This year’s Print21 & Promodays trade show, held in April, perfectly demonstrated what an event looks like when it truly addresses the core of the industry. The strong turnout of both exhibitors and visitors, crowded halls, lively interaction and concrete business discussions confirmed that highly specialized regional trade fairs are not only needed, but very much in demand.
The combination of the print and promo segments also proved to be a complete success. Feedback from participants confirms that this concept has both a future and serious growth potential.
The trade fair gathered 52 exhibitors from 10 countries, while visitor interest was exceptional, with attendees literally filling the entrance area on the first day. According to official figures, around 1,700 professionals from 23 countries visited the event over the course of two days.
Everyone who attended will likely agree on one thing: the interest was high, the atmosphere productive, the energy excellent and participant satisfaction visible everywhere. Many established valuable business contacts, agreed on new collaborations, and some even told us they had already closed orders during the event.
Technology premieres and creativity in action
As soon as visitors entered the exhibition halls, it became clear that the focus within the print segment was not only on technologies themselves, but also on their practical application through real products. Around 90 different machines were showcased in Halls 7 and 7a, ranging from smaller specialized devices to serious production printing systems for sheetfed and roll printing, along with accompanying finishing solutions. Almost all machines were running live demonstrations throughout both days.
Just like last year in Ljubljana and again last week in Zagreb, DTF and UV DTF technologies stood out prominently. These technologies could be seen at 11 different booths, proving that they remain among the most sought-after solutions in the personalized printing segment.
Within the promo segment, exhibitors provided visitors with a comprehensive overview of current industry trends and possibilities. Alongside traditional promotional products, the level of innovation particularly impressed attendees, clearly showing that exhibitors are doing everything they can to help brands stand out on the market.
Perhaps the best proof of the fair’s importance were the seven technology premieres, some of them even European premieres. The premieres were presented by Europapier Dipa, Eurotrade and Xerox, Gea Data, IGEPA PAKO, Konica Minolta, Modico Graphic Systems and N.C.R.
AI and market differentiation as key topics in the FESPA educational corner
Alongside the technology showcase, the educational program also played an important role. It was organized with the support of the FESPA association and implemented in cooperation with FESPA Croatia. The educational corner gathered experts and industry professionals who, through lectures and discussions, addressed topics important for everyday business operations.
The first day focused mainly on print-related topics, while the second day was more dedicated to promotional products and market differentiation.
At the very beginning, the results of a survey conducted by Print Magazin on the challenges and drivers affecting regional printing companies were presented. After that, Niko Vlastelica from Canon introduced attendees to profitable print segments from a global perspective.
Darko Toplak from the Slovenian printing company V-tisk spoke about the printing companies of the future and how businesses should adapt to changing market conditions. A group of professors from the Faculty of Graphic Arts in Zagreb, Marina Vukoje Bezjak, Tomislav Cigula, Filip Cvitić and Irena Bates — together with Jelena Poljak Gaži from Baltazar printing company, presented three examples of concrete cooperation between academia and industry.
The first day concluded with a panel discussion on workforce shortages and automation, questioning whether one can compensate for the other. Participants included Branko Mihorko from Sistrade and Admir Joldić from Xerox.
The second day began with the screening of the short film “Choose Graphics”. The film was initiated by FESPA Croatia and created in cooperation with graphic arts educational institutions and printing companies. Its goal is to present the real face of the industry: technologically advanced, creative and full of opportunities for those who want to build a career in it.
The educational program continued with a presentation by Filip Macan from Macan printing company, who spoke about premium printing and why it matters for physical products. Veronika Vesztergom from Makito followed with a presentation explaining why promotional product suppliers remain important even in the era of Temu and Shein. Elvis Osmanović from Yuma Design Studio discussed the impact AI is having on graphic production.
The educational program concluded with an interesting panel discussion on how companies can stand out in a saturated market and find their unique selling proposition (USP). Speakers included Tino Ostojić from Abysalto, Tibor Trupec from Kontra Agency and Valerija Brkić from Og grafika.
The first Croatian Wrap Master
An additional highlight of the fair was the first FESPA World Wrap Masters Croatia 2026 competition. Ten outstanding wrappers demonstrated precision, speed and skill in working with films. The winner was József Szebeni from Hungary. The competition took place under the watchful eyes of judges Kiss Lajos from Hungary and Zlatko Beganović from Croatia.
In addition to valuable prizes for the top three contestants, the winner also secured direct qualification for the world finals that will take place from May 19–22 at the FESPA exhibition in Barcelona.
Overall, the ninth edition of Print21 & Promodays fulfilled expectations and established a strong foundation for further development. Reactions from exhibitors and visitors suggest that this format has the potential to become an important regional meeting point for the industry, with a clear focus on technology, knowledge and concrete business results. That is why we are already scheduling the next edition for spring 2026 in Ljubljana.
