Graph Expo 2012, Largest Annual Graphic Communications Exhibition in the Americas Opens in Chicago

Graphic communications professionals from every key market segment will gather this week in Chicago's McCormick Place for GRAPH EXPO 2012, the industry's largest and most comprehensive annual exhibition and conference in the Americas.  GRAPH EXPO will not only provide an opportunity for attendees to see the hottest new technologies-including many first North American introductions-but will also offer a full slate of educational seminars and presentations, 48 co-located events across 12 key market segments, dedicated floor pavilions, several inaugural events, debuts of new floor features, live technology demonstrations, and unparalleled networking opportunities.  The "Print Integrated" themed exhibition will run from Sunday, October 7 to Wednesday, October 10 and feature more than 460 exhibitors.

Educational Opportunities

GRAPH EXPO learning opportunities begin on October 6 with the annual pre-show EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK trends and technology conference that this year will focus on "Using Marketing and Technology to Innovate and Thrive."  Sponsored by EFI and Xerox, the half-day conference, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m., will conclude with the announcement of the first-ever MUST SEE 'EMS "Best of Category" technology award winners and third annual Positively Print awardees, recognized for effectively promoting in their campaigns the enduring power of print as a component of today's integrated marketing campaigns.  New for 2012 as well is the MUST SEE 'EMS "Legacy Award," that will recognize one past winning technology that has had the most profound impact on the graphic communications industry.

The 48 co-located events, conferences, user-group meetings and galas taking place in tandem with GRAPH EXPO will provide networking opportunities and education in the areas of commercial and quick printing, digital and transactional printing, future print, in-plant printing, marketing and creative, newspaper printing, package printing and converting, post press/finishing/mailing, print buying and brokering, and workflow/color management.

Other educational opportunities include some 50 seminar sessions and hands-on computer labs that will address the needs of the full spectrum of the graphic communications industry including, for the first time, a dedicated track for corporate/educational/government in-plant centers.  Other highlights will include the co-located 7th Annual Print Buyers International Print & Media Conference, International Newspaper Group (ING) Conference, Xplor Conference, GAA Packaging & Products Technology Conference, Mogo Media e-Publishing Conference, and the 2012 Printing Standards Forum and G7 Summit from IDEAlliance.

On The Show Floor

New for 2012 is the Global Channel Partners Summit, a show floor hub for dealers to network with manufacturers and customers.  Also new is The CPP Zone, a unique new converting area specifically designed to complement the growth of package printing exhibitors, technologies and offerings.  Another show first sponsored by the Print Media Centr is "The Printerverse," a place for attendees to meet, tweet, learn, share, and be able to experience and test drive some of the ground-breaking communications tools that are changing the graphic communications industry.  Also new for 2012, inside the Marketing Pavilion, is the PODi Cross-Media Application Gallery (booth #1269) that will offer a wide array of "Best-of-Results" case studies on winning print-integrated cross-media applications plus simple 'roadmaps' for attendees on how to integrate them to generate strong results for their clients.