February 16, 2004 -- PRINT 05, the largest and most important graphic communications event in the world next year, will add significant new scope and value by delivering the debut edition of a new international showcase for package printing and converting technologies - CONVERTINGSM 05, which will be held in the McCormick Place South building. Some 80,000 industry professionals from all over the world are expected to attend the event, which will be held in Chicago, IL, USA on September 9-15, in McCormick Place, the largest exhibition center in North America. "PRINT has long been recognized as the foremost international event held in the Americas for the printing, publishing and converting industry. Previous editions of the show have incorporated special sections and other features designed to serve the converting and package printing market, which have been uniformly well received," noted Regis J. Delmontagne, president of the show's producer, the Graphic Arts Show Company, Inc. (GASC) "There is a clear market need for a single, comprehensive, well-managed, internationally promoted and strongly attended showcase for all of the tools and technologies that shape success in the closely related printing and packaging industries," Delmontagne added. "We're filling that need by creating this special showcase." Delmontagne said GASC's decision to expand the PRINT show with CONVERTING 05 reflects several key trends in the industry. First, exhibitors are increasingly concerned about having to participate in multiple trade shows either to reach different portions of their audience or to reach out to new markets. "Suppliers want fewer shows, but more complete and better-managed events," Delmontagne said. Second, the technologies and tools used by package printing specialists, commercial printers, prepress operations and other industry players increasingly overlap, particularly with the advent of open, fully digital workflows. "Finally, we believe the converting industry has been calling for the management stability and professionalism GASC delivers to exhibitors and attendees alike," Delmontagne said. "GASC is known for producing smoothly functioning, well-promoted shows that deliver results through continued highly qualified attendee buyers, and highly responsive exhibitor support and service. PRINT 05 and CONVERTING 05 will offer exhibitors a prime venue in which they can demonstrate their products in actual operation, to tens of thousands of leading prospects from all over the world." CONVERTING 05 will be a central part of GASC's worldwide promotional campaign for PRINT 05, reaching out to both attendees and exhibitors through publicity, advertising, direct marketing materials, CD-ROMs with video, organized media tours and other marketing tools. Delmontagne noted that printing and converting increasingly share exhibition halls at other events around the world, and that the expansion of the McCormick Place Complex in recent years has provided the exhibit space necessary to give full coverage to converting technologies alongside the print-related displays that have traditionally been the heart of PRINT. The shared emphasis on printing and package printing/converting will also be reflected in the show's educational program and special events agenda. In addition to PRINT, GASC manages the leading industry show serving the North American graphic communications, converting and package printing market, GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO. CONVERTING EXPO was launched in 1998, one in a series of efforts by GASC intended to address the rapidly converging printing and converting markets. As retailers and global marketers compete for product placement and dominance using increasingly sophisticated package graphics to build brand recognition, loyalty and market share, packaging applications have become a growth and expansion route for commercial printers and packagers. This new event provides converters, printers and packagers an opportunity to see the latest advancements in technology that enable them to compete effectively. PRINT is produced by GASC every four years, and is the largest most comprehensive tradeshow for the graphic communications industry in the world in 2005.