"Print and converting are industries going through change and being redefined," said Bill Lamparter on opening Executive Outlook 2004, the curtain raiser to Graph Expo and Converting Expo. "They must correctly and successfully employ new technology, they have to innovate and they have to diversify to survive and to make a good buck," advocated the president of PrintCom Consulting and chairman of the first session of the conference 'Keeping Pace with Tomorrow – Technology –Innovation – Diversification'.
In addition to predicting an avalanche of new technology at the 10 -13 October exhibition he warned delegates about "The Chinese Syndrome" saying that when a product is relocated to the Far East for manufacture it is not "just the widget that goes overseas so does the print and the packaging. Printers must respond faster, cheaper, better and be more innovative." Amongst areas they should examine was RFID print – an opportunity also highlighted by Kip Smythe, vp of the NPES. "Savvy printers and converters will cut costs, streamline workflow, identify new value-added services and evolve beyond traditional printing," he said.
A special display to educate visitors on the uses and production of RFID technologies features at the show. On booth 456 they can see printed antennas, smart tags, printed batteries and circuits as well as differing radio frequencies and antenna designs.
RFID is emerging as a growth avenue for printers because familiar commercial printing processes can easily be adapted to handle the right combinations of coatings and substrates, and because Americas leading retailers and other large organizations are actively promoting RFID. It is likely to be a big part of packaging solutions for many types of products in the future, notes Regis Delmontagne president of show organiser GASC. More than 130 of the show's 500 plus exhibitors are showing equipment and systems designed for folding carton, flexible packaging and related applications says GASC.
| Graph Expo and Converting Expo |
| Tel: +1 703 265 7200 |
