The Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC), has announced the appointment of Hal Hinderliter, principal of Hal Hinderliter Consulting Services, as the new program coordinator for the annual MUST SEE 'EMS product and technology recognition awards program.  Presented each year since 1999 as part of the pre-show EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK conference at GRAPH EXPO (and PRINT), the MUST SEE 'EMS have become an industry-wide 'roadmap' to the most compelling new print production technology and products exhibited on the show floor.

Printing industry authority Hal Hinderliter was chosen to administer the MUST SEE 'EMS program following an intensive search and selection process led by GASC. "Mr. Hinderliter's knowledge of the industry and previous service as a MUST SEE 'EMS judge made him the ideal choice to administer the program going forward," stated GASC President Ralph Nappi. "His plans to update the program using current technology will not only simplify the application process for vendors and streamline the judging and reporting process, but also provide greater value for show attendees."

Best known as a prolific author, Hinderliter is a contributing editor to Quick Printing magazine and previously wrote for American Printer, Graphic Arts Monthly and Printing News. He has published more than 120 published magazine articles and six textbooks.  A knowledgeable speaker on prepress and workflow topics, Hinderliter has delivered seminars at numerous industry tradeshows in addition to GRAPH EXPO and PRINT including MacWorld, Seybold, Gutenberg, COMDEX and many others. In his former role as director of the Graphic Communication Institute at Cal Poly State University, he created custom training programs for industry vendors and managed public workshops. Hinderliter was also the first director of the Center for Imaging Excellence at the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation and served on the Advisory Board to the National Council on Skills Standards in Graphic Communications.

"Having served as a judge for the MUST SEE 'EMS program since 2007, I can appreciate the valuable guidance these awards provide to GRAPH EXPO and PRINT attendees," said Hinderliter. "Going forward, my aim is to make the MUST SEE 'EMS even more useful for show goers who are considering the purchase of new equipment or software."

Among the goals Hinderliter has set for the 2012 MUST SEE 'EMS program are to expand the pool of judges and also implement an online judging system that will make it easier for them to participate. Similarly, a new web-based application process will make it easier for exhibitors to submit their entries and to include supplementary explanatory images, videos and presentations.  Additionally, the awards will be categorized to more closely align with the interests of potential equipment buyers.  Lastly, the 'Encore' awards and 'WORTH A LOOK' recognition category will be discontinued in favor of two new recognitions: a 'Best of Category' Award-from within each MUST SEE 'EMS category, and an annual 'Legacy Award'-to salute one past MUST SEE 'EMS awardee whose technology or product has made a lasting impact on the printing industry.

Nominations for MUST SEE 'EMS may be submitted online beginning April 1, 2012 at: www.mustseeems.com.