February 17, 2003 -- A key mission of any trade show is to guide vendors and buyers alike to new growth opportunities. The upcoming 2003 edition of the GUTENBERG FESTIVAL will fulfill this mission through a special new exhibition area focusing on one of the hottest growth segments in printing and publishing today, flexography. The FLEXOTEK ShowcaseSM, a special exhibit area for flexo products and services, will be staged for the first time at a GUTENBERG FESTIVAL when the West's leading industry exhibition comes to the Long Beach Convention Center May 1-3. Approximately 12,000 industry executives are expected to attend, touring 225 company exhibits, and choosing among 40 educational seminars. The FLEXOTEK Showcase was devised to offer a cost-effective way for companies serving flexographic markets to introduce their products and services to offset-oriented graphic communications professionals from throughout the West. GASC will unveil its first FLEXOTEK Showcase at this spring's edition of GRAPHIC ARTS THE CHARLOTTE SHOW. Response has been so strong that the original 17-booth exhibit area in Charlotte has been expanded to accommodate nearly double the anticipated vendors, and GASC has decided to extend the flexography-focused exhibit feature to the popular West Coast GUTENBERG FESTIVAL. A growing number of commercial printers, prepress specialists and designers are focusing on packaging as a growth segment for the future. GASC-managed trade shows in recent years have given increased prominence to displays of flexographic printing technology, which is widely used in high quality package printing. This special area of the GUTENBERG FESTIVAL show floor provides flexo vendors with six by eight foot booth spaces and basic furnishings, supported by distinctive signage and other promotional efforts. Companies offering opportunities in flexography can meet and talk directly with key industry leaders in a major regional exhibition, without the expense of shipping and constructing a conventional trade show booth. "The chance to stage an exhibit in FLEXOTEK Showcase is a significant added value for GUTENBERG FESTIVAL exhibitors interested in addressing this important market segment," said GASC President Regis J. Delmontagne. "For companies not already on the GUTENBERG FESTIVAL roster, the fee for this specialized exhibit is a great value and a remarkable opportunity." More information about the GUTENBERG FESTIVAL can be found by visiting www.gutenbergfestival.com