September 18, 2002 -- PrintCity, the strategic co-operation of companies within the graphic arts industry, is to tackle the major issues and concerns of the commercial printing industry through the first of a series of interactive one-day workshops involving end users and suppliers.   Organised by PrintCity’s Activity Group Commercial, the first PrintCity “Studientag” will take place at the Hochschule fur Druck & Medien (HDM) at the University of Stuttgart on November 8. Once it has proved to be a success, PrintCity plans to arrange further workshops around Europe to follow on from the success of this event. The first event – a knowledge-based and university-related information day involving discussion forums and workshops – will investigate ways of creating added value for printed products through improving productivity and developing special techniques. Uniquely, because of the diverse nature of its member companies, PrintCity is able to cover the integration of the entire production process from prepress to finishing, and this will make the workshop even more informative for the printers that attend. A series of short presentations will be given in the morning, beginning with the role of the printing substrate and other consumables in quality enhancement, through the automation of prepress and its integration into the printing process, and concluding with the question of whether a printer should invest in finishing equipment or use a trade finishing house. Although PrintCity members will deliver the presentations, each one will deal with the issues in general terms, and the presentations will not serve as a showcase for individual members’ products. This is consistent with the PrintCity ethos of striving to find the best and most profitable solutions for end users, regardless of supplier. During the afternoon session attendees will be able to raise questions brought about by the presentations in two one-hour long panel discussions. University staff will also be involved in these discussions, which will be moderated by Professor Bernd Jurgen Matt, a professor on the Print Management course at the HDM Stuttgart. The discussions will provide the perfect opportunity for printers to address challenging issues within their own companies and the industry at large. Frank Schelfaut, chairman of PrintCity’s Activity Group Commercial, said: “All our members have a world-class and innovative approach but they will not be taking part in these events to promote themselves. Instead they will be showing the best and most cost-effective ideas and innovations for end users, whoever that happens to be.” Any enquiries about attendance at the workshop should be directed to PrintCity on +49 821 2 193 9541. Entrance to the seminar will be charged at 50 EUR for each attendee. Further information from Colin Harding, Woodside Communications, +44 (0) 20 7298 6534, mobile +44 (0)7730 435400.