Ipex is set to close following a period of consultation with the industry.
The most recent edition of the show, Ipex 2017, was organised by Informa and took place at Birmingham’s NEC from 31 October to 3 November last year.
Informa claimed more than 150 brands exhibited at the event but this was well down on the 400 exhibitors at the 2014 show, held at London’s ExCel.
Visitor numbers also dropped sharply to around 7,000, significantly below the 23,000 visitors to the London show three years prior, which was itself way down on the 50,000 visitors to the 2010 event.
Last time the show was held at the NEC in 2010, it occupied eleven halls around the atrium. In 2017 the event occupied part of hall 5.
Ipex event director Rob Fisher said: “Through Ipex, we’re proud to have played a role in an important and diverse industry, and to have supported a brand that has such a long history. We enjoyed organising and delivering Ipex 2017 and received positive feedback from exhibitors, many of whom recorded excellent levels of interest and sales at the event.”
“The changing market conditions and appetite for a large-scale event which focuses on ‘Print in Action’ continues to be challenging. Having engaged with a range of exhibitors and partners to evaluate the options for Ipex, we have concluded that the requirements of the industry.”