The Print Show is held each year at the NEC Birmingham and has been a real highlight for our activity here at Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd this year. After 26 weeks of preparation, planning, designing and refining our new 2026 stand, it was fantastic to see everything come together - and even better to see how strongly visitors responded. This year we welcomed 23% more visitors, a clear sign (if you pardon the pun!) that our expanded presence and refreshed approach resonated with the print community.
From the moment the doors opened, there was a real buzz around the hall. The Print Show’s organisers reported an impressive 5,500 visitors this year, but what stood out most for us was the quality of conversations we had. People weren’t just browsing or there to ‘kick tyres’; they were genuinely exploring how they could evolve their businesses, diversify into new markets and make smarter use of technology. That’s exactly the kind of conversations we aim to create.
A stand designed for real engagement
Our new, larger stand played a big part in this. Designed to be welcoming and easy to navigate, it enabled visitors to explore or expanding range of print solutions. The goal was to show visitors how our technologies connect – from production print, creative applications, workflow automation and, of course, labels - and how they support customers at every stage of their growth and evolution.
It certainly worked. Visitors stayed longer, asked more questions and often returned later in the day with colleagues to learn more. The stand became a genuine hub of activity, and the feedback we received was incredibly encouraging.
Showcasing technology that matters
One of the biggest draws was the European debut of our new AccurioLabel 231 – which was launched at our Client Engagement Centre a few weeks ago. Label production continues to be one of the fastest‑growing areas in print, and the interest in this device reflected that perfectly. Its automation, colour consistency and ease of use sparked a lot of conversations with both established label converters and commercial printers looking to diversify into a new, interesting and potentially lucrative space.
We also showcased our latest production print systems and creative print capabilities, including metallic effects, white toner and textured finishes. These demonstrations always attract designers, agencies and commercial printers who want to add value to their work - and this year was no exception.
Workflow automation was another major talking point. Many visitors wanted to understand how they could reduce their manual touchpoints, speed up turnaround times and improve accuracy. Being able to walk them through our software ecosystem and partner solutions in person undoubtedly gave them a perspective of these benefits that is more of a challenge to convey online.
Celebrating new sales and established partnerships
Undoubtedly, some of the standout moments for us were welcoming customers to the stand during the show. This included Handy Labels, which is the first UK business to order an AccurioLabel 231; and Cotswold Labels, which has invested in a new AccurioLabel 400. Beyond traditional label producers, there was also considerable interest from many other commercial printers in diversifying into label production at the Print Show, confirming that expanding our labels proposition on the stand was the right thing to do.
We were also pleased to welcome Omicron Repro to our stand, which has bought an AccurioPress C5070. We were also delighted to meet with BDP Wales to discuss their needs, which has led to them signing a deal for a new AccurioPress C8090.
It was also great to see our strategic partner Connect Print exhibiting at the show for the first time since their launch last year – a real indicator of their growth and success in just 12 months. Although we had separate stands, we spent a lot of time speaking with visitors about how we work together to support customers. Connect Print’s consultative approach complements our technology offering perfectly and hearing them talk so openly about the value of the partnership reinforced just how well aligned we are in helping customers grow, diversify and innovate.
Looking ahead
We’re immensely proud of what our team achieved this year. The increased footfall, the strong engagement, the new partnerships and the overwhelmingly positive feedback all point to a successful event - and to Konica Minolta’s ever-growing and expanding role in supporting the UK print industry.
The show reinforced something we see every day: print businesses are evolving fast, and they’re looking for partners who can help them innovate with confidence and support. This year’s event again proved that we’re delivering exactly that.
If you didn’t make it to The Print Show this year don’t worry, our Client Engagement Centre in Houghton Regis, near Luton, is always available for you to test our production print, office print and broader Digital Workplace innovations – you can book your visit HERE
