What To Expect at the 2018 SGIA Expo

The printing industry is shifting fast, and as it does, the 2018 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, Oct. 18-20, will help you plan for what’s ahead and make the best decisions for your business. Whether you sit in on informative educational sessions, peruse the expo hall or expand your network at one of the many social functions, be sure to take advantage of all that 2018 SGIA Expo has to offer.

SGIA Expo attendees print on everything — t-shirts and apparel, nameplates and electronics, banners and packaging — and the SGIA Expo is the perfect place to cultivate new ideas and form new connections. As the lines between market segments continue to blur, SGIA Expo attendees are going in new directions and are looking for ideas, applications and technologies to build their businesses.

“Every day we see new innovations that are changing the way we do things in printing, and the SGIA Expo brings the industry together to prepare for what’s on the horizon,” says Ford Bowers, president and CEO, Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA).

The educational program and networking opportunities will give attendees insight into the latest trends and innovations in wide-format digital printing, and the expansive show floor will show them in action.

Class is in Session

To ensure you are up-to-date with all the latest business intelligence and sales know-how, the SGIA Expo offers a robust educational program. This year’s show features 72 sessions that will spotlight need-to-know topic areas including graphics, technology, business management
and production.

Attendees fill the show floor at last year’s SGIA Expo in New Orleans.

“This year’s educational programming taps the knowledge of dozens of industry experts, and provides attendees with numerous opportunities to learn from exhibitors, print providers and industry consultants,” says Dan Marx, director of content development, SGIA. “Given the breadth of the programming and the flexibility of the Expo + Education pass, attendees can craft their own experiences to meet the specific needs of their businesses.”

Sessions will be held throughout all three days of the show, and will cover a variety of topics, organized by tracks, including graphics and sign, garment decoration, industrial printing, commercial printing and printed packaging.

For further learning opportunities, this year’s show will offer two half-day extended sessions the day before the show opens. For those new to the market, “Wide-Format 101: Essential Skills for Success” will highlight where the wide-format industry is today, and explore the equipment, color management techniques and business practices needed to strengthen any business. The “Essential Small Business Strategies” session will teach new and small businesses methods for marketing, sales, business management and more. For more information on these sessions, including speakers and times, turn to page 42. Tickets to these sessions ($49) are not included in the Expo + Education pass, and can be purchased during the registration process.

The Show Floor

As with every SGIA Expo, the show floor will be plastered wall-to-wall with the latest and greatest machinery, applications and consumables, created by experts responding to change with cutting-edge innovations. With more than 500 exhibitors covering more than 273,000 sq. ft. of the Las Vegas Convention Center, you will want to be in attendance exploring the latest technologies and trends in printing.

“The 2018 SGIA Expo will be buzzing with excitement,” says Lexy Olisko, VP of expositions, SGIA.

Walk the show floor and see firsthand what new technologies are being introduced and learn from the manufacturers what these offerings indicate about the future of printing — and your business.

But make sure you bring Wide-Format Impressions’ September/October 2018 issue with you. It will highlight all the new hardware, software, equipment and consumables on the expo floor.

Special education sessions. Click to enlarge.

Expand Your Rolodex

It is sure to be a schmooze fest with a collection of special events to round out the SGIA experience, with a blend of education and networking to promote learning through interaction with fellow attendees. Make sure to take advantage of this year’s social gatherings, rub shoulders with industry folks and expand that rolodex — digital or print.

Some of the networking opportunities at this
year’s show include:

• Brands Talking Sustainability Luncheon (Thursday, Oct. 18, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., $30): Discuss sustainability efforts, goals and objectives, and network to discover new ways to engage your customer base on sustainability-related issues.
• Opening Night Party (Thursday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Free): Celebrate the SGIA Expo at TAO Las Vegas and enjoy drinks and snacks while you engage with your peers.
• Women in Print Breakfast (Friday, Oct. 19, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., $30): Join the Women in Print Alliance for a morning of connection and education, and share your work experiences with other women in the industry.

To view all there is to see and do at this year’s SGIA Expo, head to www.sgia.org/expo/2018 for a full list of events, sessions and more to explore while attending the final SGIA Expo. Next year, in support of the convergence of technologies and the blending and blurring of market segments and specialties, SGIA and NAPCO Media is launching PRINTING United, a brand-new event in Dallas, Oct. 23-25, 2019. Don’t fret, PRINTING United will bring you all of what you love about the SGIA Expo, and a whole lot more.