As printing companies seek to diversify their services and keep up with changes in print technologies and applications, the scope and content of printing conferences is changing too.
U.S. Conferences
PRINT 2019
October 3-5, 2019
McCormick Place-North
Chicago, Illinois
Conference and expo for printing and graphic professionals, including executives, creatives, production specialists, and sales and marketing teams. Organized by the Association for Print Technologies (APTech).
“Our dynamic global industry is on a roll, and so is PRINT,” says Thayer Long, president, APTech. “This year’s show is where creativity and technology will meet, enabling attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors from almost 100 countries to learn, engage, experience, and network for three days under one innovation-packed roof.”
Nicholas Thompson, the editor-in-chief of Wired magazine will present a keynote address entitled: The Wired Future: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Privacy, Social Media, Truth, Tech Companies, and More.
Education sessions will discuss: the status of printing in the USA; print business valuation; digital embellishment effects, techniques, and best practices; and the top three printing industry success factors. Other sessions will explain how to: design products for a circular economy; grow revenue with marketing support services, storefronts, and fulfillment; sell print in a sea of change; and make money with augmented reality.
Hands-on computer labs will teach attendees how to improve image composition, use advanced Photoshop techniques for composition and editing, build motion graphics with Adobe After Effects, and create augmented reality print projects.
Download an overview of Print 19 education program here.
PRINTING UNITED 2019
October 23-25, 2019
Half-Day Seminars: October 22
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Dallas, Texas
Conference and expo brings together multiple segments of the printing industry, including graphics, garment decorating, packaging, commercial, and industrial. The programming reflects research that shows that the convergence of technologies and capabilities is inspiring printing firms to expand their products and services. Organized by SGIA and NAPCO Media.
The education program includes more than 96 educational sessions covering topics such as matching brand colors and spot colors in grand-format printing; adding value to digital print; 3D printing and the graphics industry; workflow, color management, and prepress for digital package printing; direct-to-object and direct-to-shape printing; developments for finishing in commercial printing; and simulated process screen printing for garment decorating.
The 3 half-day seminars on October 22 will cover: industry convergence, an introduction to wide-format printing, and digital textile printing.
IDTech Ex
Nov. 20-21, 2019
Santa Clara Convention Center
Santa Clara, California
Synergistic two-day conferences on seven high-growth emerging technologies: printed electronics, wearables, sensors, internet of things, energy storage, electric vehicles, and graphene and 2D materials. The combined exhibition helps attendees better understand how these technologies overlap and see relevant supply chains and customer and supplier bases. Registrants for one conference can attend all conference sessions for any topic with their conference pass.
Sessions are organized by the industry analysts from the IDTechEx independent market research firm.
The Wearables USA conference will be held Nov. 20-21
The Printed Electronics USA conference will be held Nov. 21-22.
Master Classes on Nov. 19 will cover topics such as: An Introduction to Printed Electronics; Materials for Printed Electronics; Printing Technologies for Electronic Applications: 2D and 3D; Conductive Inks and Pastes; Introduction to Wearables; E-Textiles and Stretchable Electronics.
Master Classes on Nov. 22 include sessions on: Sensors: Flexible, Printable, Stretchable; Barriers and Transparent Conductive Films for Printed and Flexible Electronics; Skin Patches and Wearable Sensors.
Graphics of the Americas
February 24-27, 2020
Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami, FL
Created by and for the Latin American and Caribbean printing community, Graphics of the Americas provides technologies and education for printing industry professional in the garment, graphics, packaging, commercial, and functional printing markets.
The Conference is produced by the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) in cooperation with Florida Graphics Alliance and Conlatingraf, the confederation of Latin American printing associations.
Sign Expo 2020 and Impressions Expo
April 2-4, 2020
Pre-Conference Day: April 1
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL
ISA International Sign Expo® 2020 and Impressions Expo (formerly the Imprinted Sportswear Show) will co-locate in 2020. ISA Sign Expo is the largest expo for the on-premise sign and visual communications industry. Impressions Expo is the premier trade show for the imprinted and decorated apparel industry.
“Bringing these events to one location allows attendees the opportunity to explore exciting ways to expand their businesses,” said Lori Anderson, president and CEO of the International Sign Association®. “Both are thriving industries that offer creative ways to grow and serve clients, especially for printers who already have some of the necessary equipment.”
“This co-location is an excellent opportunity to bring two unique but closely related communities together,” said Joshua Carruth, Show Director of Impressions Expo.
Both attendee bases can discover profitable new services to offer their customers and learn from the other’s experiences. Registration will open in the fall at www.signexpo.org and at ImpressionsExpo.com.
Conferences in Europe
FESPA Global Print Expo and European Sign Expo
March 24-27, 2020
Madrid, Spain
Covers all aspects of screen, digital wide-format, and textile printing. The co-located European Sign Expo will discuss all types of non-printed signage and visual communications.
The event theme “Where Colour Comes Alive” will reinforce the boundless opportunities that exist for specialty print service providers and signmakers to develop, diversify, and grow.
drupa
June 16-26, 2020
Düsseldorf, Germany
International exhibition of equipment, services, and supplies for all types of printing, including digital, sheet-fed and web offset, flexography, pad, screen, hybrid, 3D, functional, and package printing.
Areas of focus will include: advances in digital printing capabilities, new products for package and label production, innovations in functional printing, pioneering 3D technology, and future technologies that will enable smart factories and collaborative manufacturing.
Held every four years, this show attracts more than 250,000 attendees from more than 180 countries. Organized by Messe Düsseldorf.