The 18th edition of Sign Graphic Imaging Dubai, held in January at the World Trade Center, successfully concluded. The next edition, SGI Dubai 2016, will take place from January 10-12, 2016 at the World Trade Center.

Sign Graphic Imaging (SGI) Dubai 2015, traditionally the first show in the graphic arts calendar of each year, once again broke its own records. 12,781 visitors not only from the MENA region but worldwide visited the event whose reputation for excellent trade opportunities goes far beyond the region.
Global printers congregated at SGI Dubai 2015, the largest exhibition of its kind in the Middle East, to witness the latest developments and trends in all that is related to signage. Be it large format printers and applications including finishing, digital signage, consumables and/or just to get inspired by all the possibilities technology enables today.
Visitors of the conference sessions on technology and trends that were held for the first time in concurrence with SGI Dubai 2015 walked away with new insights.
The hidden gems and new applications on the showfloor attracted much attention from visitors. Among others, retail solutions are much in demand, not only in the MENA region but worldwide. Combination of technologies, interaction and personalized experiences by customers are the latest trend that SGI Dubai 2015 also reflected. Another trend that’s on offer for some time but only now catching on is textile printing. The whole variety from simple t-shirt printing and flag printing to sophisticated applications including curtains, whole office, shop or hotel decoration could be seen to be on offer by the various exhibitors.
Apart from regional launches and first presentations in the region, several companies chose SGI Dubai 2015 for their worldwide product launches such as Agfa with its new Acorta cutting plotter or Saga Digital with its new ICON 34S. SGI Dubai 2015 has been the exhibition of choice with its strategic location accessible to many players in both the Middle East as well as the international market.
SGI Dubai influences printer’s decisions on buying new equipment and/or entering new business activities. The multitude of applications enabled by showcased products is absolutely breathtaking and the list keeps growing year by year”, says Mr. Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of International Expo Consultants (IEC), the organizers of the show. “Visitors and exhibitors like the atmosphere of SGI Dubai.”
After Dubai’s Expo 2020 win, signmakers, print and production managers and deciders among others are very upbeat about the growth in the region and the latest predictions from industry analysts showing a potential growth between 7 to 7.9 percent (yoy) support their positive expectations. Evolving technologies such as digital signage, personalized mobile experiences when passing certain digitally enabled sign applications but also cross-media campaigns that cover print, digital, mobile and TV advertising among others enable the industry to (r)evolutionise itself beyond any hitherto known borders. SGI Dubai is ready to also cater to those markets and thus allowing printers in the region and beyond to be at the fore-front in their industry.

Until SGI Dubai 2016 starts, printers, exhibitors, visitors can keep themselves abreast of new developments, trends, news and all that refers to signage and print by visiting the SGI Resource Center at www.signageresource.com.