From labels for plastic bottles to dazzling boxes for the latest computer games, America's markets abound in creative packaging—much of it relying on leading-edge print design and production technology. Packaging has become one of the most exciting areas where marketing and graphic communications meet.

What's ahead in this fast-paced field? Converting Expow 2003, held alongside Graph Expow, Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 at Chicago's McCormick Place South, offers the opportunity to find out. More than 500 industry suppliers in total are expected to exhibit in about 365,000 sq ft of display space.

Close to a third of the show floor will be devoted to converting exhibits, with vendors from a variety of disciplines. Exhibitors will include many leading innovators in equipment and supplies for post-press, flexible-packaging, folding-carton, and related products.

Opportunities for sheetfed-offset printers in converting and package printing have expanded over the past 10 years with the increase in sophistication of prepress technology, and the boost in output quality offered by flexography. Offset printers, who are used to managing color, controlling workflow over shorter runs, managing digital assets over multiple projects and managing simultaneous jobs on different lines are at a distinct advantage when entering today's evolving converting and packaging market.

"Initially, this expansion of the show to include converting was intended both to help print businesses seek out growth opportunities in the closely related packaging industry, and to show packaging specialists how they could upgrade the appearance of their products through better design and printing," says Regis Delmontagne, president of Converting Expo organizer Graphic Arts Show Co.

Along with activities on the show floor, more than 60 conference sessions are planned covering topics ranging from management, marketing and digital printing to sales, pressroom workflow and finishing.

Converters and printers can get an early start on finding products of interest at the show by attending the "Critical Trends" Technology Breakfast at 7:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 29, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. Eleven speakers will present concise viewpoints, including Mark Spaulding, editor in chief of Converting, who will speak on package-printing and manufacturing developments.

More info: 703/264-7200, fax: 703/620-9187, www.graphexpo.com