Koelnmesse to co-organize Photo Imaging Expo in Tokyo

The first Photo Imaging Expo Tokyo took place in March this year, comprising the previously separate trade shows of 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 fair is primarily designed to serve as a business platform for trade visitors from all imaging-related sectors and will allow buyers, exporters and retailers to meet international exhibitors, establish contacts and exploit new market opportunities. The entire range of products and services for the photo and imaging sector will be on display. According to Oliver P. Kuhrt, Managing Director of Koelnmesse, the fair company will use its proven photokina expertise to help turning Photo Imaging Expo into the leading imaging fair for the Asia/Pacific region. The partner, Toppan Printing Co. Ltd., was founded in 1900 and is one of the leading printing companies in the world. It operates eight business divisions including security cards, commercial printing, publications printing, e-business, packaging, decorative materials, electronics and optronics. In the fiscal year, which ended March 31, 2004, Toppan posted revenues of Yen 1,297.4 billion (Euro 9.54 billion), with the electronics division, including photomasks, accounting some 20 percent of the total. As of March 31, 2004, the company had 32,178 employees worldwide.