couple of yeah, a few of them I I hadn't even heard of before. So it's quite that's quite interesting, isn't it?
SPEAKER_01:It's a new, you know, people at Habacit and um and so on that are kind of showing stuff and um yeah, I mean I think I think what's interesting, some of the companies that uh are showing their technology here would have exhibited at something like Drupal and found that their technology maybe was a bit niche for for the generalist print market. So um I think what what they've worked out is the the if they are specifically targeting an industrial type of manufacturing process and are linked to inkjet, then then they're looking for something that's that can give them direct access to the type of people that would be really interested in what they're doing. And they are innovating, that's the thing, they're doing stuff that's different. It's you know, Habisat is an example there, um kind of uh drawing systems, um, but it's very narrow, you know. They want it, they want to show something that really works in a manufacturing environment, it's not a kind of traditional wide format print world. Um, and that's what you know, that's what I sensed with some of the new exhibitors we've got or the new participants we've got. They've got something quite different, and they're looking for an event that offers them that opportunity. It's not a traditional print event. I think that's that's what I would say at this stage. You know, it's not a uh kind of drooper of this world. It's we're not targeting that generalist print world anymore. This is very specific to the manufacturing space, and you know, it could be uh coatings, for example. Inkjet is an amazing technology, it's so direct in what it does, and and people from the coatings industry are just starting to get this and work it out, and so I think you'll see you know that aspect of um manufacturing coming to the event, and you'll see technology to show them how to do it. So, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and the key, and and I think the key as well is the people at the event, isn't it? It's that still a strong need for collaboration and meeting the right people that have the knowledge, the know-how, and the access to the technology to solve these problems because ultimately each manufacturing sector and each manufacturing production site will have customized needs. It's not about necessarily standardized machines, or to some extent it is, but it needs to be, they always need to be customized within a certain way, so it's quite different to a standard print production um operation, isn't it? And I think it's it's kind of I in many ways it's a little bit like the F1 of the print industry, isn't it? Is that sort of like you need to fine-tune this technology to work properly, you need the right people, it's possible, but if you don't have the right people, that's limiting. This event you can meet the right people.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, I think that's right. It's uh and there is you know, there is a group of audience that are out there that are looking for this type of uniqueness, unique technology. Um, so that's you know, that's what we're hoping. So, as we, you know, as you probably know, this event will be early in Jan. We want to get into the into the market. First event, really, that you want to go and have a look at January 21st, 22nd, Motorworld in Munich. Great venue, very interesting place to go anyway. Easy and accessible from the airport. Um, two days, two days of very focused content, um, showcase set of content. So lots of lots of content to see, lots of machines to see. And as meant uh as Marcus mentioned, we will be also running an AI for industrial print uh conference stream as well, which will be something very unique. So I you you've got a great a great event here for uh you know for anyone who's kind of just exploring.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and and and that event in itself's come together and it's really exciting in that yes, we do have some renowned experts from the printing community or the future print community, but we've got a number of speakers from outside who are fascinated by industrial printing technology, but are working within the manufacturing world with AI from automotive biomimicry and our entrepreneurs and our younger entrepreneurs, and I think that's exciting. You can learn a lot from that. And um, you know, we've we've got the head of head of AI from HP speaking, head of strategy from HP speaking about AI. I mean, it's it's gonna be a great couple of days, and I think the other thing is it's not about locking yourself away in a conference room for two days, it's kind of dipping in and out and and and really optimizing it, and it's kind of going to have that fluid kind of vibe to it, I think, which uh will be quite different, and the venue really plays to that. So, yeah, looking forward to it. Any final thoughts, Roger?
SPEAKER_01:Well, as I said, the only the only thing I would say is just to reflect on on the kind of approach we've taken with this. What we've seen in the last uh couple of years that has been very successful is that companies have done open house events where they've kind of had lots of different things going on. Um, Ist Mets do it, uh, you know, we've seen Seiko do it. These kind of open house got some conference content, wandering around chatting to each other, uh, some Fab Lab stuff where you see machines in action. It seems to be a real way of uh bringing people together, but also delivering some really high value content and ideas and thoughts. And that's what we want to try and do with this. So um we really hope that you can join us. Um you should be able to register online if you look at uh the show notes and yeah, and um hopefully see you there in January.
SPEAKER_00:Thank you. And the website is futureprint.events, 21st, 22nd of January, Major, Munich. Hope to see you all there. Thank you for joining me, Fraser. No problem, and looking forward to before long being in Munich. So thanks. Cheers.
