The BPIF, with the help of Prontaprint, extolled the benefits of digital printing to a group of MPs gathered at the House of Commons this week.


At the inaugural meeting of the All Parliamentary Group for the Printing Industry, members - including Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe and Buckingham MP John Bercow - were shown how to use digital print technology to enhance their pre-election flyers.


"The demonstration is very basic to us but to people who don't usually see this kind of thing it's amazing," said Prontaprint director of commercial development Nick Chalk.


MPs were given a Photoshop demonstration to show how pictures can be manipulated and text customised to target specific issues in different parts of their constituencies.


"If, for example, a certain area has a problem with development they can personalise those documents," said Chalk.


He added that MPs were also impressed at the speed, low cost and flexibility of run-lengths that digital presses offer.


"It will allow campaigners to concentrate on their core activity in the run-up to the election instead of running off laser prints and stuffing envelopes," Chalk added.


BPIF representatives at the meeting, including chief executive Roy Hill, director of corporate affairs Mike Hopkins and director of training and commercial products Andrew Brown, also presented the MPs with a briefing document out-
lining the industry's key concerns.


Story by Lauretta Roberts