Expo 411: Reconnecting and Reimagining Print's Future
The PRINTING United Expo — October 18-20 in Atlanta — is quickly approaching, and attendees are gearing up for a week of learning, networking, and inspiration. As a lead-up to the Expo, we are sharing a series of Q&A interviews featuring attendees from a variety of backgrounds sharing why they are attending the PRINTING United Expo, what they hope to learn, and what excites them about the upcoming event.
Douglass Screen Printers Inc dba DPRINT
Lane Hickey-Wiggins, President & CEO
Lakeland, FL
mydprint.com
From its inception, screen printing was a difficult process, but DPRINT (f/k/a Douglass Signs then Douglass Screen Printers) was nearly always first to market with the latest inks, materials, equipment and processes. By 1990, the company was among the first in the industry to move into digital design and print technologies and had won over sixty awards for innovation and design. The latest three are Golden Squeegee Awards from SGIA at the 2019 PRINTING United show.
DPRINT was the first screen printing contractor to NASA, a relationship now spanning over thirty years and soon became a Top 50 screen printer to the U.S. Government Publishing Office. DPRINT led their community in social and environmental responsibility and became Florida’s first green-certified digital and screen printing facility. After 61 years in SGIA (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association), now the PRINTING United Alliance, and more recently PDAA (Professional Decal Applicators Association), ever-evolving technology brought DPRINT to another threshold of change. We recently received the elite certification of G7 Master Printer, meaning that we are consistent in color across all media.
After eight decades in the graphic communications industry, the company remains focused on innovation, creativity, and durability.
WFI: For returning attendees, what brings you back?
Hickey-Wiggins: As a returning attendee, I am looking forward to re-connecting with peers and discovering the newest technology the printing industry has to offer.
WFI: What products, brands, or services are you most looking forward to seeing?
Hickey-Wiggins: I am excited to discover what opportunities may lie in expanding our company's digital footprint and how we might be able to automate some components of our production floor. Additionally, I will be seeking out software companies to determine a better MIS solution for our company and in turn, our customers.
WFI: How do you hope attending will impact your business/career moving forward?
Hickey-Wiggins: My hope in attending is that the knowledge I will gain helps nudge our company toward the path to grow and evolve to the next generation of printing.
To read more Q&As with PRINTING United Expo attendees visit Get the Expo 411. To register to attend, please visit PrintingUnited.com.
Denise Gustavson is the Editorial Director for the Alliance Media Brands — which includes Printing Impressions, Packaging Impressions, In-plant Impressions, Wide-Format Impressions, Apparelist, NonProfitPRO, and the PRINTING United Journal — PRINTING United Alliance.
