GRAPH EXPO Is Print Integrated

Graphic communications professionals from across the Americas and beyond will want to be in Chicago October 7-10 when GRAPH EXPO 2012 takes place at McCormick Place South. Now spanning the realm of print, online, and mobile, not only will the latest new technologies be on display, but also there will be a full slate of educational sessions, 45 co-located events across 12 key market segments, several new show floor features, dedicated pavilions, several inaugural industry events, live technology demonstrations, and continual networking opportunities.

Learning opportunities will begin October 6 with the annual pre-show EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK trends and technology conference that this year will focus on "Using Marketing and Technology to Innovate and Thrive." Sponsored by EFI and Xerox, the half-day conference will conclude with the announcement of the MUST SEE 'EMS "Best in Category" awardees and Positively Print winner.

The 45 co-located events that will include organizations' conferences, user-group meetings, awards ceremony banquets, and other special events held in tandem with GRAPH EXPO will provide networking opportunities and education in the areas of commercial and quick printing, in-plant printing, digital and transactional printing, future print, marketing and creative, newspaper printing, package printing and converting, post press/finishing/mailing, print buying and brokering, and workflow/color management.

Other educational opportunities will include some 50 'hot-topic' sessions in 31 trending education categories that will address the needs of the full spectrum of the graphic communications industry including, for the first time, a track for corporate/educational/in-plant centers. Also new for 2012 is the Global Channel Partners Summit, a show-floor hub where dealers will come to examine current industry trends and network with manufacturers and customers; and the PrintMediaCentr "Experience the Printerverse"—a new 'home base' for all attendees to meet, tweet, learn, share, interact, and explore the latest innovations and applications that are driving the industry forward in a wealth of new directions. Other highlights will include the 7th Annual Print Buyers International Print & Media Conference, the Xplor Conference, and the G7 Summit 2012 from IDEAlliance. Registrants for any of the educational sessions also will receive a free GRAPH EXPO 2012 floor pass.

GRAPH EXPO's variety of specialty show-floor sections, areas, and pavilions will include the debut of The CPP EXPO Zone, a unique new converting area specifically designed to complement the growth of package-printing exhibitors, technologies, and offerings. Attendees will also find the return of the Marketing Pavilion, which offers education, resources, and networking opportunities for today's marketers; the fourth annual GREENspace, a showcase on sustainability and eco-friendly products and services; News Print, the newspaper pavilion, back by attendee demand for a third year at GRAPH EXPO as the dedicated show floor section for newspaper printers and production executives; the Mailing & Fulfillment Center, the industry's largest mailing event anywhere in the Americas; the Prepress/Software: Workflow & Design and Press/Finishing/PackPrint/Photo Imaging sections; Future Print, sponsored by FlexTech Alliance to showcase two of today's far-reaching technologies, Printed Electronics and RFID; and, Education Main Street, for attendees seeking well-educated, talented industry newcomers to augment their company's workforce.

Notably for this year's GRAPH EXPO, the very latest and most diverse array of innovations and solutions in wide-format printing/imaging and package printing will be demonstrated by vendors throughout the show floor. An additional highlight of GRAPH EXPO 2012 is the International Buyers Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which brings international buyers together with U.S. firms. pP