Reston, VA — Proving once again its value to the graphic communications industry, GRAPH EXPO 2010 presented a comprehensive exhibition of the latest technology and applications to a diverse spectrum of industry attendees.  GRAPH EXPO 2010 was enhanced by the 20 co-located industry programs and events that provided attendees a widely expanded range business education and networking opportunities.  The show attracted  a total of 19,961 attendees, which included exhibitors and attendees, and 12,552 actual verified attendee/buyers with an extraordinarily high level of purchasing power, from 69 countries to the expansive McCormick Place in Chicago, October 3 - 6, who came to examine, compare and purchase the latest graphic communications technologies.

Based on its commitment to reporting the truest and most accurate attendance numbers, show producer the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) defines ‘actual verified attendees’ as registered on-site show goers—counted only once—regardless of their number of days at the show, or times they enter the exhibit hall.  Show data reports reveal that while fewer attendees from each company were there, the show drew higher-level decision-makers from among the 7,171 unique buyer companies who came ‘on a mission’ with budgets to spend on the equipment, products, software and applications demonstrated by the 506 exhibiting companies that occupied 291,134 sq. ft. of space across the South Hall of McCormick Place.  There they found 68 first time exhibitors, many of whom joined veteran exhibitors in recognizing the high caliber of attendees and results from this year’s show.  GRAPH EXPO 2010 exhibitors spoke out loud and clear on the quality of this year’s show, via the results of independent research conducted by Exhibit Surveys Inc., which revealed exhibitors’ “overall satisfaction” rating at 70%, far surpassing their 53% rating for the 2008 show.

We’ve seen better attendance than what we anticipated,” says Vince Lapinski, manroland CEO. “The market has been tough and business has been tough, but people are still investing.  I think the strong printers are certainly investing.”

GRAPH EXPO provided a huge success for Alwan Color Expertise, with the company registering its best trade show sales since Drupa 2008.  “This year’s GRAPH EXPO was a resounding success,” says Dave Hunter, Alwan’s representative for North America.  “We generated excellent sales and significantly extended the reach of our sales network, which bodes very well for the future.”

“We are pleased with the show results and our colleagues in Germany were impressed with the customer response” states Mark Hischar, President/CEO, KBA North America, Inc. “The four-day show drew an amazing, well-qualified crowd of printers who took an active interest in our press models and kept our sales force busy.  We sold several presses in all size ranges…”

“Our traffic has been unbelievable,” echoes Eric Gutwillig, Marketing VP at Prisco (Printers’ Service) early on after his firm sold six systems off the show floor.  “We haven’t been able to sit, and 90 percent of our booth visitors have been interested in our digital offerings,” Gutwillig notes.

“It has been an exceptional show for us,” says Joe Manos, Executive VP & Alliances of MindFireInc.  “We will have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in new revenue from the show, which for a software company is really good.”

GRAPH EXPO exhibitors observed that attendees represented not just commercial printers but all segments of the graphic communications industry, including newspaper production pros, digital printers, book publishers, in-plant printers, transactional printers, mailing and distribution professionals, along with print buyers, among others.

The breadth of industry segments represented, range of technologies demonstrated, and new product introductions at GRAPH EXPO 2010 were key attractions for attendees who were able to take in the newest profit-boosting equipment, products and services and gain answers to their specific questions from among the 506 exhibitors at the show.

“I was pleased to see so many newspaper executives at the show who, like me, were drawn by the debut of the News Print pavilion,” shares Rick Shafranek, VP of Sales and Marketing of ProImage America.  “Also, the co-location of ING’s program was a home run, adding even greater value to this year’s show.”

Among the 20 co-located organizations’ programs and events that took place in tandem with the show, the Association of Independent Mailing Equipment Dealers (AIMED) held their fall conference immediately prior to GRAPH EXPO, and was on-site with a booth in the Mailing & Fulfillment Pavilion.  “Our members have a tremendous crossover with the printing industry, which makes GRAPH EXPO 2010 a natural fit for co-location,” says Executive Director Barbara Price.

According to IDEAlliance’s VP of Marketing Steve Bonoff on the co-location of the G7 Summit at GRAPH EXPO, it was an ideal opportunity to bring industry education and exhibitors together.  “Creatives, publishers, and commercial printers all need to find ways to integrate their digital workflow for efficient production, and GRAPH EXPO 2010 offers them the chance to learn about the tools to do so,” he advises.  “In fact,” adds Joe Fazzi, Vice President of Print Media at IDEAlliance, “representatives from Walmart and Hallmark I spoke with said they came because, with the G7 Summit co-located at GRAPH EXPO, they could attend both at one time.”

“This show marked a significant change, reflecting the change that is occurring in the industry,” says Chuck Stay, President, Bert Co, Inc.  “From my 40 years in the industry, I go to the show to see new technology and new processes and I was not disappointed by the exhibitors who chose to be there.  Three days was barely enough time for me to see and in some cases experience and evaluate the new technology.”

To enable show goers to continue exploring the latest solutions with participating exhibitors, extend their networking with industry experts and peers—and especially for those who missed this year’s show—is GRAPH EXPO 2010: A Virtual Post Show Wrap.  Coming live and online on Wednesday, November 10, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (ET), the free event will feature key highlights from GRAPH EXPO 2010.  During the full-day program, attendees can view featured education sessions, exchange best practices in live ‘hot topic’ chats, visit one-on-one with featured exhibitors, download new product information, and also view a wide variety of videos that capture just some of the excitement from this year’s show. For more information and to register, visit GRAPH EXPO 2010: A Post Show Wrap.

Looking ahead to next year’s exhibition, GRAPH EXPO 2011 themed “Embrace Technology” is slated for September 11-14, 2011, at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Recognized as the commercial printing, publishing, package printing, mailing and transactional exposition for the Americas, attendees will be able to see the latest graphic communications technologies, ‘live’ running equipment on the show floor, explore the newest applications, and learn about the most in-demand products and profit-making opportunities in the special-interest pavilions planned for the show.  A host of returning and new co-located events will provide show goers with additional incentive to attend next year’s show. For more information visit GRAPH EXPO 2011.