PRINTING United

PRINTING United
Name	PRINTING United
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	Charlotte, North Carolina
Founded	2018
Key people	Stu Maclure; Bobst (executive partners)
Area served	United States; international
Industry	Printing; graphic arts; visual communications

PRINTING United is a North American trade association and trade show organizer serving the printing industry, graphic arts sector, and related visual communications markets. It was created to consolidate several legacy exhibitions and associations into a unified platform that connects manufacturers, distributors, service providers, and printshop operators. The organization runs large-scale expositions, networking forums, and technical programs that bring together participants from industries such as commercial printing, packaging, textile printing, signage, and 3D printing.

History

PRINTING United traces its origins to consolidations among legacy events and organizations that include influences from International Printing Machinery and Allied Trades Exhibition (IPMA), PRINT Expo predecessors, and regional shows like FESPA-affiliated fairs. The initiative emerged amid industry shifts driven by digital printing adoption, variable data printing technologies, and supply-chain globalization after the 2008 financial downturn and into the 2010s. Early strategic partners and stakeholders included major equipment manufacturers such as Heidelberg, Xerox, HP Inc., Canon Inc., and Epson, along with trade associations like Specialty Graphic Imaging Association and Printing Industries of America. The first flagship event consolidated exhibitors and attendees from established shows held in convention centers comparable to McCormick Place and Las Vegas Convention Center.

Organization and Governance

PRINTING United operates with a governance structure drawing on industry executives, exhibitor councils, and advisory boards populated by representatives from corporations like Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Mimaki, Roland DG, and Durst Phototechnik. Its leadership has included executives with backgrounds at Informa Markets and Reed Exhibitions who have managed large-format and trade event portfolios. The organization works alongside standards bodies and certification organizations such as IDEAlliance and collaborates with academic institutions like Rochester Institute of Technology and Auburn University for workforce development programs. Governance practices reflect typical trade-exhibition corporations, with board committees focused on finance, programming, and international outreach involving entities such as ProPak partners and regional chambers of commerce.

Trade Shows and Events

PRINTING United Expo is the marquee event, staged in major venues comparable to Las Vegas Convention Center and attracting exhibitors ranging from consumables suppliers to finishing-equipment manufacturers like Bobst and Goss International. The Expo features pavilions for segments including labels and packaging, textile decoration, wide-format graphics, and commercial print. Ancillary events have included education summits partnered with organizations like SGIA Expo predecessors and networking receptions that draw executives from Sappi, Asia Pacific Packaging Association, and regional distributors. International editions and roadshows have been mounted in collaboration with trade partners in markets such as Mexico City, São Paulo, and Frankfurt am Main to engage buyers aligned with global supply chains.

Membership and Services

Members include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), consumables producers, print service providers, industry distributors, and technology startups. Member services encompass marketing platforms, exhibit space procurement, technical training programs delivered with partners like PRINTING Industries of America and The Association of Printers, and workforce initiatives tied to institutions such as Community College System consortia. PRINTING United also provides market-research briefings, benchmarking tools, and lead-generation services that leverage databases curated with associations like Smithers and consultancy firms active in packaging and label markets. Membership tiers often mirror those used by trade associations like National Association of Manufacturers with benefits including priority booth selection and speaking slots at programmed sessions.

Industry Impact and Advocacy

PRINTING United has shaped purchasing cycles by concentrating product launches from manufacturers including HP Indigo, EFI, Agfa-Gevaert, and Xaar into a single exhibition calendar, influencing adoption rates for technologies such as inkjet and UV curing systems. The organization advocates for workforce development initiatives, collaborating with vocational programs and workforce boards in cities like Charlotte, North Carolina and Chicago, Illinois. It has engaged with regulatory stakeholders when issues affecting materials and supply chains arise, coordinating with groups similar to Federal Trade Commission-level interlocutors and standards committees to address topics such as materials safety, sustainability, and recycling in packaging streams. PRINTING United’s events serve as forums for announcing mergers and partnerships involving companies such as WestRock and Smurfit Kappa in the broader print and packaging ecosystem.

Awards and Competitions

The organization hosts competitions and award programs recognizing excellence in areas like color-management, finishing, and innovative applications of printing technology. Contests attract entrants from agencies, commercial printers, and in-plant operations associated with institutions such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration contractors, United States Postal Service print centers, and corporate communications departments. Awards spotlight innovations from suppliers including Fujifilm, Sun Chemical, and Kornit Digital and often precede commercial rollouts at major trade shows. Winners typically gain exposure through partnered publications such as Printing Impressions, Packaging World, and industry news outlets.

Category:Trade shows in the United States Category:Printing organizations