Neuss industrial inkjet showcase lined up for November
Europe’s biggest conference for industrial inkjet and other emerging printing technologies, Industrial Print Integration (IPI), returns for its fifth edition on 24-25 November 2026 in Neuss, Germany. As part of the pre-conference program, ESMA has also arranged for interested delegates to tour the Epson Experience Centre, which is also located in Neuss.
ESMA is the European association for printing manufacturers in screen and digital printing, which has steadily matured into an organisation representing industrial, functional and speciality print. This year’s showcase IPI event promises to bring together companies and institutions currently involved in developing the next generation of industrial print applications, focusing on three key trends:
- the rise of functional printing for electronics and smart surfaces;
- advances in high-viscosity jetting enabling thicker and more functional inks; and
- the growing convergence of industrial printing and additive manufacturing.
Six keynote presentations will explore these developments from a range of perspectives. Bernd Zipper (Zipcon) will examine how AI is transforming print procurement and supply chain management. A collaboration between Axalta, Dürr Systems and Xaar will showcase a robotic vehicle-painting system combining digital print technology with advanced coatings. Jon Harper Smith (Smithers) will provide strategic market analysis, while Jan Schrooten (Antleron) will demonstrate multi-material 3D printing platforms for patient-centric biomedical solutions, highlighting the convergence of printing and additive manufacturing. Witold Nawrot (XTPL) will showcase ultra-precise dispensing technology for 1µm interconnections, and Johanna Rimböck (EV Group) will present inkjet solutions for next-generation AR/VR optics.
Technical sessions will also delve deeper into the technologies driving new industrial applications, such as customised print systems for functional printing on diverse substrates, printhead designs optimised for high-viscosity inks, and advanced ink formulations. The programme will also address UV-LED curing and IR drying for industrial environments, big data and AI for process optimisation, sustainability in manufacturing, direct-to-shape printing for complex geometries, plasma treatment for challenging materials, and sustainable 3D printing approaches leveraging industrial printing technologies.
Many of these topics are on the fringe of the printing industry right now, but it probably pays to maintain a firm watching brief, especially with the likes of Agfa and Epson so heavily involved.
