In-plant Events

Some exhibitors dropped out. Many attendees didn't show. With PRINT 01 and another Seybold still to come, many are speculating about their fates. The reviews for Seybold Boston 2001 are in—and the news isn't good. The talk of the 2001 show wasn't about new products or emerging technologies. Instead, the exhibition's low attendance seemed to be foremost on everyone's mind. Several exhibitors, complained about the scarcity of attendees in their booths and in the show aisles. But attendees weren't the only ones in short supply. Exhibitors were also among the missing. Some companies, like the now-defunct Printbid.com, are simply gone from the scene. Others,

In 2001, ACUP headed to the Hollywood hills for a mixture of sun, education, camaraderie and just a touch of stardom.

To compete in the future, you must start providing customers with non-paper-based services today. LAST YEAR at the On Demand Digital Printing & Publishing conference, the unofficial theme of the show was dotcom fever. Now that the fever has broken, the big bang buzz is all about paperless communication. But this isn't your father's "paperless office of the future," mind you. This is different. In the past, when the term "paperless office" was first being bandied about like a baby at a bridal shower, the term reflected the hazy euphoria associated with early computing. This time around, having had the benefit of a

In part two of our Graph Expo report, we detail the latest advances in prepress, e-commerce, bindery and consumables. The recent Graph Expo show in Chicago drew more than 45,000 industry professionals to McCormick Place. Last month IPG took you there as we detailed many of the technologies on display, including direct imaging and digital printing innovations. But with nearly 575 exhibitors at the four-day event, we couldn't cover it all in one issue. So this month we're presenting even more Graph Expo highlights. Prepress Group Logic exhibited MassTransit, version 3.6, its high-speed digital file transfer and remote proofing software. MassTransit

Twenty-four years after its first meeting, the National State Publishing Association returned to Carson City for one of its most ambitious conferences yet. The National State Publishing Association certainly has a loyal following. Not only did its recent conference in Carson City, Nev., draw 48 government in-plant representatives from 34 states, but more than a half dozen retired government printers showed up as well—from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. Their trek to Nevada's state capital was well worth it, because Don Bailey, Nevada State Printer, together with his staff and the NSPA office staff, organized an activity-packed three-day event, blending education and

Managers of southern universities got together for the 25th year, this time in Louisiana. Lagniappe is a word not easily translated into English. But to the 152 participants from 75 different institutions who were fortunate enough to attend the 25th annual Southeastern University Printing and Duplicating Manager's Conference (SUPDMC) in Baton Rouge, La., recently it's something they experienced first hand. Lagniappe (pronounced lan-yap) is a Cajun-French word meaning "something extra." And that's what every participant got from the workshops, speakers, vendors, food, festivities, entertainment and hospitality provided by LSU's Graphics Services Department, which hosted the event. One of the newest and hottest services to

Graph Expo marked the debut appearance of many of the technologies unveiled at Drupa. After seeing so many new technologies displayed at the massive Drupa trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, trade journalists found few surprises at the recent Graph Expo show in Chicago. But it was for printers, not journalists, that McCormick Place opened its doors—and they were certainly impressed. "I thought the show was very complete, with more than enough new things to see and want," remarked Don Davis, associate director of LSU Graphic Services, in Baton Rouge, La. He went to the show to look at prepress and computer-to-plate (CTP) equipment and

Government in-plants face difficulties other in-plants seldom confront. Our story and survey results offer a look inside the most political segment of the industry. Think your in-plant has it rough? Try working at a government in-plant. Getting money for new equipment is difficult, you say? It's even harder when it's taxpayer money and your proposals have to go through several committees—often years before your purchase. Concerned your new boss might replace you? Government in-plant managers often wait on pins and needles for months when they get a new governor, hoping to be reappointed. Worried outsourcing firms will convince your CEO to shut you

In-plant managers from all over the country traveled to the Lonestar State to learn about leadership, technology and in-plant survival. by Bob Neubauer More than 500 in-plant managers gathered in San Antonio recently for the 41st International Publishing Management Association (IPMA) conference and exhibit. Attendance was up 20 percent this year, with supervisors from some of the largest in-plants, like Allstate, USAA and Wal-Mart, mingling with managers of medium and small shops. Aside from the numerous networking opportunities and educational sessions, attendees enjoyed evening strolls along the city's famed Riverwalk and several Texas-themed evening activities organized by IPMA. The conference was capped off with

College and university in-plant managers enjoyed another successful ACUP conference, this one at Wright State University. Find out what they learned. When Joy Heishman agreed to host this year's Association of College and University Printers (ACUP) conference at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, she set reasonable goals. Little did she know, the conference would take on a life of its own. "I just wanted to provide some good seminars and have a little fun," said the director of Wright State Printing Services. "I was concerned that we might have 'dead time' to be bored, and it just didn't happen." In fact, attendees were