IFRA Expo 2008

27 - 30 October 2008, Amsterdam RAI

The technology and business of news publishing - all at one event!

A total of more than 8,800 visitors from 82 countries came to the Dutch capital, where 335 exhibitors from 26 countries presented their innovations for cross-media publishing on 13,321 m² net exhibition floor space.

The motto of IFRA Expo 2008 was "Get the Big Picture". Reiner Mittelbach, CEO of IFRA: "At a time such as now that is characterised by structural changes in the media industry as well as by the financial crisis, the IFRA Expo acts as an anchor for our industry. It gives impulses for new business models, it highlights technological developments – for the complete media spectrum offered by publishing houses today. Above all, it offers unique networking opportunities with colleagues from all over the world."

IFRA presented the winners of the IFRA XMA Cross Media Awards 2008 at the exhibition. The focus topic of the XMA Awards 2008 was on the cross-media advertising business. Publishing houses from Croatia, Germany, India, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom received awards for outstanding cross-media advertising campaigns.

The advertising business played an important role on the stands of the exhibitors. Many companies showed innovative ad formats for print, online, mobile media and web TV. At the centre of interest were booking systems for cross-media campaigns.

Automation and flexibility are of major importance at the prepress and printing stages as well as in the mailroom. This was reflected in the strong demand for compact presses, automatic plate change solutions and chemical-free plates.

Expo insight: face to face with the participants

Winner of IFRA XMA Cross Media Awards Andy Phelan, Herald Express

More videos:
Visitor David Ng, The New York Daily News
Visitor Mireia Sánchez March, Xanté

Focus Sessions and more

IFRA offered an extensive programme of accompanying events during the exhibition, including five Focus Sessions, the "Customer Insight" workshop, events focusing on the latest IPTC standard and on AdsML. The IFRA Expo Solution Park presented newsroom management, mobile services, search technologies, advertising/CRM, solutions for newspaper production and distribution. A large number of networking events completed the programme.
Events at IFRA Expo 2008