Packed PRINT

Published: August 01, 2009, By By Claudia Hine, Managing Editor

PackPrint makes its global debut at PRINT 09 when the every-four-year show returns to McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, September 11-16. Located in the South Hall will be 75 booths displaying converting equipment, substrates, and products. Exhibitors include Bobst Group, Korber Paperlink, Bielomatik Jagenberg, Precision AirConvey, and more.

Show organizers Graphic Arts Show Co. (GASC), Reston, VA, reports PackPrint will be “a progressive and dynamic industry event that encompasses every segment of package printing and converting for industry buyers and sellers from around the globe.” Market segments will feature the following categories:

Flexible packaging
Labels, tape, tags, film & foil
Converting
RFID & printed electronics
Folding cartons
Digital printing
Flexographic printing
Components/computerization

Admission to PackPrint also gives you access to the more than 600 total PRINT 09 exhibitors that will pack both the North and South Halls. More than 90 seminars in 14 categories will be presented as well, including “Color Management for Printing & Packaging” and “Global Trends in Packaging.”

Sustainability Section

Also new for PRINT 09 is GREENspace — an area dedicated to exhibitors that display eco-friendly products and services focused on sustainability. Ralph Nappi, president of GASC, says, “Today's global environmental concerns are not a trend — they are a reality — and savvy industry professionals are realizing that ‘green’ strategies can not only save resources but also save money. But with so much information — and misinformation — out there on this issue, many in the industry are uncertain as to what sustainability actually entails and how they can go green.”

Located in the North Hall, this space also will feature free education and complimentary one-on-one consulting. American Printer, PFFC's sister publication, will present its Environmental Excellence Awards in this pavilion on Monday, September 14.

GREENspace will provide information on the following products and services:

Paper/substrates
Recycling services
Inks/consumables
Carbon credits
Certification programs
Energy efficiency
Alternate sources of energy
Waste reduction services

RFID, Printed Electronics & More

In the North Hall, Future Print, Booth #5417, is a “must-see” show floor destination to learn more about the emerging technologies of printed electronics and RFID. Attend free educational sessions, see live demonstrations, and meet industry experts.

An educational session titled “Future Profit and Growth Bonanza: Thin Film Printed Electronics” will be held September 14. It is presented by the Flex Tech Alliance, with support from The Sonoco Inst. of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson Univ. and other members.

In the South Hall, the Wide Format Pavilion will showcase the latest inkjet, flatbed, and roll-to roll printers, supplies, and computer imaging hardware. If you're intrigued by vehicle wraps and window graphics, be sure to stop by this pavilion.

For more information, visit www.print09.com. For a sneak preview of the exhibits, visit www.pffc-online.com.

The Road to Recovery

The Executive Outlook Conference, held Thursday, September 10, the day before the show opens, will help attendees pinpoint which industry trends and technologies will provide a competitive edge in a recovering economy. “Technology Harnessed: Driving the Road to Recovery” will include timely and essential information for the package printing industry. Conference chair William C. Lamparter, president of the PrintCom Consulting Group, says, “At this year's conference, it will be technology first and product information second, delivered impartially by a knowledgeable powerhouse of leading industry consultants, printers, and suppliers.”