Registration is now open for the online PRINTING United Digital Experience Oct. 26 – Nov. 12. There is no charge to attend the three weeks of live, guided programming, educational sessions, and panel discussions. Attendees can also view product launches, get 24/7 access to the Exhibitor Product Showcase and virtual booths, and speak with exhibitor reprensentatives.
Insights from leading analysts, researchers, subject matter experts, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers will enable printing companies and their employees to understand the current landscape, optimize recovery, and see the latest technology to drive their businesses forward.
Each of the 14 days of programming will run from 10 am to 2 pm ET and spotlight the specific market segments below. Each day’s program will include a summary of industry research, a keynote address, global product debuts, new product demonstrations, and educational sessions.
Week 1
October 26: Graphics/Wide-Format – Hardware and Consumables
October 27: Apparel – Screen Printing/Decorating
October 28: Commercial Printing – Digital Inkjet
October 29: Packaging – Labels and Flexible Packaging
October 30: Graphics/Wide-Format – Finishing and Workflow
Week 2
November 2: In-Plant Forum
November 3: Commercial – Offset Printing
November 4: Packaging – Folding Carton and Corrugated
November 5: Mailing and Fulfillment
November 6: Workflow and Software – All segments
Week 3
November 9: Apparel – Direct-to-Garment/Direct-to-Substate
November 10: Commercial Printing – Digital Dry and Liquid Toner
November 11: Industrial
November 12: Digital Textile
“In creating all aspects of the event, we were mindful to offer education at no cost to the industry,” said Mark J. Subers, president of PRINTING United. He points out that companies that are usually limited to sending only a handful of employees to the in-person Expo due to budget constraints can make world-class education available to every employee of their company, regardless of their position or years of experience.
Growth Opportunities
As the industry looks ahead to 2021, many sessions will present research into areas companies should consider for future growth.
“We recently asked our 450-member COVID-19 Print Business Indicators Panel where they see opportunity in the years ahead,” says Andy Paparozzi, Chief Economist, PRINTING United Alliance. “Offering a diversified line of products and services was near the top of the list. In fact, a number told us diversification has been the difference maker for them during the COVID crisis and will continue to be the difference maker long after the crisis has passed.”
“Every printing company should investigate the long-term benefits of diversification,” adds Paparozzi. Once your company decides diversification is a good strategy, sessions at the PRINTING United Digital Experience can help answer two key questions: In which directions should I diversify? And how do I diversify profitably?’
The PRINTING United Digital Experience offers insight from industry leaders Marco Boer and David Zwang that focus on convergence considerations in direct-to-garment printing, commercial printing, digital textile printing, graphics/wide-format, high-speed production inkjet, industrial printing, mailing and fulfillment, and packaging.
The PRINTING United Digital Experience opening day research industry outlook, presented by analyst Lisa Cross, dives into trends in buyer markets, addresses the rise of pandemic products, and offers insight into what to expect in 2021.
Keynote Addresses
The opening day keynote address being presented by IDC’s Tim Greene. He will focus on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of the wide-format graphics sector and how the industry has responded. Session attendees can learn how to capitalize on the “new normal.” Some other keynote sessions include:
Establishing Today’s Successful Screen Printing Business
Presenter: Marshall Atkinson, Atkinson Consulting
Tues., Oct. 27
Opportunities Enabled Post-COVID by Production Inkjet Printing
Presenter: Marco Boer, IT Strategies
Wed., Oct. 28
Building a Manufacturing Mindset
Presenters: Ryan McAbee and Eric Zimmerman, Keypoint Intelligence
Fri. Oct. 30
Workflow and Automation: From Date Night to Marriage
Presenter: Pat McGrew, McGrew Group
Fri., Nov. 6
How Sustainability is Driving the Next Generation of Fashion
Presenter: Debbie McKeegan, Texintel
Mon., Nov. 9
Electrophotography – Digital Print of the Past and Future!
Presenter: David Zwang, Zwang & Company
Tues., Nov. 10
Business, Human Resources, and Goverment Relations Sessions
PRINTING United Digital Experience programming supplements technology-centric education with sessions covering HR-related issues, environmental and safety, government regulations and marketing and sales. A sample of programming in these areas include:
COVID-19 Updates and Impact on Your Workforce
Presented by Adriane Harrison, PRINTING United Alliance
Air Permitting for Inkjet Presses
Presented by Gary Jones, PRINTING United Alliance
Is Your Safety Program COVID-19 Compliant?
Presented by Marci Kinter, PRINTING United Alliance
USPS: The Politics of Logistics and Delivery on Capitol Hill
Presented by Lisbeth Lyons, PRINTING United Alliance
How to Research New Markets
Presented by David Zwang, Zwang & Co.
Product Launches
Major printing equipment manufacturers and software developers are preparing to launch new technology on a worldwide state for the first time in 2020.
Attendees can expect to see nwe technology from
- Canon
- Fujifilm
- Heidelberg
- HP
- Kodak
- Konica Minolta
- Rochester Software Associates
- Ricoh
- Roland DGA
- Standard Finishing Systems
- Xeikon
“We built the PRINTING United Digital Experience to keep the industry united and moving forward. We also provide an elevated stage for companies to debut the products they have worked so hard to bring to maket this year,” said Subers. “During a year when launching new products has been a real challenge, we are thrilled to learn about the new technology that will be featured on the PRINTING United Digital Experience platform from companies around the world.”
To register, visit https://digital.printingunited.com/
About PRINTED United Alliance
PRINTING United Alliance is the new organization formed by the 2020 merger of the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) and Printing Industries of America (PIA).
PRINTING United Alliance also produces the PRINTING United Expo, an expansive display of technology and supplies, education, programming, and services representing all segments of the printing industry. The next live PRINTING UNITED Expo will be held October 6-8, 2021 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.