Heidelberg, CIP4, Xerox IMPIKA, and PB-Consult join GWG, the leading international standards organization for graphic arts

Belgium - The Ghent Workgroup (GWG) continues to achieve critical support and growth in the marketplace, as evidenced by several prestigious organizations that have joined the global standards organization over the last few months. Heidelberg and Xerox IMPIKA have joined as GWG Vendor members; PB-Consult as a new Industry member; and CIP4 has aligned with the group in the new Liaison member category. 

The new members, along with the existing experienced members, will contribute to the GWG's forward-thinking developments, reflected in the free and easily downloaded specifications - built specifically for numerous applications - and that insure successful creation, processing and exchange of graphic arts documents.  

GWG work efforts also include many contributions to Technical Committee (TC) 130, appointed by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), to develop working standards for graphic technology (1).  Technical committees are the groups of experts that develop standards. They consist of representatives from industry, NGOs, government and other stakeholders, who are put forward by ISO?s members. 

"We extend a warm welcome to our newest members, who we are confident will contribute critical and unique input for those involved with publishing and packaging workflows," says David Zwang, GWG Chairman.  "We look forward to having even more talented people, and companies, join the organization."  

GWG Membership Benefits 

Members of the GWG reap significant benefits that include, but are not limited to:  

• The ability to network with an international group of experts.
• The opportunity to develop, influence, and set industry standards.
• Influence specifications within the member's own industry segments, while helping to promote standardization between vendors and end users. 
• Access to the knowledge and consensus of a broad group of international users.
• Be among the first to implement specifications. 
• Share and learn from others to improve business.
• Remain at the forefront of industry technology.
• See practical implementations, first-hand. 
• Much more. 

3 GWG Meetings Per Year: 

Next Stop: Adobe Offices, San Jose

The next meeting of the GWG will be held in San Jose, CA October 14 - 16, and hosted by Adobe. If interested in attending as an observer, please contact Carole Demeulemeester: [email protected].  

Overall, the GWG holds three meetings a year in various, international locations, where members freely discuss current industry trends and issues. Several free seminars are also held throughout the year, and members can participate as attendees or presenters.

Since its inception, the GWG has successfully produced and made available free, by download, specifications for the use of PDF and PDF/X-PLUS in a variety of vertical graphic arts segment applications. Members also have access to the Ghent Output Suite, widely used to test the ability of workflows to correctly handle PDF files in production.

The GWG also publishes white papers and instructional documents to help the industry understand many of the issues that affect graphic arts production. 

Members receive priority access to all GWG products; including specifications, Ghent Output Suite, and GWG white papers and other educational materials or presentations. The industry at-large has free access to all final versions of these products. 

More Information  

To join the GWG, or for more information about the GWG, including a full list of its members and objectives, visit www.gwg.org. Follow GWG on Facebook for news, events, and more, at: www.facebook.com/GhentWorkgroup.