The leading associations of the Japanese imaging sector decided to commission Koelnmesse and TOPPAN Printing Co. Ltd. to stage the next Photo Imaging Expo in Tokyo. The two companies will jointly stage the event in 2006. The Photo Imaging Expo, which is held annually in spring, is one of the most important imaging trade fairs in Asia. The next fair will take place from March 23 to 26, 2006 at the "Big Sight" International Exhibition Center in Tokyo. Koelnmesse Executive Vice President Oliver P. Kuhrt was delighted about winning the contract: "This decision confirms the success of our involvement in Asia, which has also earned us an excellent reputation in Japan as a professional trade fair organizer. The decision is due above all to our impressive trade fair concept, which reflects the many years of experience and professional expertise we have gained from staging photokina, the leading global trade fair for the imaging sector."

The Photo Imaging Expo Tokyo is a joint event of the four leading sector associations in Japan: the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA), the Japan Photo & Video Accessory Association (JPV), the Japan Color-Photo Finishers� Association (JCFA) and the Photo-Sensitized Materials Manufacturers� Association (PMMA). The Photo Imaging Expo, which was first staged in March 2005, brings together these associations� previous events (the PhotoExpo, the Japan Camera Show, the Video Accessory Show, the Lab System Show and the International Professional Photo Fair), which were previously held separately, under one roof.

Business platform for trade visitors

The fair is aimed at trade visitors from Asia and Oceania, professional users and Japanese consumers. The event is primarily designed to serve as a business platform for trade visitors from all imaging-related sectors. It will allow buyers, exporters and retailers to meet international exhibitors, establish contacts and exploit new market opportunities. The Photo Imaging Expo enables internationally operating companies to directly target customers in Japan and other important Asian markets.

Product ranges cover the entire imaging workflow

The fair will cover the entire range of products and services for the imaging sector. In doing so, Koelnmesse will make full use of its photokina know-how. "We will strive to further expand the range of high-quality products at the Photo Imaging Expo by displaying the entire imaging workflow in the manner of photokina � from taking the picture and processing and transferring the images to the output in various media," says Kuhrt. "This would create ideal conditions for turning the Photo Imaging Expo into the leading imaging fair for the Asia-Pacific region. We will do everything we can to achieve this goal, thus demonstrating to the organizers that their trust in us is well founded."

About Toppan

Toppan, founded in 1900, is one of the leading printing companies in the world. Based on printing technology, it has branched into eight diverse business fields including security cards, commercial printing, publications printing, e-business, packaging, decorative materials, electronics and optronics. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, Toppan posted revenues of �1,297.4 billion (approximately EUR 9,54 Mrd. ), with the electronics division, including photomasks, accounting for some 20% of the total. As of March 31, 2004, the company had 32,178 employees worldwide.

Photo Imaging Expo Tokyo
March 23�26, 2006
"Big Sight" International Exhibition Center, Tokyo