Heralding its new mission to drive printing industry growth, NPES – The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, has announced a name change to the Association for Print Technologies (APT). The new identity is both a nod to the Association’s signature annual event—PRINT —which it has produced since 1968, and also marks a defining moment in the Association’s 85-year history. Additionally, the new name signifies progress toward the completion of its Strategic Business Plan for the industry, which launched in January 2017.

“This rebrand of the organization signals a significant turning point, not just for our Association, but for the entire printing and imaging industry,” states Thayer Long, president, Association for Print Technologies. “The convergence in our industry is essentially in the rearview mirror. Now, as our new name more clearly expresses, our broader scope and direction are focused on greater alignment among the commercial printing and imaging value chain. This ‘next phase’ must happen in order for all stakeholders to benefit.”

On the heels of the Association rebrand, and slated for the weeks ahead, are preview announcements on a compelling new and expanded lineup of programs and services. These include the launch of the Association’s new website, www.PrintTechnologies.org, in Spring 2018.

Upcoming Association offerings will span the areas of research and market data, industry advocacy and standards, events and communications. Of special note, a new staff department, dubbed “Community & Industry Development,” has been established to advance programming designed to support businesses throughout the industry value chain, including initiatives that will address Workforce Development and Training.

Spearheading the new Community & Industry Development Department, the Association welcomes industry veterans Ken Garner as vice president of business development and industry relations (formerly of Idealliance and NAPL), and Julie Shaffer as associate vice president of program and community development (formerly of Idealliance and PIA).

“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,” states Mark Hischar, APT Chairman and President & CEO, KBA-North America.

As part of the organization’s repositioning, a new strategy is also being launched for the signature annual industry event. In 2017, PRINT was the largest North American show by the number of visitors. Now 100% non-profit and vendor-owned and exclusively produced by the Association for Print Technologies:

• The Association has designated its PRINT brand as the name for the industry’s premier annual event
• PRINT 18 has been right-sized to a three-day event and will take place in Chicago, IL, Sunday, September 30 – Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at McCormick Place South.

In 2018, the PRINT event will expand its focus on exceptional business growth opportunities. Specifically, the new strategy will address:

• New learning and education formats and topics to align value chain
• An emphasis on technology, both printing and other adjacent technologies, which are having a greater influence in today’s marketing world
• Outreach to attract new segments within the printing value chain (marketers, influencers)
• Demonstrate the collision of printing and digital channels with new solutions to meet demands of omni-channel marketing.

To encapsulate the many developments surrounding the Association’s new direction and rebrand, an exclusive members-only webinar will be held on Wednesday, January 17 at 2:00 pm EST. The broadcast, presented by Long, will highlight a broad range of new and on-the-horizon initiatives.