The event was held in conjunction with TAFE and Océ Australia and presented by Sydney-based industry researcher and analyst Andy McCourt.

John Stangeland, WA state president of Printing Industries says that printing in Australia employed well over 100,000 Australians and is a $10bn industry. However, he adds that digital technologies and societal and business demands are changing the face of printing faster than many organisations can keep pace with.

He says, “The WA branch of Printing Industries wanted to bring relevant knowledge to the industry and students here. We found a willing partner in Océ Australia and terrific co-operation from Central TAFE School of Graphic Arts, where the event was held.”

The presentation covered the state of the local, national and international print markets, projections to 2012 by PIRA (UK based Printing Industry Research Association), and several ‘Pinnacles’ where opportunities lie.

Amongst these ‘pinnacles’ is the integration of the web into print businesses which created a link between print buyers and producers called Web-to-Print, according to Printing Industries. Another ‘pinnacle’ was the use of websites in direct marketing and the phenomenal growth in all forms of direct digital output.

The association also states that digital production is estimated to grow 105 per cent between 2007 and 2012, against a projected 5.7 per cent decline in conventional print methods.

Meanwhile industry Andy McCourt says as was often the case, Western Australia was well ahead of the trends.

He says, “I was delighted to visit a few local businesses after the show, which are without doubt future-proofing themselves with the adoption of digital print and Internet marketing methods. Your TAFE Graphic Arts education facility is also one of the best I have seen.”

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