Nov 3 2006 -- With more than 630 exhibitors filling over 440,000 square feet of booth space, GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO was the largest U.S. national graphic communications and converting trade show since 2000. Its education program of nearly 70 sessions drew a record number of ticket sales, notably the largest registration since 1995, with participants choosing to attend more sessions than in the past, including six sold out sessions. The near-universally positive experiences of exhibitors confirmed a major resurgence of technology investment throughout the industry. The show also highlighted an industry rapidly progressing to expand its services, capabilities and value to communicators of all kinds. As reported in the Show Daily's October 18 lead story, aptly titled "This Show is Smokin'!", "we were optimistic; but this is beyond anything that I expected," said James Dunn, president of Heidelberg USA. As the largest exhibitor at the show and the first that visitors see when they enter the hall, Heidelberg has gained great benefits from the industry recovery. The firm exceeded its show sales goals by the second day." Likewise, according to David Reny, vice president and managing director at Standard Finishing Systems, "Standard Finishing Systems had another record show this year. We did more business at this year's GRAPH EXPO than we did at PRINT 05 last year, and last year's PRINT was a record for us!" Echoing the positive sentiments, Peter Schmidt, chairman of the board and CEO of Pitman Company said, "we've been to other trade shows, but this is probably the best show I can really remember. The numbers are dramatic and people are in a buying mood." Phil Laskowsky, group manager for marketing communications at Fujifilm, said his company expected more than $10 million sales as a direct result of the show. "People come here to close a deal, to initiate contact, or anywhere in between during the sales cycle," he commented. "It's a great way to generate new business." At PAT Technology Systems, Vice President Paul Hebert commented on day two of show week that "the attendance at our booth has been insane. People who came yesterday are bringing their bosses back today and we're making sales. Overall, we've had probably 500 people who have stopped by, and it's just the second day!" Jane Cedrone, marketing communications manager at EFI, noted "Traffic has been great; it's the decision-makers who are coming to this show. We have sold multiple VUTEk printers, and the kind of leads we're getting will lead to more sales down the line. It's been a very successful show for us." GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO presented a comprehensive exhibition of technologies for digital prepublishing, prepress, printing, digital output, wide format imaging, mailing, fulfillment, bindery and other functions. It offered special display pavilions devoted to Mailing & Fulfillment and Wide Format Inkjet technologies, along with a program of specialized seminars organized in cooperation with the Mailing & Fulfillment Service Association (MFSA). The breadth of the show's offerings were a key appeal, according to Robin Tobin, senior manager of Product and Partner Marketing at Adobe Systems, Inc. "This is the only large industry trade show we go to in North America every year," she explained. "It broadly addressed the market holistically, from hardware to software and workflow solutions." At Oce North America, Marketing Coordinator Emily Giesy reported that "on the first day, we had about 300 leads and we were on our way to doubling that the second day." Gregory Hudson, national sales and marketing manager at Halm Industries, termed the show "spectacular, absolutely incredible. You really get quality traffic here. We're in a small niche market and I've already gotten about 150 leads," he added, citing his company's experience through one show day. "I consider that to be a successful show." Tracey Frost, marketing coordinator at Nazdar, reported that "we decided to exhibit at the last minute, and it has really paid off. We've had over 200 leads already." Sales leads were also plentiful at Punch Graphix, parent company of Xeikon and basysprint. "This is the biggest show of its kind in North America," said Andy Dwivedi, marketing research and communications manager. "We're expecting to come out of this show with 750 to 1,000 leads to follow up on." At Hewlett-Packard Company, Jill Worthen, large format trade show manager, said, "We have been packed every single day at our booth and I have even had to bring in extra booth staff. We've had a lot of sales." "We've had an awesome show," said Stephen Metcalf, president and CEO of Air Motion Systems. "We're first-year exhibitors, so we were a little nervous, but the show has exceeded our expectations. The turnout was phenomenal. We generated dozens of high quality leads that originated completely at this show. Getting a handshake deal at a graphic arts show, like we have, is almost unheard of in the industry of high-end equipment we have." At Print Technology Services, Inc., Sales and Marketing Manager Oscar Sarte noted many visitors came to the company's booth "specifically to look at our flexo press. Comparing this show to others, we are finding more high quality opportunities because the exhibitors here really help draw the crowds." "The caliber of people who attend this show is very high," said Steve Urmano, marketing manager at Mimaki USA, Inc. "This business is all about the closing ratio, and we've generated a strong number of leads that we feel are qualified contacts." Robert Bourne, vice president/sales at Diversified Graphic Machinery, termed the show "fabulous," and added, "in one day alone, we developed 103 new business leads. For us, the exposure is great." Komori America met at GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO with "customers who weren't on our radar screen and whom we probably would not have had an opportunity to talk with had we not been here," according to Susan Baines, marketing communications manager. "We have been extremely busy here. In the first day of the show we signed 16 contracts. The response has been phenomenal." At Bowe Bell & Howell, Marketing Communications Specialist Jenny Duke reported that "GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO has been really busy for us. In two days, we've put together about 600 qualified leads. We're very selective about the shows we attend and this one is the show to see." Next year, GRAPH EXPO will be held on September 9-12 at McCormick Place in tandem with the first edition of PackPrintSM, a new exhibition launched by the Graphic Arts Show Company with the support of the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA). PackPrint's aim is to build on GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO's record for encompassing the entire package printing, converting and commercial printing marketplace, offering the first truly comprehensive showcase for these closely related industries.