Almost half the stand space at Australia’s PacPrint13 trade show is already sold, organisers say.

Less than a month after doors closed on DRUPA, attention is turning to the Australian domestic event, to be held in Melbourne from May 21-25.

Exhibition director Paul Baker of Reed Exhibitions says committed exhibitors include Agfa, Ferrostaal and Müller Martini, as well as digital and general commercial print systems vendors.

“This is a great result so far out from the show and indicates just how important PacPrint is to suppliers right across the print and graphic communications industry,” he says.

The dynamic of the industry is reflected in several key exhibitors with digital printing connections planning significant increases in space over the 2009 show. Digital technologies, workflow innovation and sustainability format are expected to be among key trends.

PaPrint13 chairman Ian Martin says the change in many sectors is ‘evolutionary’ rather than ‘revolutionary’: “The importance of shows like PacPrint is that they give local businesses – particularly the very many who were not able to make it to DRUPA – the opportunity to see technology and trends first hand and to gather important ideas about how these can be harnessed to complement existing offerings and to create new, profitable revenue streams,” he syas.

“Even at this early stage PacPrint13 is shaping up as an ‘ideas-rich’ show which will help decision-makers translate all the talk about trends, innovation and improvements into practical strategies and investment plans they can implement for their own business success.”

Apart from the opportunity to demonstrate the very latest advances, Muller Martini’s Livio Barbagallo says his company’s involvement is a show of support for the industry: “Visitors to PacPrint13 can expect to see a selection of the technology Muller Martini demonstrated at DRUPA – a ‘summary’, if you like – which has been tailored to suit the needs of businesses in this part of the world.

“We absolutely believe in the strength of our industry and in the very real potential here in Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia Pacific region.”

The show will repeat the success of the Forum Series, and will again co-locate with the Visual Impact Image Exhibition.

“There’s no question that the coming few years will be a testing time for our industry,” says Martin, “but we believe it will also be a time of enormous opportunity. We are committed to ensuring that PacPrint13 will be the best opportunity for decision-makers from Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia-Pacific region to get the information – and inspiration – they need to chart their course for success in these challenging times.”