GRAPH EXPO’s Wide Format Pavilion Showcases New Tools Soon to Become Mainstream

CHICAGO—June, 2007—From building wraps to fine art reproductions, digitally printed extra-large products have provided a path to new profits and opportunity for printers and other specialists all over America.

The Wide Format Pavilion at GRAPH EXPO, which returns in September for its 5th year, has been a key catalyst for this trend.

The Pavilion has showcased for GRAPH EXPO’s tens of thousands of participants the flexibility and appeal of wide format output using inkjet and other digitally-driven technologies.

Many of the products and tools first seen in the Pavilion have since become familiar on the larger show floor of America’s premiere graphic communications exhibition. Wide format systems allow production of banners, posters, store displays, vehicle wraps, short run labels, even floor tiles and textiles.

This diversity of applications and products also describes the Pavilion exhibits for 2007. Because the Pavilion has proven to be such an incubator for promising new technologies, and an economical way for new exhibitors to reach out to important audiences, it has attracted a variety of respected communications industry organizations as sponsors.

The 2007 Pavilion is being sponsored by BERTL, FLAAR the Digital Imaging Resource Center at Bowling Green State University, and industry publications The Big Picture, Digital Graphics, Digital Output, Fabric Graphics, and Wide-Format Imaging.

About two dozen leading firms are taking part in the Pavilion this year, including Gandinnovations, Fujifilm Sericol USA, Inc., Mimaki USA, MacDermid ColorSpan and Gerber Scientific/Gerber Innovations.

In addition to exhibits, a popular feature of each annual Wide Format Pavilion has been the free educational sessions offered throughout the show at the Wide Format Theater right in the Pavilion.

Adjacent to the Wide Format Pavilion is the Innovation Gallery which showcases the best examples of images printed on versatile substrates for a variety of uses. Items displayed are provided by Wide Format Pavilion exhibitors and other wide format equipment manufacturers exhibiting at GRAPH EXPO. Every year the Gallery introduces a new American artist working in a different style. This year’s attendees will meet contemporary artist, Jackson Collins and be eligible to win a Jackson Collins original by visiting the Innovation Gallery and voting for their favorite image on display. The 2007 edition of GRAPH EXPO takes place September 9-12 at McCormick Place. It is expected to fill more than 450,000 net square feet and attract tens of thousands of industry professionals. In addition to exhibits, the event offers an extensive educational program and a variety of special events for visitors.

Complete information and online registration are available at: www.graphexpo.com.

About Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC)

GASC is owned by the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL), NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies® (NPES®), and the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF). GASC is located at 1899 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 20191 USA, telephone: 703/264-7200, fax: 703/620-9187, e-mail: info@gasc.org. For additional information, visit www.gasc.org.