In response to the revolutionary changes challenging the printing industry, the organiser of this year's PacPrint13 printing trade show and exhibition in Melbourne in May has taken a more educational approach to this year's event, instituting a series of changes driven by an extensive market research project over recent months.
The changes include the incorporation of forums focusing on future prospects and trends for the industry, as well as the introduction of a workshop series dedicated to improving business performance.
PacPrint, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 21-25 May this year, is a leading regional trade fair for all sectors of the local printing industry. Held every four years, it includes a strong focus on digital print, finishing, packaging and converting.
“Right from the start of the planning process, we have been aware that PacPrint13 would have to be a very different event from those which have preceded it,” PacPrint13 chairman, Ian Martin, said.
“Quite apart from the obvious changes to the size and composition of the industry since 2009, the media landscape, competition and challenges facing businesses, and the options and opportunities available have all altered radically in that time. The responses gathered from a broad cross-section of the industry has given us a good idea of what changes we need to make to reflect that transformation.”
The organiser's research involved conducting face-to-face meetings with past PacPrint exhibitors and visitors as well as canvassing the views of more than 600 business owners and key industry personnel in a survey.
The study found a major reason cited for visiting PacPrint was to keep pace with industry trends, with areas including digital technology, finishing, prepress and production, and technical innovation – including printed electronics – particularly identified.
A desire for more educational and networking opportunities was also a strong trend revealed by the research.
In response, organisers have restructured the event's forum series to more specifically zero in on future challenges and trends.
“Print and graphic communications is in the middle of a period of unprecedented change and, in order to chart a course for success, it’s important for business owners to have as clear a view as possible of where that future is leading,” the chief executive of forum organiser Printing Industries, Bill Healey said.
“Painting a picture of that future, in both general and industry-specific terms, and giving businesses the resources they need to transition in the best possible way, will be our aim for the PacPrint13 Forum Series.
“Printing Industries has always supported the educational component of exhibitions like PacPrint, which is a ‘once in four year’ opportunity not only to see new products and services first hand, but to learn as much as possible about what is happening in our industry.”
This year's forum series will take the theme “An Industry in Transition”, and will comprise three sessions running from 22 to 24 May. Topics to be covered will include: the implications of global trends for business over the next 20 years; past, present and future perspectives for print; and managing successful transitions.
A series of new Business Improvement Workshops have also been instituted to tackle more specific issues raised by research participants.
“Essentially, these workshops will be ‘meet the expert’ sessions, where visitors can gather valuable information on topics of interest in short, sharp sessions which will be totally focused on the requirements of our industry,” PacPrint13's Martin said.
“We are currently speaking with a number of experts in a wide range of areas in order to develop a program which will provide the greatest benefit to businesses across the board. Topics will be diverse, from things like how to take advantage of government support for the industry, to the likely impact and opportunities offered by the NBN, how to use social media to build your business, innovation and its role in business success and, of course, more general areas such as financial management and retirement planning, how to optimise business performance, and sustainability and energy efficiency.”
The workshop sessions will run at both 2pm and 3pm every day of the show except Saturday.
The event organisers said the changes appear to have already met a positive reception from exhibitors, with more than 100 companies having already confirmed their attendance.
Currie Group and HP have recently confirmed they will attend, joining such companies as Spectra Training, Alto Recordah, Rojo Pacific, GMS Pacific, Label Line, Royle Bind, Rotary Engineering, Herben Numbering Systems, Prismatic Inks, Impression Technology and BJ Ball.
The PacPrint13 printing industry trade fair and exhibition in Melbourne is to change its format to meet exhibitors' concerns about changes to the print industry.
