CHICAGO, IL -- A.B.Dick Company’s Greatest Traveling Printshow (GTP) kicks off its third season today with a two-day show in the Washington D.C. area. The national tour schedule calls for stops in at least six other cities from coast-to-coast, and will supplement the company’s traditional tradeshow schedule. Pending contract approvals, A.B.Dick’s grass roots, customer-friendly equipment shows will visit Boston, March 19-20; Dallas, April 9-10; Sacramento, April 30-May 1; Detroit, September 10-11; Atlanta, October 22-23; and Philadelphia, November 12-13. These dates and locations are subject to change and it is recommended to check the A.B.Dick web site (www.abdick.com) for updated information. A.B.Dick organizes the GTP tour in association with its regular tradeshow schedule. That schedule includes the recently concluded Graphics of the Americas in Miami, followed by the Gutenberg Festival in Long Beach in May and the hometown Graph Expo in Chicago in early October. “We are anxiously looking forward to our schedule for several reasons,” remarked Scott MacKenzie, Vice President of Marketing for A.B.Dick. “First, a road show differs from a tradeshow in that it allows for working closer with customers to demonstrate products to meet their needs. “Second, it is a terrific opportunity for customers to see our new products. We have launched approximately 10 major new products within the last two years. Many of these products are digital, such as our four new DPM’s (Digital PlateMaster direct-to-plate units). These products were designed based on customer input, resulting in increased productivity and throughput, reduced labor costs, making products easier to use and helping our customers make more money. “Third, we have four new cities on the schedule: Washington D.C., Boston, Dallas and Detroit,” concluded MacKenzie. “Atlanta was a tour stop in 2000 and Sacramento was a key market for us last year. The Washington show today and tomorrow will be hosted by a new A.B.Dick dealer, Signature Printing Products, and it will be held at the Bethesda Marriott.” The GTP works this way. Customers and guests can attend one of three seminars during the two-day tour stop, followed by equipment demonstrations with key analysis and one-on-one discussion. Two sessions lasting two hours each, are usually held during the afternoon of the first day, with the last meeting conducted in the morning of the second day. A.B.Dick Company is a leading worldwide supplier to the graphic arts and printing industry, manufacturing and marketing equipment and supplies for all stages of document creation - prepress, press and post-press - as well as continuing service and support. For more information contact Scott MacKenzie, Vice President, Marketing, 7400 Caldwell Ave., Niles, IL 60714. Telephone (847) 779-1900, fax (847) 647-6940.