ARVADA, CO – March 17, 2008 - Organizers of the Print UV 2008 Conference, held March 2-4 at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, report an overwhelmingly enthusiastic reaction to the event, which wound up with many participants professing their eagerness to repeat the experience in 2009. Nearly 100 printers and key suppliers attended the inaugural edition of the peer-oriented industry conference, which focused exclusively on innovations, challenges, best practices and products in the fast-growing UV printing market. The conference also served as the launching pad for the Print UV Association and a platform for the expanding Print UV online community (www.printuv.com <http://www.printuv.com>).
 
 "Almost without exception, participants expressed genuine excitement about the potential of the event and the new organization," said Stephen Metcalf, President and CEO of Air Motion Systems, producing sponsor of Print UV 2008. "We could not be more gratified by the response we have received, which strongly reaffirms our commitment to the growth of UV printing and our support for its practitioners."
 
"We are extremely pleased with the quality of our attendees and their feedback," added Hans Ulland, Co-Founder and Vice President of Sales, Air Motion Systems. "The extraordinary response to Print UV 2008 is proof positive of an immense hunger among sheetfed and web offset printers to master this exciting technology. It also provides the impetus for us to organize an even more meaningful conference next year."
 
Of the participants at this year's conference, two-thirds were sheetfed- and web offset printers having a wide range of experience with UV technology – or none at all. Ample networking opportunities enabled seasoned practitioners to share their experiences with UV novices, and while suppliers to the UV market were on hand to answer questions about UV printing in general and their offerings in particular, the conference agenda focused squarely on business topics and technical strategies designed to help printers make the most of the UV opportunity.
 
Discussion topics included how to market and sell UV, innovative UV printing and coating techniques, and the benefits of going 100 percent VOC-free in the UV pressroom. Presenters included John Giusto, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Curtis Packaging; UV Master Printer Greg Ross, a Manager at Fort Dearborn Companies; Chris Travis, Director of Technology for KBA North America; Kurt Kroening, a former plastics printer and Vice President of Operations at Air Motion Systems; and Darrell Jursa, Vice President of lifestyle marketing firm CURRENT. On the second day of the conference, a panel of experts from major press OEMs, as well as UV equipment, ink, coating and consumable suppliers answered questions on topics ranging from UV safety guidelines to ink adhesion to proper care for UV blankets and rollers to the best way to "sell" the UV learning curve to upper management. A special executive session focused on developing business, process and quality standards for UV printing.
 
"We went to Print UV 2008 knowing next to nothing about UV technology and feeling anxious about getting started," said Bruce Sparks, Plant Supervisor, Quest Graphics, which recently added a 64" UV-equipped KBA Rapida to its pressroom lineup. "Frankly, our expectations were pretty low. As a result of what we saw and heard at the conference, however, I can honestly say the anxiety is gone. We're more comfortable and confident that we can be successful with UV technology. And what a fine job the organizers did: it was definitely time well spent."
 
Added Kevin Regan, Production Manager, "The timing could not have been better for us. We were especially pleased that the well-rounded conference program looked at UV technology from many different angles. We were interested primarily in pressroom and application issues, but we also learned a great deal about the marketing and environmental aspects of the technology. It's a rock-solid lock we'll be there again next year."
 
Founding co-sponsors of Print UV 2008 included Absolute Graphic Technologies, Diamond Roller, KBA North America, Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses USA, MAN Roland, Pamarco Global Graphics, Printing Research and Printing Impressions magazine. Planning for the 2009 edition of Print UV is already underway, with dates to be announced shortly.