40 percent more sign makers registered to attend the Expo this year

Fairfax, Virginia – The 2013 SGIA Expo (Orlando, October 23–25) kicks off in three weeks, and pre-registered attendee numbers indicate a 40 percent increase in the number of sign makers coming to the Expo for an in-depth wide-format experience.

"Sign makers are extending their customer base by reaching into the expansive — and growing — graphic markets. They are increasing profitability, diversifying their customer base and landing bigger jobs," said SGIA President and CEO, Michael Robertson. "The SGIA Expo provides the insight and connections needed for sign makers to successfully transition into graphic markets."

The Expo has more than a 20 percent increase in first time attendees compared to last year, and SGIA has seen a lift in attendees reporting multi-technology capabilities. The Expo floor is more than 99 percent sold out (with more than 500 industry-leading exhibitors on the expansive show floor), theeducational program is chock-full of wide-format experts ready to present, and the presentation schedules are finalized for our exclusive Zones:

• Color Management & Workflow Solutions Zone, Booth 440
  Sign maker take-away: Improve the way you manage and control color workflow at this exciting and informative Zone.
• Digital Textile Printing Zone, Booth 2080
  Sign maker take-away: Get a wealth of information on digital textile printing including technical and design requirements, workflows, tips, techniques and best practices for a variety of ink and fabric combinations.
• PDAA Graphics Application Zone, Booth 1240
  Sign maker take-away: Graphic imagers can use the Zone to connect with the industry's most qualified installers.
• Strategic Sustainable Solutions Zone, Booth 3040
  Sign maker take-away: Focus on sustainable business solutions and increase your understanding of best practices through success stories from industry leaders.
• Digital Signage Innovation Zone, Booth 658
  Sign maker take-away: Discuss how you can position your business to take advantage of the growing opportunities in digital signage.

"The SGIA Expo continues to be a prime venue for Epson to unveil and demonstrate our most advanced printing technologies and solutions for the specialty graphics industry," said Reed Hecht, product manager, Epson America, Inc.

"SGIA is always one of the year’s highlights and we are excited to be there once again,” said Andrew Oransky, director of marketing and product management for Roland.

"Wide-format inkjet is an ascendant technology, meaning it is still growing, still on the rise, ripe with opportunity, still has space for surprising innovation, and provides strong footholds for those seeking to climb in today’s print industry," said Dan Marx, SGIA vice president—markets and technologies. "When it comes to wide-format technologies, the SGIA Expo is the place to be."

SGIA will open its doors for the leading industry event October 23-25, 2013 in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. In addition, this year the esteemed Expo will offer even more opportunities to attendees by partnering with the IFAI Specialty Fabrics Expo — featuring new market ideas for digitally and screen-printed industrial fabrics. Free Expo passes are still available at SGIA.org.