FESPA Southern European Congress Puts AI on Porto Agenda

31 October 2026: The FESPA Southern European Congress will bring printing industry leaders to HF Ipanema Porto in Portugal on 11–12 November 2026. Its programme combines artificial intelligence, finishing automation and sustainability with company visits, giving delegates from five Southern European countries a chance to compare business challenges and approaches to investment.

Five FESPA member associations organise the event: FESPA France, FESPA Italia, FESPA España, Portugal’s APIGRAF and the FESPA Hellas Association in Greece. According to FESPA’s announcement, the congress targets owners, CEOs, senior managers, suppliers and technology leaders working in screen, digital, textile and signage printing. Discussions will cover customer expectations, workforce shortages and technology investment.

APIGRAF expects 90-100 participants. Its format combines presentations and panel discussions with collaborative round tables and structured networking, allowing company leaders to meet their counterparts across the five national markets.

FESPA Southern European Congress programme

On 11 November, structured speed meetings will run from 14:45 to 15:45, introducing print companies, suppliers and associations. A market overview titled Big Picture: The Southern European Printing Industry will follow at 16:00, according to APIGRAF’s published schedule.

SISTRADE’s Helder Martins and Luis Loureiro will present Artificial Intelligence in the Printing and Packaging Industry at 17:15. Walter Bano of Fotoba will follow at 17:45 with a session addressing automation, sustainability and cost reduction in large-format finishing.

On the opening evening, the agenda lists dinner at the Casa da Música restaurant at 20:00.

Company case studies and sustainability

The 12 November programme will turn to practical business examples. APIGRAF’s speaker lineup includes Sign CEO Jorge Nogueira, Montecolino’s Nico Fontana, ESTUDIOS DURERO General Manager Ander Soriano Melgar and Groupe Oxysign President Sébastien Trautmann. Chris Trochoutsos of PressiousArvanitidis and FERCON Consultancy Managing Director Nikolaos Ferous will also speak.

Fontana will present the 3D Teddy Bear Project, covering the design and production of a retail mascot. Soriano’s presentation is titled Material Emocional, while Trautmann will discuss Oxysign’s multidisciplinary visual communication strategy. The host’s agenda also lists Trochoutsos on opportunities for graphic arts through AI and machine learning, and Ferous on strategic directions for printing and packaging in the age of AI.

Graeme Richardson-Locke, FESPA’s Head of Associations and Technical Lead, will discuss sustainability, market pressure and the future of print at 11:30. APIGRAF Director-General Teresa Borba will follow at 11:45 with How Can Associations Support Members on PPWR? APIGRAF groups both presentations under sustainability and regulation.

Company visits and registration

Conference sessions will close with final remarks at 12:15 on 12 November, followed by lunch before the company visits.

The afternoon programme will conclude with visits to Colorful, Sign and Meevo between 15:00 and 17:30. APIGRAF describes the visits as opportunities to see production environments, workflows, technology applications and business models directly on site.

The venue, HF Ipanema Porto, is in the city’s Boavista district at Rua do Campo Alegre, 156. APIGRAF’s event page provides the full timetable and registration options with and without accommodation for members, non-members and suppliers.

How the congress developed

Associations in France, Italy and Spain launched the congress in 2015 to strengthen links between neighbouring printing markets. APIGRAF joined later, while the Greek association joined in 2023, extending participation to five countries, FESPA reports.

https://www.apigraf.pt/sepc-2026.php#registration