Over the past several days, NPES – The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies – has made two significant rebranding moves, including a name change that will see the group renamed as the Association for Print Technologies (APT). The association has also designated its PRINT brand as the name for its annual trade show event moving forward, which effectively ends the use of Graph Expo.
In the past, PRINT was used in lieu of the Graph Expo branding in order to mark a larger – more global – trade show every four or five years. First introduced in 1968, the permanent move toward PRINT comes as the APT is now the exclusive owner and producer of this trade show, which typically runs in Chicago at McCormick Place every September or early October.
APT, a non-profit association, indicates 100 per cent of the net proceeds from the trade show are being invested back into the industry through research funding, education, advocacy and standards development.
“With the entire graphic communications industry in a state of major transformation, we are in a unique position to redefine ourselves as an organization and provide a new vision for the future,” said Thayer Long, President of APT. “Attracting the largest attendance of any printing, imaging and mailing industry event in the U.S., PRINT convenes our global community and represents our identity and path forward.”
In addition to its name change, APT is introduced a new staff department called Community & Industry Development, which aims to advance programming designed to support businesses throughout the industry value chain, including initiatives that will address Workforce Development and Training.
Spearheading this new department will be industry veterans Ken Garner, formerly of Idealliance and NAPL, who joins APT as Vice President of Business Development and Industry Relations, and Julie Shaffer, formerly of Idealliance and PIA, who becomes Associate Vice President of Program and Community Development.
“To drive the industry forward for decades to come, our board made the decision to evolve and reposition the organization. Our new identity, as the Association for Print Technologies, reflects the way forward,” said Mark Hischar, APT Chairman and President & CEO, KBA-North America.
PRINT 18 is to be a three-day event taking place in Chicago from September 30 to October 2 at McCormick Place South.
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