Print industry consultant, writer and researcher Andy McCourt is presenting two sessions at next month’s inaugural Asia-Pacific Digital Print Congress, Singapore November 28th-29th. The Congress will immediately precede the 10th Asian Print Awards on Friday 29th.
McCourt’s first paper is entitled, “Life After drupa: the Digital Dilemma Facing Us All and will include wide format printing,” while the second is environment-focused, “Print’s Sustainability in a Digital World.” Other speakers on the agenda include PrintFuture’s Neil Falconer, Direct Marketing guru Bob Pente, Xerox Research Fellow Reiner Eschbach PhD, Social Media whiz Kelly Choo, Workflow expert Joe Rouhana from Xerox, former Kodak and Esko executive Nick Price and Dscoop Director/Photobook producer Christian Soeseno.
“This is a great opportunity to further the friendship and co-operation between Asian and Australian industry professionals and very timely in view of the Gillard government’s renewed focus on Australian engagement with Asia,” says McCourt. “Generally, Asia has been slower to adopt digital print technologies because their volumes are way beyond the offset-digital break even point but, with most Asian economies galloping ahead, there is a realization that digital can offer much more in the way of targeted direct mail, personalization and short-run on demand work distributed over a network.”
McCourt believes that closer ties to the Asian print media industry are beneficial to Australian-New Zealand Printers. “The option of Asian production for work unsuited to local capabilities and cost structures adds flexibility to a printer’s offerings. Large colour hardcover books are one example – we lack the binding and kitting capacity, particularly for children’s books, here to totally fulfill demand. Our cost base for this kind of work is also high. If ANZ printers form partnerships with Asian counterparts, it is a two-way street of prosperity where jobs that can be printed locally stay here and jobs that would go offshore anyway, earn a profit margin for printers with Asian partnerships.”
McCourt cites Opus Print Group who partners with C.O.S in Singapore, PMP with a Singaporean non-executive director Goh Sik Ngee who is also Chairman of Times Publishing Group and SOS Print & Media with a network of digital printers throughout Asia and the World, as three examples of ANZ firms successfully enjoying close ties with Asian print media businesses.
“Files for publications can be sent electronically, anywhere within seconds. Print production can then take place close to where the products are distributed. As Asia increases its digital footprint, this opens up major opportunities for expanded distribute-then-print networks,” says McCourt; “it is also much better for the environment.”
The Asia-Pacific Digital Print Congress takes place at Singapore’s Sentosa Resort World Convention Centre, 28th-29th November and is held alongside the 10th Asian Print Awards.
The event is organized by Callaghan Publishing Pte Ltd, Chairman Paul Callaghan Jnr, who has resided in Asia for two decades and Managing Director Jeffrey Protheroe who brings vast Asian experience following many years with Kodak Asia-Pacific. Chair of judges for the Awards is none other than Alf Carrigan, well known as former Australian head of the CPI Group/SICPA and leading light in the rejuvenation of the National Print Awards.
The Asia Pacific Digital Print Congress has received support from the regional office of Messe Düsseldorf by sharing databases and registration facilities:
http://mda.messe-dusseldorf.com/mda_cms/admin/news_preview.php?id=2683
Enquiries can be directed to jeff@cpublish.co.sg
www.printworldasia.com
