Lean manufacturing, data-driven cross communications, and new printing technology are some things printers can learn about at the PrintEx forums.
The series of workshops, seminars and demonstrations at next month’s trade show aims to help printers revive their businesses by taking advantage of emerging opportunities.
Three streams will run at the same time in three locations on the edge of the show floor, tackling everything from the most significant challenges facing the industry to specific technologies which will help printers grow.
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The Industry Insights stream examines why newspapers and catalogues are still vital, how to use data to reach your customers, how to diagnose and address colour problems, and special sessions on flexographic, label and screen printing.
ADMA commercial director Richard Harris says print and graphic communications professionals are ideally placed to ‘step up’ and take advantages of the new opportunities available in data-driven marketing.
“This session will explain how print and personalised communications fit into the marketing technology mix, how you can position your business to capitalise on the opportunities created by data-driven marketing, and give you some examples of current best practice,” he says.
In the Business and Efficiency stream, experts will discuss critical issues, examine essential underpinning technologies and explore new opportunities.
Issues for discussion will include the value of paper and print, why marketing, advertising and communications gurus still invest in print, the challenges ahead for the industry, how to manage change, the ‘how, why and what’ of innovation, and maintaining a positive environmental reputation.
Two Sides Australia executive director Kellie Northwood will take visitors through the findings of the Value of Paper and Print report, which she says confirms the continuing relevance of paper-based communications in a multi-channel world.
“Visitors to this session will learn about the latest local and global consumer research and find out why print media is still such a compelling channel, connecting with consumers across all demographics and driving them to action,” she says.
Former music industry manager John O’Neill, now a printer, will draw on his experience in a similarly challenged industry and provide ideas on what printers can learn from it on how to manage disruptive change and to look for the potential in every change and business challenge.
It will also host an update on the NBN and explorations of key opportunities like 3D printing and products of the future like polymers and printed circuits.
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The Technology and Innovation stream takes a more practical approach with suppliers presenting sessions specific to their own areas of expertise.
HP will tackle digital print, Ricoh finding success in the commercial sector, Epson new DTG and dye sublimation opportunities, and Fuji-Xerox will introduce visitors to the ‘next generation of revenue’.
BJ Ball will look at energy efficient supply and manroland managing maintenance issues with reduced staff levels, while Currie Group will host two sessions – one from a UK-based expert on ‘Adventures in Digital Print’ and another featuring Dscoop users.
Software company Tharstern will discuss how to align lean manufacturing with a new MIS, DES promises to put the ‘U’ back in colour, and Objectif Lune will explore the possibilities of documents as data.
Neopost will look at changes in large format and multi-channel marketing while EFI will look at factors that will impact ROI in the wide format space.
Konica Minolta will address building social capital through corporate social investment, while trade printer Whirlwind will discuss the challenges to traditional print service providers from ‘design-to-print’ technologies.
The forums are free to PrintEx visitors on a first come first serve basis. The show runs May 13-15 at Sydney Olympic Park.
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