Significant Increase Seen in Equipment Displayed and Demonstrated

Crystal Lake, Ill. – Odyssey Expo 2019 has been declared a success by attendees, exhibitors and event organizers. The diecutting, diemaking and print finishing industries came to learn, share and network, drawn to Atlanta by Odyssey Expo’s live equipment demonstrations, classroom education sessions and networking opportunities.

Odyssey Expo 2019, held May 1-3, boasted 1,500 registrants for the three-day program. The event floor was hopping with 30 interactive educational sessions, both on-press in the Techshop and in the classroom; 53 pieces of running equipment, which represents a significant increase over the previous event; and 101 suppliers specific to the fields of diecutting/diemaking, foil stamping, folding/gluing, UV coating and more.

“I was extremely impressed with the Odyssey show this year,” said Steven Roberts, president of Elite Print Finishing. “I had a wonderful time and found this to be an amazing source for information and vendors.”

Educational content addresses real-world challenges
Whether the priority was improving profits, increasing sales or decreasing production costs, the Odyssey’s 30 technical and education sessions helped attendees hit their targets. All technical programs were conducted by industry experts – either on-press or in the classroom – each culminating with interactive Q&A sessions to address real-world challenges.

In the classrooms, programming included topics such as Adhesives in Layflat Laminating, Diecutting Thick Substrates, Cold Foil Process: Ask the Experts, Reverse Cutting, Calculating Press Capacity, Foil Waste Disposal and Sustainability, Stripping Performance and Common-Sense Solutions for Blanking Issues.

Techshops bring running equipment to the event floor
In the Techshop™, which simulates a working production shop floor, technical sessions were taught on-press throughout the three-day event. Equipment suppliers led on-press demonstrations on topics that included tips on makeready for foil and embossing, using steel counters, quick changeovers from one carton to the next and digital decorating with spot coatings and foils.

In the Technology Hall, attendees could see 53 pieces of equipment – a significant increase over the 2017 event. Demonstrations were given on a wide range of equipment from industry-leading companies that include American International Machinery, Bobst North America, Brandtjen & Kluge, Carton Craft Supply, CCM Die Supply, Elcede, Konica/Minolta, Lasercomb, Manufacturing Supplies, Marbach Group, PPC Technologies and Solutions LLC, SDS Automation, Serviform SRL, Suntex Co., Therm-O-Type Corp. and many others.

Multiple opportunities available for networking
With attendees from across the United States – and across the world – opportunities were plentiful for networking, idea sharing and problem solving.

NextGen/Young Alliance Reception:
With the talent crisis at the top of mind for many attendees, the IADD and FSEA were pleased to bring together younger industry members during a reception on Wednesday, May 1. The IADD NextGen and the FSEA Young Alliance groups are targeted to industry members under the age of 45 or with less than five years of experience, and the event provided an opportunity for members to network at the end of the first day of Odyssey Expo programming.

WomenConnect Networking Breakfast:
Women in diecutting, diemaking and print finishing gathered early on Thursday morning, May 2, to discuss issues in manufacturing and make important connections with others throughout the world. The Print Media Centr’s Deborah Corn was featured in a special SHEnote presentation on “Finding Your Voice.” The connections made by attendees will be continued through a LinkedIn group.

FSEA Gold Leaf Awards:
The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) has announced the honorees in its 26th Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition at a reception on Thursday, May 2. Entries were received from countries around the world, including the US, Canada, Denmark and Taiwan. Gold, silver and bronze winners were honored in 41 categories, and the Best of Show and two Best of Show Honorable Mention honorees were revealed.

D.E. Baugh, Indianapolis, Indiana, was recognized as the 2019 Best of Show for “A Baugh Christmas Story,” which was entered in the category of Greeting Card, Self-Promotion: Most Creative. D.E. Baugh channeled its annual holiday greeting to customers into an opportunity to impress clients with not only its structural design capabilities, but also its high-end, value-added services – while playing on the classic movie “A Christmas Story.”

Big Big BIGGER BASH
In a fun (and loud!) house-rocking celebration, the Big Big BIGGER BASH was held on Thursday evening, May 2. Sponsored by CCM Die Supply; Diansuply, Inc.; Essential Products; Freeman Manufacturing & Supply Company, Pace Punches, Inc.; Monroe Rubber & Plastics, Inc. and voestalpine and bringing industry colleagues together to relax and network in a casual environment, the event featured food, drinks, games, prizes and music by the 80ators.

Odyssey Expo 2021 will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

For more information on Odyssey Expo – the industry's premier event sponsored by the International Association of Diecutting and Diemaking (IADD) and the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) – visit the Odyssey website at www.OdysseyExpo.org, email [email protected] or contact the IADD directly at 1-815-455-7519 or the FSEA at 1-785-271-5816.

Kevin Carey, Die-Cutting Works, Inc., led a Techshop session to educate attendees on what goes into making a folding carton die, from initial CAD design to finished product.