PRINTING United Expo

PRINTING United Expo
Name	PRINTING United Expo
Status	Active
Genre	Trade show
Frequency	Annual
Venue	Georgia World Congress Center
Location	Atlanta, Georgia
Country	United States
First	2019
Organizer	PRINTING United Alliance

PRINTING United Expo PRINTING United Expo is an annual trade show for the printing industry held in the United States. The event assembles manufacturers, distributors, and service providers from the printing press sector, the textile industry, the packaging industry, and the advertising industry to showcase digital printing innovations. It functions as a marketplace and knowledge hub connecting stakeholders from legacy firms such as Heidelberg and Komori to technology companies like Canon Inc. and Epson.

Overview

PRINTING United Expo presents a platform where exhibitors demonstrate equipment from HP Inc. and Xerox alongside workflow solutions by EFI and Agfa-Gevaert. Attendees include representatives of Apple Inc.-adjacent supply chains, Procter & Gamble packaging teams, and retail brands such as Walmart seeking in-house printing solutions. The show features product launches by firms including Mimaki Engineering, Roland DG, Durst Phototechnik, and M real while hosting sessions led by research organizations like Smithers and think tanks such as Printing Industries of America.

History

The convention emerged after consolidation of regional shows and was organized by PRINTING United Alliance, an association formed from the merger of NAPL and PIA. Its inaugural event followed legacy fairs like Graph Expo and drupa in scope, drawing exhibitors formerly present at FESPA and Ipex. Over successive editions the Expo expanded exhibitor categories to include participants from Siegwerk and Sun Chemical and integrated standards discussions involving ISO committees and representatives from UL (safety organization). Strategic shifts mirrored trends popularized by companies like Amazon (company) and FedEx in supply chain print-on-demand services.

Exhibitions and Programs

The Expo programs combine demonstration booths by Konica Minolta and Ricoh with seminar series featuring executives from Brother Industries and analysts from IDC (company). Conference tracks cover topics explored by academics from institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University alongside policy panels including representatives from U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Export-Import Bank of the United States. Special programs have been organized in partnership with industry groups like Specialty Graphic Imaging Association and AIGA (professional association), and international delegations from China and Germany have attended events coordinated with trade bodies such as German Trade & Invest.

Products and Technologies Showcased

Technology demonstrations have included wide-format inkjet systems from Epson and Mimaki Engineering, industrial textile printers by Kornit Digital and EFI Reggiani, label presses from Nilpeter and Mark Andy, and corrugated packaging lines by BHS Corrugated and Bobst. Software exhibitors include Esko and Caldera (company) for prepress workflows, color management tools from X-Rite and Pantone, and e-commerce integrations by Shopify and Salesforce. Materials suppliers such as 3M and Bemis Company, Inc. display substrates used in campaigns by Nike, Inc. and Coca-Cola Company, while finishing technologies from Heidelberg and Muratec are also highlighted.

Attendance and Economic Impact

Attendance metrics draw comparators to events like CES and HIMSS in trade-show economics, with buyer delegations from multinational corporations including Target Corporation and The Home Depot. The Expo generates local economic activity for host cities such as Atlanta through hospitality providers like Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide. Reports by consulting firms such as Deloitte and PwC have been used to estimate sectoral impacts, and logistics partners like UPS and DHL coordinate freight movements for shipped exhibits.

Organization and Partnerships

PRINTING United Expo is organized by PRINTING United Alliance in collaboration with suppliers, trade associations, and media partners including WhatTheyThink and Printing Impressions. Strategic partnerships have linked the Expo with international fairs such as drupa and regional associations including China Printing and Packaging Machinery Association and Japan Graphic Machinery Association. Sponsorships have included technology vendors like HP Inc. and Xerox while academic collaborations have involved RIT and industry training programs run by SkillsUSA.

Awards and Competitions

The Expo hosts awards and competitions recognizing innovations in areas comparable to prizes from SGIA and FESPA; entrants include commercial printers like VistaPrint and specialty houses such as Taylor Corporation. Juried competitions have included categories judged by panels from National Association for Printing Leadership and design juries with members from AIGA (professional association), celebrating work for clients like Microsoft and PepsiCo. Product innovation awards spotlight hardware from Durst Phototechnik and software from EFI while sustainability recognitions reference standards issued by ISO and initiatives aligned with World Wildlife Fund.

Category:Trade shows in the United States