Graphics of the Americas to Offer Live Events on the 2012 Show Floor

The Expo Theater
Ten powerful, future-oriented sessions are on the tap at the easily accessible Expo Theater located directly on the show floor. Sessions geared toward the latest market trends are presented by executives from exhibiting companies at the show.

Direct-to-Garment Center
In the Direct-to-Garment Center, attendees get a first-hand look at digital garment decoration technologies. Attendees can scour the area for solutions that fit their needs—and to learn techniques, tips, tricks and trends to improve production accuracy and prevent errors.

Wide Format Print Shop Live!
A show favorite, visitors engage in this innovative and live, end-to-end workflow platform. Production managers are invited to bring real job files that are test-run on an array of digital technologies, software, and consumables, to reflect a live working environment right on the show floor. Observe the “how-to” area, hosted by Dr. Mark Bohan, vice president, Technology and Research, Printing Industries of America; to discover the best way to employ technologies and optimize production efficiency, as well as to take note of a variety of innovative applications.

Vehicle Wrap Center
The Vehicle Wrap Center features live vehicle wrap demonstrations of vinyl installations by Mutoh and Arlon. Installers get firsthand tips, tricks and techniques to improve their skills, and graphic imagers can use this area to connect with qualified installers. Graphics are printed by the 64˝ ValueJet 1614 using Arlon’s DPF 6000XRP, a 2-mil gloss white cast film with bubble releasing, tinted, repositionable, permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Vehicle Wrap Cup
Back by popular demand, FESPA presents the vehicle wrap competition where the “wrap stars” of the Americas region will be pitted against each other and the clock to find the FESPA Wrap Cup Champion of the Americas.

In addition, each year GOA organizes free Bonus Sessions that focus on technology trends having a positive impact on attendees’ businesses. The following sessions address some of the foremost topics at the current time in the industry:

Increase Response Rates through Integrated Digital Print and Electronic Media
David Murphy, HP
Thursday, March 1 — 10:30 - 11:45 am
This presentation offers proof of how digital print—when strategically integrated with social media, email, and other electronic technologies—generates higher response rates and greater customer engagement than pure electronic channels can yield on their own.

Color Management
Heidelberg
Thursday, March 1 — 2:00 - 3:15 pm
In a fast-paced, one and a half-hour Q&A format, Heidelberg experts answer questions about how to reduce makeready times; how to save labor and material costs with existing equipment; how to determine actual production costs for specific customers; and information about G7 certification.

Maximizing Efficiencies through Automation
Steve Miller, Kodak
Friday, March 2 — 2:00 - 3:15 pm
The challenges in today’s marketplace require true automation and integration to separate best-in-class print service providers from their competition. Whether you are a package printer, or specialize in publishing or commercial print, success lies on investments being utilized to their fullest potential. By automating and integrating business production workflow systems, printers will drive costs out of their workflow systems through increased visibility, streamlined efficiencies, reduction of manual touch points and minimizing human error.