PrintCom coming to Melbourne

Next year sees a shakeup in the local tradeshow calendar as GASAA takes on Melbourne with PrintCom in September.

A Melbourne equivalent of this year’s Printworks, the show once again partners up with Visual Impact, POPAI and the Retail exhibition and conference. Held from 13 to 15 September at Melbourne Convention Centre, the three-day event has already managed to sign up half a dozen exhibitors.

“We think there will be a strong following,” said GASAA chief executive, Garry Knespal, (pictured) citing 6,500 people who attended Printworks this year.

"This name gives the 2011 GASAA expo a distinct Melbourne identity and suitably reflects the important relationship print has, and will continue to play in the communication mix. In all other respects, the GASAA-run event will be built on the success of the Sydney PrintWorks 2010 show."

Set to cause consternation is the fact that PrintCom takes place only four months after PrintEx in Sydney, which is presented by GAMAA and Printing Industries in May. Knespal believes there is space for the two tradeshows to co-exist.

“I don’t think that one necessarily impacts the other,” he said. “PrintEx is on in Sydney and we believe that the Victorian market will benefit from having a show in Victoria later in the year – there’s a reasonable separation between the two.”

GAMAA president, Mitchell Mulligan, was unavailable to comment on whether he believes PrintCom posed a threat at the time of going to press.

The newly launched Printovation awards will also be held in conjunction with PrintCom (the National Print Awards also take place during PrintEx). Knespal said the awards were a success and will be even stronger next year.

“The formula is right for us,” he said. “It’s short, sharp, to the point and celebrates innovation.”

Printworks will return again to Sydney in 2012. “We want to continue partnering with Visual Impact,” Knespal said. “We feel there’s strong benefit to the industry for wide format and narrow format to work together.”

Making a mark in Melbourne, the GASAA-run PrintCom adds to the mix of tradeshows locally.