PacPrint has banned the Landa corporation and all its all local representatives including Michael Mogridge from entering the show which opens tomorrow, after the digital print company declines to exhibit but wanted to piggyback the exhibition.

The exhibition organiser has the right to decide who does and who does not come into the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

The banning order came after Landa refused to buy exhibition space, but asked to ask the organisers if it could host presentations at the forum, and indicated it would be using the show to set up meetings with potential customers through the four days of the exhibition.

The Landa Nano website advertises PacPrint as an event for the company, saying "Michael Mogridge, Director of Sales Asia Pacific & Japan will be visiting PacPrint, meeting with customers, brands and partners interested in hearing more about Landa’s digital printing solutions. To schedule a time to meet with Michael, please click on the button below."

PacPrint is wary of non-exhibitors like Landa using the show to connect with printers, effectively pushing their marketing costs onto the paying exhibitors.

Adrian Fleming, PacPrint president, says: “We invited Landa to exhibit at the show but they declined. They then asked if they could host presentations at the forums and we obviously said no, we can not have non-exhibitors reaching an audience that has been paid for by the exhibitors.

“We also understood that Landa wanted to set up meetings with potential customers at the show. We will not allow guerilla or ambush or suitcase marketing, it is patently unfair.”

PacPrint is acutely aware that ambush marketing hits a raw nerve with paid up exhibitors. In 2005 CPI, which at the time was the Komori agent, bought a tiny booth at the show and used it to take PacPrint visitors on a free helicopter ride to its showroom in Braeside.

Landa Corporation is trying to develop a new printing technology known as nano printing. Owned by charismatic chairman, Benny Landa, the Israeli company first launched nano at drupa in 2012 and says it will put a beta nanopress into a printer in the next few months. Many in the industry remain skeptical that nano will be able to deliver offset quality at offset speed on offset stocks at offset consistency on a digital press.

Australian Printer is waiting for Landa’s Australian representative Michael Mogridge to return our call for his comment.

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