The 5th Annual Digital Printing Presses Conference will be held April 30-May 2 in Phoenix, AZ, USA. According to organizers, digital printing press usage is expanding in the printing industry and beyond as manufacturers identify profitable new applications and business opportunities.

According to IMI President Al Keene, “IMI’s 5th Annual Digital Printing Presses – Emerging Applications Conference on April 30-May 2, 2014 in Scottsdale (Phoenix), AZ, USA will focus on digital printing press technology developments, opportunities, requirements, challenges and solutions that are reshaping both the commercial printing and traditional manufacturing industries which have traditionally utilized screen, flexographic, gravure and offset printing – but are now transitioning rapidly into the Digital Era.”

Presentations currently confirmed for the program include:

Digital Presses: New Channel and Technology Choices
Mark Hanley, President, I.T. Strategies, Hanover, Massachusetts

Manufacturer’s Perspective of Digital Printing
Steve Hatkevich, Director of R&D, American Trim, Lima, Ohio

Alternative Ink Jet Ink Development Model
Lawrence Gamblin, President, Collins Inkjet Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio

The Future of Digital Printing
Dr. Mark Bohan, Vice President, Technology & Research, Printing Industries of America, Sewickley, Pennsylvania

Surface Decoration Market Overview and Challenges
Debbie Thorp, Business Development Director, Global Inkjet Systems, Cambridge, UK

Challenges Using Inkjet vs. Traditional Methodology such as Screen & Pad Printing
Julian Joffe, CEO, Engineered Printing Solutions (formerly Pad Print Machinery of Vermont), East Dorset, Vermont

The Evolution of Digital Product Decoration
Chris DeMell, Technical Sales Manager Digital Products, ITW Trans Tech, Caol Stream, Illinois

New Ink-on-Demand & On-Site Paradigm Provides High Quality at Lower Cost
Mike Raymond, Global Marketing and Business Development, Digital Ink Systems Corporation, Newark, Delaware

Taking Ink Jet Out of the Print Shop & Into the Production Plant
Clayton Sampson, Cyan Tec, Loughborough, UK

3D Printing – A Lot Like 2D Printing
Tom Ashley, Director, Pivotal Resources USA, Lexington, Kentucky

Ink Jet As A Manufacturing Process
Dr. Ross N. Mills, President, Vexajet, Boulder, Colorado

Advanced Materials Deposition Inkjet Systems with Integrated Post Processing
Tim Luong, National Sales Manager, Ceradrop MGI Group, Sacramento, California

New Ink Jet Printhead Approach to Dispense Materials for 3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing Processes
Dr. Alan L. Hudd, Director and Founder, Alchemie Technology, Cambridge, UK

Trends for Web-Fed Digital Color Presses in Labels & Packaging
Jürgen Devlieghere, VP Software and Hardware Development, Xeikon, Lier, Belgium

Advancements in Memjet Technology & Applications
Judd Quimby, VP Business Development and Tom Roetker, VP Engineering, Memjet Labels, San Diego, California

Hybrid Printing: How Ink Jet & Flexographic Add up to More
Chris Lynn, VP Sales & Marketing, Prototype & Production Systems, Inc.., Plymouth, Minnesota

“I Finished My Way”
Victor Gomez, Labels & Narrow Web Segment North American Sales, Rochester New York

A very limited number of speaking openings remain – Proposed program additions should be submitted immediately to [email protected].

According to Keene, “Both the manufacturing and printing industries’ future requires that they capitalize on new, developing technologies as the world goes digital and digital printing presses compete with traditional printing technologies and manufacturing processes for market share.

Keene emphasizes, “While conventional printing declines, digital printing – particularly ink jet printing – is expanding by taking advantage of features such as personalization, on-demand production, 3D printing, inventory & distribution cost savings, previously impossible applications, digital manufacturing applications, improved output options, etc. End users are eagerly adopting these technologies as the transition from an analog to digital world accelerates – which is being reflected in the growth of digital printing applications and opportunities. Digital printing is entering a new era that is reshaping both the manufacturing and printing industries – unparalleled business opportunities exist in an increasingly digital world.”

5th Annual Digital Printing Presses – Emerging Applications Conference registrants can also participate in IMI’s unique Suppliers’ Forum sessions and give a 5-minute presentation covering their technology, products, services, requirements, etc. as well as having a complimentary display in the conference display area. Contact Al Keene at IMI [email protected] for additional information regarding these opportunities.

According to Keene, “As always, IMI conference programs are designed to enable attendees to obtain the latest technical, market and application information while allowing time to network with other attendees in a time and cost efficient manner.  Attendance at IMI conferences enables attendees to meet with the digital printing industry’s leading experts in a single location over a short period of time thus maximizing information transfer efficiency and minimizing travel and time expenses.”

Full conference program details and registration information can be found on IMI’s web site www.imiconf.com.