Last call for free drupa briefing registrations

Messe Düsseldorf's drupa director, Manuel Mataré, is the keynote speaker during his whistle-stop tour through Australia and New Zealand.

While briefing session attendees will be the first to get an insight into what the future holds for the printing industry, one thing is certain, the rumblings coming out of Germany are such that they have even captured the imagination of the usually parochial USA market.

Kevin Joyce managing director of the United States and Canada Region for Kodak's Graphic communications group said in a recent interview that he knew of many people who were excited about drupa.

"I think that comes right back to the anxiety that the marketplace has about what role they will play and what their business is going to look like moving forward," he said.

"Drupa carries a lot of weight and substance. People go there to see the wealth of applications being shown. I think drupa attendees will be pleasantly surprised to see increased emphasis on workflow at drupa, and hopefully that will build more of a sense of urgency in the marketplace that they have to jump in faster and accept these solutions of the future."

Mataré is keeping his presentation details under wrap until the briefings and even the official drupa website gives little indication of what is planned, creating an even greater air of expectation of what will be said in Sydney and Melbourne.

Both events will also feature presentations from a range of speakers.

PaperlinX Group General Manager, Martin Fothergill, will address the Melbourne event and General Manager Marketing PaperlinX Australasia, Rohan Dean, the Sydney event.

Fuji Xerox's marketing manager business development, Nicole Merhi, will speak in Melbourne and workflow marketing manager, Eliot Harper in Sydney. Agfa's Garry Muratore will speak at both functions.

Veteran drupa visitor and industry identity, Ron Patterson will feature at both sessions sharing some humorous insights, intelligence and anecdotes every potential tripper needs to have as they begin to plan their drupa experience. Mr Patterson is a former general manager of Agfa Graphic Systems, inaugural chairman of PrintEx99, a former GAMAA president, chairman of PacPrint 2005 and current national sales manager and general manager, Printing Industries, Victoria and Tasmania.

Managing director of Barth Trade Consulting Australia, Rudolf Barth, the official Messe Düsseldorf representative in Australia, will be the Master of Ceremonies.

Tour consultant Christine Thieleke will talk at both sessions about the supa drupa tour and its special features.
Attendees will be able to participate in a question and answer session and, following the official presentations, discuss their individual drupa tour needs with tour organisers. All attendees will receive a package of information including the latest drupa report from Messe Düsseldorf.

Registration for these free briefings is essential for catering purposes. The briefings will be held in Sydney on Monday 30 April 2007 at the Stamford Grand North Ryde, corner Epping & Herring Roads, North Ryde from 4:30pm - 7pm. In Melbourne on Tuesday 1 May 2007 at the Novotel Glen Waverley, 285-287 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley from 4pm - 6:30pm.

Registration can be made by calling Theresa for Sydney event registration on (02) 8789 7322 or Lisa for Melbourne event registration on (03) 8541 7333 or either via e-mail:
supadrupa@printnet.com.au

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