Press Releases

Future survival of the print industry to be tackled at Ipex 2010 Great Print Debates

A series of free of charge expert panel debates at Ipex 2010 will tackle some of the most critical issues facing the print industry today. Produced by world print authority, Pira International in association with Ipex, the Great Print Debates will bring together experts, thought leaders and high-profile industry representatives from 18-25 May 2010.

“The printing industry needs more debate and discussion” explains Frank Romano, Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology and Great Debate chairperson. “We are at a crossroads in terms of new printing technology, changes in customer marketing and challenges to print. We need to band together to develop new markets, new print products, and new ideas - and convince the world that print is still an important and viable form of communication.”

Four pressing questions will be considered:
 More than ink on paper: how should printers be selling print?
 What will the printer of the future look like?
 Will an Ipod for publishing kill printed media?
 Green print: is it worth it?

With full audience participation and interaction, the Great Print Debates will take expert commentary, lively debate and audience interactivity to a completely new level.

The Debates come at a critical time according to Pira Consultant and Great Debate chair, Sean Smyth. “The industry is in an unprecedented period of change, exacerbated by the deep recession. Cash conservation is a short-term tactic, not a strategy to build a successful business. These debates provide an opportunity for industry players to put their heads above the parapet and think about how their businesses, and their careers, might progress satisfactorily under new conditions.”

Joining Sean Smyth and Frank Romano as Debate chairs will be Neil Falconer, Senior Consultant, Pira International and Laurel Brunner, Digital Dots. Panellists include Rob Haak, President, SPIKIX; Adam Dewitz, Director of Technology, WhatTheyThink.com; Stephen Goddard, Environmental Leadership Program Manager, Hewlett Packard and Marcia Balisciano, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Reed Elsevier. For a full list of panellists see http://www.ipex.org/greatprintdebates

Audience participation and interaction using simple polling technology will allow real-time feedback and drive the questioning of the panel chair, pushing the experts out of their comfort zone. Looking forward to the Debates, Laurel Brunner of Digital Dots reminds the industry, “It's all too easy to forget that understanding important issues only comes with interaction and participation.”

Debate participants will take away an exclusive study with scenarios and forecasts to 2020. With input from a special panel of authoritative print and publishing experts from around the world, Print to 2020 will provide a unique global summary of the major challenges, threats and opportunities facing the printing industry. Building upon the themes discussed at the Ipex/Pira forums, the study will offer an exclusive roadmap for how these issues are likely to develop over the next ten years. Print to 2020 is published by Pira International.

The Great Print Debates take place from 13.00-14.00hrs in the Printers’ Profit Zone, for more information and free registration go to http://www.ipex.org/greatprintdebates.

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About IPEX 2010
Ipex is the largest English-speaking global technology event for print, publishing and media. Acquired by IIR Exhibitions in 2006 from its previous owner, industry association Picon, IIR Exhibitions also owns Total Print! Expo incorporating Digital Print World, Northprint and Ipex South Asia.

Ipex 2010 will take place from Tuesday 18th May to Tuesday 25th May 2010 at The National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England. The new footprint for the show provides a logical layout for visitors by mirroring the whole print production workflow.

The new Ipex 2010 website includes sales brochures, the hall layout, a full exhibitors list as well as marketing and logistical information. It also has information and voting forms for the international Ipex 2010 ‘Champions in Print’ Awards which were launched to acknowledge the huge contributions of those who have influenced and shaped the development of the printing industry.

In 2006, Ipex attracted over 100,000 visitors, 40% of which came from overseas covering over 159 countries – more than any other Graphic Arts exhibition before.

Issued on behalf of IIR Exhibitions Ltd by AD Communications. For more information, please contact:

Dominique Pink
AD Communications
T: +44 (0) 1372 464470             

Nick Craig Waller
Marketing Director
IIR Exhibitions Ltd
T: +44 (0) 207 017 7020

Pira Press contact: Rebecca Leigh +44 (0) 1372 802207 rebecca.leigh@pira-international.com

Pira International
Pira International – the worldwide authority on packaging, paper and print industry supply chains

Established in 1930, Pira provides strategic and technical consulting, testing, intelligence and events to help clients gain market insights, identify opportunities, evaluate product performance and manage compliance. www.pira-international.com