The Sign Africa Expo 2013, taking place from August 21st - 23rd 2013 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, is set to showcase a diverse range of signage, display and digital graphics solutions to visitors from across Africa. The Expo, sponsored by Roland and Avery Dennison, also promises to feature brand new innovations in wide-format technology.

For the majority of exhibitors, Sign Africa will be an opportunity to demonstrate the latest in their digital printer ranges, whether narrow- or superwide-format. As well as demonstrating its Kodak NexPress SX3300 digital printer, Antalis South Africa will present its LED UV-curing printer from EFI, the VUTEk GS3250LX, which promises a greener printing solution through lower ink curing temperatures.

Graphix Supply World will show off two printers from Fujifilm: the Acuity Advance HD flatbed printer for high-quality display work, as well as the Acuity LED UV ink-jet hybrid printer, which it cites as particularly well-suited to printing to heat-sensitive media.

As well as launching a new range of UV-curable printing machinery, Applied Imaging will attend with its Microtec Heat press for garment decoration. AWT, meanwhile, will be bringing the swissQprint Impala, giving African audiences the opportunity to see the nine picolitre drop, 'reinforced' roll-to-roll and tandem print mode features that were introduced at FESPA 2013.

Clear Solutions will present the Handtop HT2512UV FG12 flat-bed, designed for both print shop and industrial use. Midcomp will have a range of HP printers at Sign Africa, including the new Latex 3000 printer and its Scitex FB500 flat-bed. It will also showcase its Zünd G3 cutter and Anajet M-power garment printer.

Expo sponsor Roland has two SolJet printers from its Pro 4 range: the XR-640 printer and cutter - winner of the Viscom 'Best of 2012' award - and the XF-640 64" (163cm) wide-format printer. Createx has announced that it will exhibit three printers at Sign Africa: the Twinjet SJ-3216 Pro, the TX1816 Pro for textile printing and the eco-solvent SJ-1605 printer.

SignTronic will exhibit the Océ 480GT UV-curable engine, which doubles up on cyan and magenta channels to improve speed and colour density; Sytech Supplies, meanwhile, will introduce the Seiko Colorpainter M-64S, which looks to address a growing demand for signage and indoor graphics.

Xerox will be present at Sign Africa with its wide-format IJP 2000 engine; driven by Caldera's GrandRIP+, this will allow African visitors their first chance to see this new device, a departure for Xerox, on home soil. Lastly, Chemosol will showcase the Epson SC-F series, namely the SC-F6000 and SC-F7000 - Epson's first foray into dye-sublimation. The company will also present its Color-Dec 300M doming unit.

As well as its 3D film for solvent and eco-solvent printers, Portamex has announced it will exhibit its Flash Film polymeric substrate, silver metallic Glacier photo professional paper and bright white photographic canvas. Avery Dennison has its own Supreme wrapping film, a dual-layer film that comes in a range of 33 colour options and is now available in 1.52m-wide rolls, at Print Africa.

Applied Imaging will be hoping to impress with its fully recyclable Jetmaster photo panels, a lightweight alternative to MDF display blocks. Having recently released its new generation of printable vinyl for garments, Touch of Magic will be demonstrating its PU Print and Clear Print ranges.

Maizey Plastics and Avery Dennison will both be demonstrating vinyl film for vehicle wraps. Avery's stand will house Flexstreme, a micro-squeegee for use in applications where a regular squeegee is unable to reach. Audiences will be invited to try out some of Maizey Plastic's wrapping techniques at its live demonstrations, which will use Graficast specialist vehicle films, plus the full range of Graficast automotive vinyls.

Hall two of Sign Africa will host a vinyl application zone, allowing visitors to receive step-by-step instruction, while in hall one Roland and Avery Dennison will drive the annual Speed Wrap Challenge. There's plenty for those that don't just want to see digital print propositions: Wired4Signs will bring its new LED lighting module, Modico its range of stamp machines and related consumables, and Rubber Stamp and Engraving will promote Trotec's laser cutting system.

After the success of last year's Sign Africa, organisers will hope that this year's exhibitors will continue to draw in the visitors and provide a platform to promote and nurture the burgeoning print industry on the African continent.