Eumaprint, originally a forum for the European Committee of Printing and Paper Converting Machinery Manufacturers, is now expanding to represent supplier organisations worldwide. The second forum, held at GEC in Milan, brought together delegates from GAMAA’s counterparts around the world including France, Italy, UK, Germany, Japan, Spain, China, Russia and the USA. Much of the discussion centred on industry statistics and market analysis, however there was also interest in some of the longer term issues, in particular those of education and of attracting younger people into the industry.
David Rands, GAMAA president, says “It is essential that national associations act together in an international context. As most suppliers are operating internationally the picture is a more global one.”
Some of the associations represented at Eumaprint presented case studies demonstrating their focus on attracting graduates to the sector. The US recently ran a $1million programme, ‘Make Your Mark’, which promoted the industry to 65,000 high schools. In Germany the decrease in the number of students undertaking engineering degrees is being countered with a ‘Think Ink’ career education programme, featuring trade shows, school visits, websites and CD ROMs, while Spain held a ‘Young Conference on Printing’ to promote and explain the industry. According to Rands, it was timely that GAMAA, with its education programme of scholarships and industry workshops, was able to contribute its experience and knowledge to the forum in general.
Other outcomes of Eumaprint included the exchange of information, particularly statistics, technical laws and standards, along with a quarterly survey of the business climate in each country.
GAMAA’s attendance at Eumaprint meets one of the initiatives of Print 21, the prosperity plan for the printing industry in Australia, that will position Australian printing industries to achieve long term sustainable growth.
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