We spoke to PacPrint chairman Adrian Fleming, about how plans for the show are progressing and what visitors can expect.

Australian Printer: What are your expectations for the show?

Adrian Fleming: We have great expectations for PacPrint 2017 – it is always such an important show, the biggest and most comprehensive in the region, and the planning for this year’s event is already well advanced and looking fantastic.

I think the mood in the industry is quite positive – certainly that was evident at drupa last year – and we are excited to see some of the innovations and trends which were evident at that international show flowing through, as they often do, to PacPrint.

As always, PacPrint 2017 will bring together the industry’s suppliers, service providers, business owners and key decision makers to do business in a genuine B2B environment. It will be an enormously valuable opportunity for businesses to gather information, identify key technologies and strategies to help increase profitability and create valuable new revenue streams.

There is no question that challenges remain for businesses across the print, sign and wider graphic communications sector. But in a sense, that’s nothing different or remarkable; it is more of a constant these days.

This need to respond to constant change is also one of the things that makes PacPrint so valuable – it really is a ‘once in four year’ opportunity to see how technology is responding, and to set your direction for the short to medium term.

AP: Tell us about the theme, Connect

AF: We think Connect really captures what businesses need to do to make the most of future opportunities in what we all know is a very dynamic and challenging industry.

We are not alone in expecting a future characterised by constant change. Business leaders and experts across virtually every industry share that expectation and, in fact, believe the pace of change will continue to accelerate. No matter who you talk to – educationalist, scientist, entrepreneur or business specialist – they will tell you that innovation and progress always happen at the intersection of technologies, expertise, skills and experience. To get to that point, connection is obviously critical.

The question for business owners and key decision makers, then, becomes not only, ‘how do we do what we do, better’ but ‘how must we change what we do to better suit the market of the future…and who can we collaborate with to find the right combination for success?’

Events like PacPrint allow us to not only consider the skill sets and technologies which we will need, but also help to foster a flexible mindset with new ideas and inspiration, opportunities to learn from, and consult with, product and industry specialists, and the chance to connect with the people who can best advise us and, potentially, collaborate with us.

AP: What will be different in 2017 –what can we look forward to?

AF: This is the first show which will be organised by Visual Connections, who took over from Reed Exhibitions after the PrintEx show in Sydney in 2015. While Reed has done an outstanding job over the years, I think that the in-depth knowledge and understanding of the industry which the Visual Connections team brings to the event is really showing.

We have responded to feedback from previous shows in planning for this year, and the most obvious change will be that this year’s show will run only for four days, with no Saturday opening.

And to ensure everyone has a chance to come, we have organised a late close at the show of 7pm on the Wednesday evening, when we will also have complimentary drinks and finger food for visitors to add an extra incentive to come in after work.

The technology itself also continues to change. As well as the very latest solutions for general commercial and digital print, we will see a lot for the wide-format sector – boosted by the co-location with the Visual Impact sign and display show – and specialist solutions for labels, packaging and other key sectors.

Importantly this year, we’ll start to see really viable options for 3D print applications and also explore emerging functional print solutions – in fact, there will be a very exciting display of printed solar cell technology which we’re expecting to generate enormous interest.

AP: How is the exhibition itself looking? What should we expect to see?

AF: It is looking full. We have about 15,000 square metres of space in total, and the exhibition is already 95 per cent booked. There is still space available, and we have new exhibitors coming in every day, so we expect it to be fully used by the time doors open in May.

The showcase at PacPrint 2017 will be extremely comprehensive, with a range of innovative technologies and solutions from leading suppliers across every sector.

As usual, it will be an end-to-end display, with solutions on show for everything from planning and prepress, to print and production, media and consumables, finishing and many other tools businesses can use to improve efficiency, lift productivity and sustain their profitability. Visitors will also be able to connect with a range of ancillary services, business services, industry organisations and even government represented, providing additional resources for businesses.

We are delighted with the calibre of exhibitors who will be at the MCEC in May, and grateful to them for their continued commitment to the show – it is a significant investment for them, but their commitment guarantees the value to our visitors and will deliver an impressive show.

AP: What are the target visitor numbers for 2017?

AF: It is a little too early to give any absolutes on numbers, but early indications are strong and certainly we are expecting them to be similar to 2013, notwithstanding the continuing consolidation in the industry.

At this point, we are getting hundreds of registrations a week and tracking well against the 2013 registrations – so if I had to pick a number, I would say we will see around that 12,000 or 13,000 figure by the end of the exhibition.

Having said that, we are not really focusing on overall numbers but rather on the quality of the visitors. PacPrint is a B2B show which is really designed for decision makers. The days of bringing the whole team are probably over – today, we know that it is the owners, senior management and other key staff who prioritise their attendance at the exhibition because they recognise its value.

AP: Why make the time to come –where is that value?

AF: Chiefly, to see, experience and compare the latest technologies and solutions, all under the one roof, and to evaluate how those solutions might best suit your business. And, of course, to take advantage of opportunities to learn and to network with colleagues, competitors and friends from across the industry.

But further to that, I think one of the great benefits of PacPrint is that you often find things you weren’t looking for. It’s an opportunity to ‘happen across’ technologies you may not have considered, or to see things you’ve heard about but haven’t yet had a chance to evaluate.

The result is a chance to identify new ways to improve what you already do, expand your product portfolio or create profitable new revenue streams. 3D and functional print solutions are a great example of that.

AP: What about education and networking?

AF: This year’s PacPrint Forum Series is, I believe, one of the best we have ever offered. Each morning, we will have a keynote session to tackle big issues like the future, leadership and facing challenge. The speakers for these are all outstanding, and I would encourage everyone who can come along to do so.

In the afternoons, we will have panel discussions and technology and sector-specific sessions, which will provide further information and hands-on advice from experts and industry leaders on topics from new technologies, to business marketing and development, leadership, grants and tenders. Workshops will also run on specific topics and technologies.

There will also be plenty of opportunities to network and catch up with industry friends. The National Print Awards presentation dinner will be held on the Thursday night, Women in Print will be holding their breakfast on the Wednesday morning, and of course there will be a number of supplier functions and our special Wednesday evening event.

AP: Any final message for people thinking about attending?

AF: To those who are considering attending, I can only offer genuine encouragement. Come along, and come with an open mind. Be prepared to investigate what you know, have conversations with as many people as you can, and take the chance to look at things you might never have considered; you simply don’t know where your next big idea might come from.

Practically speaking, I would encourage people to register early, take advantage of the information which is under the visitor section of the PacPrint website to plan their visit and set up meetings with suppliers, and of course to bring colleagues and friends. I can assure you that you will not be disappointed.

PacPrint 2017 is co-hosted by Printing Industries and Visual Connections and will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from May 23-26.

Confirm your attendance today with the easy online registration at www.pacprint.com.au or find out more and keep up with the latest news on the PacPrint 2017 website.
 

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