Association Insights:
A Paradigm Shift
A preview of this ambitious new vision is “woven into the fabric” of this year’s PRINT18.
Earlier this year, our Association, formerly known as NPES, announced a name change to the
Association for Print Technologies (APTech). Th is defi ning moment in the Association’s 85-year
history marked its transition from inward to outward-focused organization with a new global
mission—the alignment and growth of the entire printing and imaging industry. A preview of
this ambitious new vision is “woven into the fabric” of this year’s PRINT18.
Produced since 1968, PRINT is recognized as
the foremost, best-attended, and most innovative
printing industry event in North America. Building
upon this legacy of success, we have begun
to transition the annual onsite experience into a
thriving year-round industry community where
connections are made before, during, and continue
long aft er the show. Th is Spring, we premiered
the printevent.com website and distributed the
fi rst edition of the PRINT Quarterly e-newsletter
as show visitors await the year’s most dazzling
array of the latest technologies, unique new applications,
and best practice solutions to be found
under one roof this Fall in Chicago.
The One and Only PRINT
With our new strategy for the industry’s signature
annual event well underway, what can you
expect at PRINT 18 this year?
• First, you will see, at every turn, our attention
focused on your “Learning Experience.” From
an all-new seminar and expert presentation
program, you can choose from dozens of sessions
on topics ranging from business management,
sales, and new markets, to operational improvement,
technical “how it’s done” sessions, plus the
big picture topics: the economy, current industry
trends, and future outlook. While developed for
company owners and managers, production professionals,
designers, customer service and sales
professionals, these growth-oriented sessions
will be valuable for anyone who wants to learn
more about signifi cant issues impacting printing
businesses today.
• Second, our focus is on collaboration, where
industry organizations connect with the shared
purpose of helping their members succeed.
APTech’s growing roster of strategic partnerships
that will expand our community at PRINT 18 include:
CONLATINGRAF (Latin American Alliance
of Graphic Arts and Printing Associations), the
foremost organization for the graphic communications
industry in Latin America. Th is partnership,
which will connect to CONLATINGRAF’s
network of printing associations from 14 countries
to PRINT, represents more than 643,000 direct
employees from 60,000 print shops. Another partnership
with INKISH.TV, an independent online
TV channel for—and about—the printing industry,
will further boost attendance and extend the global
presence of APTech’s signature event. Another
industry partnership, with the Chief Marketing
Offi cer (CMO) Council, welcomes to the show a
global membership of more than 12,000 senior
marketers who control more than $500 billion of
annual, aggregated marketing spend globally.
• Th ird, you will see our commitment to
delivering “top shelf” events and activities at the
show with names-you-know thought leaders. To
kick-off PRINT 18, our Opening Keynote Speaker
on Sunday, September 30 will be world-renowned
entrepreneur and best-selling author Seth Godin,
and include a book signing featuring his best-selling
book, What to Do When It’s Your Turn (and It’s
Always Your Turn).
• Fourth, it is important to recognize that
PRINT18 is non-profi t, vendor-owned, and
exclusively produced by the Association for Print
Technologies. What does this mean to you? Unlike
other shows, not only are 100% of the net PRINT
proceeds reinvested into industry research &
market data, education, advocacy and standards
development—but with the future clearly driven
by technology, we are uniquely positioned to
help innovative print professionals integrate and
implement the latest technology to meet changing
customer demands.
• In 2018, APTech has created an exciting new
vision not just for an association, or for a tradeshow,
but for our industry. Join us at PRINT 18,
Sunday, September 30 – Tuesday, October 2, 2018,
at Chicago’s McCormick Place South as we engage
the printing “universe” to redefi ne limits and
value of print.
By Thayer Long
President of Association for
Print Technologies (APTech)
Thayer Long is President of the
Association for Print Technologies,
formerly known as NPES, and
serves as president of the Graphic
Arts Education and Research
Foundation (GAERF). Mr. Long
joined the Association in April 2016,
bringing eight years of effective
leadership experience, strategic
plan development, foundation work,
and trade show management.
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