The Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA) has merged with the Graphic Arts Services Association of Australia (GASAA).

PIAA chief executive Bill Healey said the new body would continue to be known as the PIAA, although it might get a new name once an ongoing strategic review was completed.

He also said GASAA would continue to function, but that it would be renamed GASA or Graphics Arts Services Australia.

"The question in our rebranding is whether GASA stays as a standalone brand as part of our organisation or whether it is absorbed and a new branding arrangement made," he told ProPrint.

[Feature: Merger is part of consolidation trend]

The merger is expected to allow GASA executive officer Garry Knespal to spend less time on administrative duties and more on networking, events, training programs and webinars.

Knespal told ProPrint that he was keen to use the GASA name to help the industry build stronger relationships with the creative and design sectors.

"For us it's about maintaining a brand that's got some currency, until such time as the PIAA completes their brand analysis and strategic review, at which point everything's on the table," he said.

"I think we've done a fairly extensive analysis and consultative period and now everyone's looking forward to the two organisations amalgamating and combining all their talents."

[Linkedin: Will we see more consolidation in the industry?]

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