Reston, VA, United States and Frankfurt, Germany - NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies and the Printing and Paper Technology Association within VDMA/PrintPromotion Gmbh (PP), signed a joint agreement outlining a 2017-2018 framework for cooperation between the organizations in the areas of industry market data and international conferences.

The collaborative efforts between the two organizations will produce a variety of new initiatives and events that will include:

• Quarterly Market Data Reports: Following the end of each quarter, NPES and VDMA will exchange index-based reports for all primary product categories collected respectively, to include by VDMA/PP – Paper Making Technology, Paper Converting Technology, and Printing Machinery; and, by NPES – Imaging & Prepress Equipment Systems and Software, Bindery and Finishing Equipment, Total Pressroom Equipment, and Graphic Arts Supplies.
• Annual State of the Industry Report: At the end of each year, the organizations will produce a joint “State of the Industry” report developed from mutually agreed upon information sources, such as their respective market data programs, government agencies, third-party sources, and member surveys. While the full report will be reserved exclusively for VDMA and NPES members, a summary will be available to industry media outlets and trade publications in conjunction with a joint NPES and VDMA conference call to share the results.
• Annual Industry Symposium: Hosted alternately by VDMA Printing and Paper Technology and NPES, this event will be designed to highlight and examine emerging or growing trends in technologies and applications, with the first symposium to be scheduled in 2018 in Germany/Europe.
• International Technical Conferences: NPES and VDMA Printing and Paper Technology will co-produce events titled “Print Media Management Conferences,” which will serve as international knowledge sharing forums on technology, applications, and best practices, and also provide dynamic networking opportunities for industry buyers and sellers to connect. Members from both organizations will be featured on the conference programs.

NPES President Thayer Long states that, “We are extremely pleased with the new initiatives that will be developed from this new agreement, which was forged through our ongoing relationship with the VDMA Association. Our respective members will benefit tremendously from this collaboration on the new projects and programs that will serve to further drive value chain alignment and universal industry growth.”

“Our joint agreement on these new initiatives,” says Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of VDMA Printing and Paper Technology, “is another tremendous step forward in the cooperative efforts between NPES and VDMA Printing and Paper Technology. The results of these new reports and industry gatherings will be of significant benefit for our members and, I believe will create great advantages for our industries.”