Final SGIA Expo Paves Way for 2019’s PRINTING United

The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association’s 2018 SGIA Expo— the last before launching its PRINTING United trade show with NAPCO Media in 2019 — brought more than 24,000 people to the Las Vegas Convention Center Oct. 18–20. With 612 suppliers on the sold-out exhibit floor, 72 expert-led education sessions and a host of networking events, attendees were inspired by the latest innovations and “what’s on the horizon” for the printing industry.

The show floor showcased the first-ever PDAA Wrap Team Challenge, where 9 teams competed in a tournament-style to wrap the side of a car in 20 minutes. A panel of PDAA Master Certified Installers judged the jobs based on speed and quality. 

Nearby, the Golden Image Gallery displayed the best in printing — the submissions for the Golden Image Competition, the ASDPT Tom Frecska Student Printing Competition and the Product of the Year. 

Winners for the former two were announced on-site, while Product of the Year results was announced in the summer, allowing attendees to learn more about the winning products — from a record-breaking 255 entries — prior to the show. 

“The 2018 SGIA Expo was an incredibly successful show for AnaJet,” said Paul Crocker, marketing director, AnaJet (a Ricoh Company).“We debuted the new RICOH Ri 1000 DTG printer and are pleased with the response — we got a lot of quality leads and made a good number of sales.”

In addition to the sold-out exhibit hall, a selection of education sessions informed attendees on effective business strategies, the latest trends, industry outlooks and more. The 72 sessions kicked off with the two pre-Expo workshops: “Wide-Format 101” and “Essential Small Business Strategies,” on Wednesday, Oct. 17. 

Also on the agenda were opportunities for peer-to-peer interaction. Community-focused networking events included the FP3: Functional Printing, Process & Products Luncheon with keynote speaker Colby B. Jubenville, Ph.D. The Women in Print Alliance Breakfast with George Washington University educator and entrepreneur Kathy Korman Frey and Brands Talking Sustainability Luncheon moderated by Top Value Fabrics’ Michael Compton saw interactive discussions that touched on challenges within the industry. 

“This was a special year. We not only celebrated the SGIA Expo’s legacy but its future as PRINTING United,” said Ford Bowers, President and CEO, SGIA. “The Expo has always been about advancing the industry, showcasing new technologies and providing education that helps printers succeed in an ever-changing climate. That same foundation will carry into PRINTING United, which will introduce attendees to even more markets and business opportunities they may not have previously known were possible.” 

The Opening Night Reception, which drew more than 1,100 individuals to TAO Nightclub at The Venetian, paid homage to the Expo and gave attendees a teaser of what to expect at next year’s PRINTING United. 

“We could not be transitioning from the SGIA Expo on a higher note,” said Bowers. “The innovations, interactions and inspirations at this year’s event showed us that what’s on the horizon is a bigger, better and bolder show that will make a valuable impact on this industry.” 

Pre-show registration for PRINTING United 2019 (Oct. 23–25, Dallas) topped 6,000.