Contents
Learning Areas
Exhibitor programmes and seminars
Knowledge Centre highlights
Profit Zone highlights

Not every visitor will be going to Ipex armed with a chequebook and a clear idea of what products they need to enhance their business. Many will be going to browse, to get ideas and to learn: they are hungry for knowledge so they can progress their company and understand what shape the industry is in.

To help them on their way, the organisers have come up with a raft of seminars and events. By packing each session with high-level speakers and topics that can stimulate the mind and generate ideas, this year's Ipex is designed to have something for everybody. Last time out, Ipex hosted a series of Innovation Seminars. While there was plenty of strong content, attendance levels were disappointing. This time the organisers believe that they've found the right balance.

 "At Ipex, a reason for visitors to attend is to look at the new kit – our exhibitors want people to go to their stands," explains Ipex marketing director Nick Craig Waller. "But another important aspect is the education programme. As part of our planning for 2010, we looked at feedback from visitors who attended in 2006, as well as looking at what's happening in the industry."

The result is a multi-pronged approach at the show: the Knowledge Centre, described as an "information hub" incorporating 30 not-for-profit organisations; the Printers' Profit Zone, designed to assist printers with more business-led topics, such as sales, profit and finance; and the Great Print Debates, where the great and the good of the sector will be discussing some of the industry's pressing issues.

Print automation
In addition, there will be a Print Automation Pavilion, guided tours, in association with ProSkills, and product trails, designed to help visitors negotiate the busy halls. It all points to an Ipex that will expand the visitor's knowledge base – vital in a time of economic turbulence.

That's certainly one of the reasons behind Profit Zone. Organised in conjunction with business coach Nick Devine, a series of free 30-minute sessions will tackle topics ranging from showing printers how they can market themselves to running sales and marketing teams. The prickly issues of finance and adding value are also included.

"It's looking at going back to basics," adds Craig Waller. "The sessions aren't about theory but case-study-led examples. Printers have not had it good for the past five years and their customers take for granted areas like quality, service, speed and colour management. For the printer, it's now about how they can sell their service – they aren't used to making themselves more marketing-centric. They need to know how to be more consultative and add value – for example, get more involved in the design process."

Learning about the nuts and bolts of business is important for the industry's players, but there's also the added layer of getting to grips with the environment, training, pensions and the mind-boggling number of accreditations that are out there. That's where the Knowledge Centre comes in. A new addition for the 2010 show, it consists of not-for-profit organisations handing out expert advice.

Each member has a stand and an opportunity to promote their services. Participants include: FSC; PEFC; Two Sides; Printing Industry Pension Scheme; The Printing Charity; Ghent Workgroup; IPIA; and Unite. In addition, there's an international flavour to the hub, with the Printing Industries Association of Australia and the Sri Lanka Association of Printers.

"As a bonus we have a seminar programme, which is again free of charge," says Craig Waller. The subjects that will be tackled by the seminars include digital de-inking, responsible paper procurement, getting training into the workplace and what buyers look for in printers.

While the focus of both the Knowledge Centre and the Printers' Profit Zone is on the now, Ipex's Great Print Debates aim to give visitors a glimpse of the future. Organised in association with Pira, each session takes on four main topics and involves some of the industry's big hitters, including Frank Romano, professor emeritus at Rochester Institute of Technology.

"They are debates on where the industry is going and they are going to be balanced sessions," adds Craig Waller.

There are four topics covered by the debates, which are located in the Printers' Profit Zone: will an iPod for publishing kill printed media?; more than ink on paper – how should printers be selling ink?; green print – is it worth it; and what will the printer of the future look like? Again these are free for visitors and will take place every day from 1–2pm.

Also taking place each day are the Ipex Guided Tours. The exhibition can be a bit of a jungle for a visitor and not all have itineraries that have been rigidly organised from day one. Each tour lasts around two hours and visits some of the key players in each sector; partners include Canon, Duplo, Friedheim and Komori. The tours are also handy for the host of international visitors who will be descending on the NEC.

The Product Trails might also be useful for the slightly befuddled visitor. They cover areas such as green print, finishing systems, marketing solutions, offset and digital processes. "We can ensure that any visitor can go directly to the company they need to see," says Craig Waller. "The service can be found at the registration areas."

And as if all that isn't enough, visitors will be faced with a wide range of seminars from exhibitors at the show. This year's Ipex may be showing many innovations in technology, but it also aims to expand the minds of many visitors.