Industrial Printing's Renaissance: FuturePrint Industrial Print at Munich's Motorworld Beckons a New Era

In an industry renowned for tradition and incremental evolution, genuine moments of reinvention are rare. Yet, two seasoned architects of print industry innovation, Marcus Timson and Frazer Chesterman, are intent on delivering just that. Their latest venture, FuturePrint TECH Industrial Print, scheduled for January 21-22, 2026 at Munich's Motorworld, aims not merely to rekindle past successes but to respond to a changed industrial landscape with an event fit for a volatile age.

Timson and Chesterman are no strangers to disruption. Veterans of the print sector since the early 2000s, they played pivotal roles in transforming FESPA from a modest trade association into a global brand for wide-format digital printing. Later, they co-founded InPrint, a trailblazing industrial print exhibition that at its peak drew 200 exhibitors and 4,500 visitors across Munich, Milan, and the United States. InPrint was sold under circumstances outside their control in 2018, yet its success remains a benchmark.

The duo's new project is not a mere rehash of former glories. As Timson explains, "The landscape has changed. The event we are building in Munich is designed for today's challenges, not yesterday's successes." Central to their approach is recognising that industrial print is a vital component of modern manufacturing, whether screen printing or digital inkjet print technology.

Industrial printing encompasses functional and decorative applications where the printed element is integral to the finished product. It spans diverse sectors, from automotive interiors and biomedical devices to white goods and electronic components. This complexity demands more than a traditional tradeshow model; it necessitates a platform that connects technology providers with manufacturers seeking agile, adaptive solutions to their production challenges.

Munich's selection is no accident. The Bavarian capital sits at the nexus of Europe's high-tech manufacturing corridor. It is home to automotive giants, advanced engineering firms, and a dense network of suppliers and innovators. By hosting FuturePrint Industrial Print in Munich, the organisers are not only leveraging historical success but tapping into a locale brimming with potential attendees who need industrial printing to future-proof their operations.

The venue itself, Motorworld Munich, embodies the spirit of industrial heritage fused with modernity. A former locomotive repair hall, now a cultural and exhibition space, it offers over 1,000 square metres of flexible exhibition and networking areas, with the event itself being hosted in the distinctive 'Coal Bunker' a multi-faceted space perfect for this new event. The organisers intend the event to be dynamic: not a conventional conference or trade show but a vibrant marketplace where ideas, machines, and people intermingle freely.

Central to the strategy is careful audience curation. Chesterman stresses, "We want to engage manufacturers looking to integrate print into their processes, not just suppliers talking to each other." This goal recalls their data-driven approach during the InPrint years, when they painstakingly targeted prospects across Germany and the broader DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). This time, their efforts will be amplified by FuturePrint's existing community of 25,000 industry contacts, alongside a digital marketing push featuring topical webinars in the autumn of 2025 on automotive applications, printed electronics, and more.

The event's format is designed to maximize efficiency. Visitors will be able to achieve tangible results in a single day, combining exposure to technology demonstrations, peer networking, and curated conference content. This "festival-style" format is intended to accommodate modern business realities, where executives juggle tight schedules and demand clear return on time invested.

Launching a new event in uncertain times might seem counterintuitive. But Chesterman and Timson argue that uncertainty itself creates opportunity. "Manufacturers are grappling with supply chain disruption, skill shortages, and rapidly evolving consumer expectations," notes Timson. "Technology—particularly digital and automated solutions—is seen as the answer. Industrial printing innovation is part of that solution."

FuturePrint team has a compelling blend of experience of launching events, market knowledge, connections, organisation and marketing proficiency.

Indeed, developments in print technology since their first Munich event a decade ago support this thesis. Inkjet has matured significantly, offering better speeds, greater reliability, and superior print quality. Curing technologies have advanced, ink chemistries have improved, and the market has shifted towards water-based solutions, reflecting environmental pressures. Software has risen from a supporting role to equal prominence, enabling smarter, more connected manufacturing ecosystems. Artificial intelligence, virtually absent from the conversation ten years ago, now promises to reshape how production lines operate.

"This is not nostalgia," insists Chesterman. "Industrial print continues to evolve. Innovation in materials, processes, and applications is relentless." The need for connectivity and agility in manufacturing only intensifies this evolution. Technologies once considered fringe are now mission-critical, offering answers to the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) conditions that define modern industry. 

Execution is everything. The FuturePrint team recognises that success will depend not only on attracting exhibitors but also on drawing in an engaged audience of decision-making manufacturers. To support this, a series of planned webinars will build early awareness and help qualify prospects well ahead of January 2026. The team’s German language capabilities—particularly through marketing lead Elena Knight—and the experienced event project management of operations lead Cindy Cooper will strengthen local engagement and ensure a smooth, professionally delivered experience for both exhibitors and attendees.

For exhibitors, the event offers a timely platform. With the demise of InPrint and no clear successor on the calendar, FuturePrint Industrial Print arrives into a vacuum. Companies eager to showcase new developments for the 2026 market will find few better opportunities to position themselves early in the year.

Timson and Chesterman's vision for the event is ambitious yet grounded in a deep understanding of both industrial print technology and event curation. As they put it, this is an evolution, not a reprise. Their formula blends digital marketing acumen, strong local ties and connections with technology leaders, and a clear-eyed focus on manufacturers' real-world needs.

If their instincts prove correct, Munich's Motorworld may not merely host another industry event—it could mark the beginning of a new chapter for industrial printing in Europe and beyond.