SGIA Expo Helps International Label & Printing Expand to New Segments
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Though it had built a strong reputation on its label and package printing prowess, when an existing customer asked International Label & Printing Co. about products like signage and point-of-purchase displays, president and CEO Mark Turk says the company began to explore these new printing segments.
At first, Turk says International Label was able to utilize equipment it already had to complete these early requests, but as more jobs came in, he explains that it made sense for the company to add new equipment. So, to get a sense of the type of machinery that was available, Turk decided to visit his first SGIA Expo in Las Vegas in 2016.
“SGIA was always something we would look at from afar and we thought it might be time to see what’s out there in terms of how we can do things faster,” Turk says. “The quality just gets better and better on this stuff each day. It’s a whole other world that we knew existed. We just didn’t know how close to it we were.”
During his first SGIA Expo visit, Turk recalls that he was initially impressed and appreciative of the wide variety of equipment options visible at the show. As a newcomer to this segment of printing, he explains that it was important for International Label to be able to enter the space at an affordable, yet productive level.
With the opportunity to view the selection of equipment that SGIA Expo has on display, Turk says it helped him narrow down his decision and make a purchase. But, he says it also helped him learn more about the graphics segment of the print industry and its requirements.
“What we were able to really narrow our focus on at these shows was the technology itself, the automation and the speed,” Turk says.
After his first experience at SGIA Expo was a success, Turk attended last year’s event in New Orleans, and is on hand at this year’s show. Even with the education and experience that he’s experienced at the last two SGIA Expos, Turk says he’s always looking to learn more, and has been highly-appreciative of the other expo attendees that have taken the time to share their insights with him.
“The wow factor is incredible of what we’ve been able to discover with the different substrates that are out there and how they can be incorporated,” Turk says.
Cory Francer is an Analyst with NAPCO Research, where he leads the team’s coverage of the dynamic and growing packaging market. Cory also is the former editor-in-chief of Packaging Impressions and is still an active contributor to its print magazines, blogs, and events. With a decade of experience as a professional journalist and editor, Cory brings an eye for storytelling to his packaging research, providing compelling insight into the industry's most pressing business issues. He is an active participant in many of the industry's associations and has played an essential role in the development of the annual Digital Packaging Summit. Cory can be reached at cfrancer@napco.com
