2019 Trade Show Recap

Inkcups had a full year of trade shows – 19 to be exact! While each trade show allows us to meet with existing customers and create relationships with new ones, they also give us the opportunity to showcase our latest products. Here are some of the highlights from 2019:

PSI (Promotional Product Service Institute) is the largest promotional products show in Europe and draws companies from all over the world. At this show, we presented a combination of our UV printers as well as our pad printing machines. For UV printers, we highlighted the for drinkware, the XJET UV LED printer and the X2® flatbed UV printer*. Additionally, we showcased the B100 1-color tabletop pad printer and the Cobalt 2000 pad printing plate maker. Our bonus showcase was the MagiCoat® Turntable for glassware. *As of April 2023 the X2®  has been discontinued, please see the X5®  as its replacement.

PPAI (Promotional Products Association International) took place about a week later in Las Vegas. Inkcups has been exhibiting at PPAI for about five years now. It is one of the largest shows we attend annually, and we tend to go all out. In 2019, our Helix® digital cylinder printer won a PPAI award for its candleholder printing application. Our booth showcased a whopping eight machines! First up were our UV printers: Helix digital cylinder printer, X360 industrial inkjet UV printer for cylinders, X5® UV flatbed printer and the XJET800 UV flatbed inkjet printer. For pad printing machines, we presented the B100, ICN-150 2-color large image pad printing machine, and the 2200-L 2-color linear conveyor pad printer. Finally, we also displayed two of our laser plate-makers, the CobaltONE fiber laser etching machine and the Cobalt 2000.

On the apparel side, we attended ISS (now recognized as Impressions) in Long Beach, CA. Our lineup consisted of the Brite Tagless Printer, one of our newest innovations that prints a very opaque white on dark fabrics, and our standard B100 1-color tabletop care label printing machine and the 2200-PS- 2-color care label printing machine. As a complete solution provider, we also showcased our laser plate-makers: the CobaltONE and the Cobalt 2000.

FESPA, a global show held in multiple locations annually, took our team to Bangkok, Thailand for FESPA Asia. At this event, we presented our tagless printers. Inkcups Asia showcased our Brite Tagless Printer, the 2200-PS 2-color pad printer, and the CobaltONE laser plate-maker.

Next, we joined the Inkcups Mexico team at Expo Produccion. As another apparel show, we had a beautiful booth that displayed the Brite Tagless Printer – with a showcased application of printing on black T-shirts – the B100 1-color tagless printer, and the 2200-PS 2-color pad printer. Our team in Mexico reported a very successful trade show.

InPrint Louisville brought the US team to the Derby City. At this industrial show, we presented multiple UV printers and pad printing machines. First up, we had a drawing for a custom cooler printed on the X5-T flatbed UV digital printer. This was this machine’s first show and it was well-received by visitors. Next, we had our flagship Helix® digital cylinder printer as well as the X360 inkjet UV printer for cylinders, both showing their direct-to-cylinder printing capabilities by printing on drinkware. Finally, the XJET800 UV flatbed inkjet printer demonstrated its unique automation-ready conveyor system for loading and unloading. For pad printing machines, we showcased the B100 1-color tabletop pad printer with a featured application of printing on plastic magnetic clips, the ICN-150 2-color large image pad printing machine printing on notebooks, and the 2200-PS 2-color pad printing machine with pad slide, which printed on a popular giveaway: the fidget spinner. We also presented our laser plate-makers in action – demonstrating how to prepare pad printing plates efficiently. Finally, the MagiCoat pre-treatment system made its trade show debut, demonstrating how to properly prepare glassware for digital printing.

Our Tagless team visited Ho Chi Minh City, home of our Inkcups Vietnam office, to attend SaigonTex, an apparel show. This show enabled our team to present our complete tagless solutions, which is available globally to all customers. From tagless pad printing machines to laser plate-makers, to pad printing inks and supplies, Inkcups has the turnkey solution. At this show, we once again showcased our Brite Tagless Printer, the 2200-PS, and the CobaltONE laser plate-maker.

A month later in May, our Inkcups Europe team traveled to Munich for FESPA. While this show was primarily focused on UV printers, we also presented our pad printing machines. For UV printers, we showcased the X5® UV flatbed printer printing on pens, the XJET industrial inkjet UV printer printing on parking discs and finally, the Helix digital cylinder printer decorating cups. The B100 1-color pad printer and the 2200-PS also made appearances printing on fidget spinners and bottle openers.

After FESPA, the Inkcups Tagless team traveled to Barcelona for the largest apparel show in the world, ITMA. This international textile show takes place every four years and typically lasts a week. At this event, we presented our tagless solutions: the B100-1 color tabletop care label printing machine, the Brite Tagless Printer, and the 2200-PS 2-color care label printing machine. Our laser plate-maker solutions, the CobaltONE and the Cobalt 2000 were also on the show floor.

At PRINTING United (formerly SGIA), our largest show of the year, we launched the Revolution® high-speed digital cylinder printer. In addition to the Revolution®, we completed our trio of rotary inkjet printers by also showcasing the Helix® digital cylinder printer and the X360, industrial inkjet UV printer for cylinders. From a flatbed perspective, we presented the X5® UV flatbed printer decorating cooler bags. PRINTING United was also the official launch location of the ICN-200 large image pad printing machine. The ICN-200 features a whopping 200 mm ink cup capable of printing images up to 190 mm in diameter. Rounding out the pad printing machines, we showcased the Brite Tagless Printer, the 2200-PS 2-color pad printer, and the ICN-150 2-color large image pad printer. Additionally, at this show, the newly released Helix®Hi-Fi won an SGIA award for Product of the Year.

Our 2020 trade show list is shaping up to be just as busy as 2019. Be sure to keep an eye out for our trade show calendar to see where we are headed next. As always, if there is a particular machine you are interested in, please contact us and we would be happy to set up a private demo at one of our shows.