PrintNZ is throwing its full support behind PacPrint, the major print show held every four years, which is to be held again in Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 26–30
PacPrint 09 has been designed to provide the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Rim printing and graphic arts industries with a comprehensive exhibition, which enables access to the technological advances and business solutions needed to take these industries into the future. Visitors will be attending from throughout the Asia Pacific region and the world.The New Zealand contingent at PacPrint is likely to be large, making it a truly genuine trans-Tasman affair, and PrintNZ is encouraging as many Kiwis as possible to make the journey over.
PrintNZ will have a stand at the show to ensure that it can make contact with all members that attend, and give them somewhere to use as a meeting point if they need one. PrintNZ will also host a Kiwi cocktail party on the Thursday evening during PacPrint, so members can get together and talk about what they have seen and what they should see while still in Melbourne. A similar party, hosted in 2005, was hailed as a roaring success.
Ruth Cobb, membership service manager at PrintNZ, says the reason the organisation is getting fully behind PacPrint was its breadth of coverage. She says, “PacPrint follows on one year after drupa and showcases a lot of the technology that is released at drupa. It is an excellent opportunity for those that can’t attend the German show to see the latest and greatest, and in some cases the 12-month time delay means that products that were released new at drupa (and not necessarily available), are now in the marketplace and being put to practical application.”
Cobb says that with PacPrint being so readily-accessible to all Kiwis, and just on 900 New Zealanders attending the last PacPrint in 2005, the decision was made to back a genuinely trans-Tasman show.
She says, “A lot of our New Zealand supply companies are owned and managed from Australia and it made sense to focus on PacPrint, so PrintNZ approached PacPrint with a view to promoting and participating in the 2009 event. We made a joint commitment with the PacPrint organisers to promote their show and encourage Kiwis to both exhibit and attend.”
Cobb says that another factor in PrintNZ’s decision to lend weight behind PacPrint was the perception that the New Zealand-based PrintTech exhibition may take a different direction and more limited format if it runs. She adds, “Running dual exhibitions within 12 months of each other and in such close proximity places a large cost burden on our industry, particularly as these events are often being funded from one marketing budget. Reducing the expense to the supply sector of the industry allows them to focus on other initiatives for their customers.
“We felt PacPrint offered the best option of showing the full range of coverage of both traditional print industry sectors and developing technologies, and was more in line with the broad needs of all our members, both big and small companies.
“We are aware that for many small members, the cost of a trip to Europe for drupa is prohibitive. We feel that it is extremely important that big and small companies get the chance of exposure to the latest trends and technologies. Having this opportunity close to home every four years is a significant chance to expose them to those new developments. It also provides an opportunity to interact and network with colleagues, affiliates, competitors and potential customers.
“While the current economic climate means that businesses are watching every expense, it is also important to keep abreast of developments in the industry and ensure that those businesses are well-positioned for the future. PacPrint provides the opportunity to do this at a relatively low cost.”
Up to 300 suppliers (including some New Zealand companies) will be showing the latest products, technologies and services at PacPrint 09 – all under one roof. Visitors will have the opportunity to get up-to-date with new technologies, talk to suppliers and learn about new trends at specialist workshops. It is an event which the industry acknowledges as a conduit for new information and global directions.
The show is on the way to a total sell out with organisers predicting it will be Australasia’s largest ever graphic arts show. According to Alastair Hadley, chairman of PacPrint 09, the response from exhibitors has been better than anticipated, with more than 90 per cent of available space already allocated to nearly 160 exhibitors.
He says, “The response from exhibitors has been overwhelmingly positive. As PacPrint 09 already has more than 15 per cent more available space than was allocated for its predecessor, this in fact means that it is already as large as any previous PacPrint, putting us well on track to presenting the largest PacPrint exhibition ever held.”
Predictably, the industry’s larger players were among the first to finalise their involvement, however organisers are now experiencing a rush of smaller companies and new industry participants who wish to explore the benefits of being involved.
Hadley says that in light of the strong response, the PacPrint board has retained an option to take additional space at Melbourne’s riverside exhibition centre, should that become necessary.
Since 1970, PacPrint has been showcasing the world’s latest and most innovative printing and graphic communications technologies. Every four years, PacPrint becomes one of the largest and most significant trade exhibitions for the printing and graphic technologies industry in the Southern Hemisphere.
The show is presented by the Graphic Arts Merchants Association of Australia (GAMAA) and the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA). It is organised by Reed Exhibitions Australia.
Information on exhibitors, times, organisational details and layout out can be found at www.pacprint.com.au.
Registration can also be completed online saving time when arriving at the show.
For potential exhibitors wishing information on available space on the PacPrint 09 floor plan, the contact is Paul Baker, sales manager, telephone 0061 2 9422 8822.
For further information on PrintNZ member services please contact Ruth Cobb, membership services manager, PrintNZ, mobile 027 248 9404, telephone 09 266 8523, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for reply.
