Shortly after announcing the launch of Converting 05, to be teamed with the quadrennial PRINT 05 event, strong positive response from both the printing and the converting and package-printing industries was received, says organizer Graphic Arts Show Co., Reston, VA. "We've heard lots of positive comments from both printing suppliers and converting equipment manufacturers that a combined effort is an effective, efficient way for both sectors to reach both new markets, and their existing customer base," says GASC president Regis Delmontagne. "PRINT 05 and Converting 05 will also enable package printers an opportunity to see first-hand how to implement fully-digital workflows in their printing process."

The addition of Converting 05 will enlarge the PRINT show scheduled for Sept. 9-15, 2005, to 900,000 sq ft and play host to more than 900 exhibiting companies. GASC forecasts over 80,000 attendees at the North and South Halls of Chicago's McCormick Place.

"We're pleased to see that PRINT is expanding to include a large converting-oriented event," says Niels Winther, CEO of Heidelberg. "The convergence of the printing and converting markets is advancing, and having these two events in one place at the same time makes good business sense for us."

"From our perspective, we see the merging of our traditional print market with that of our converting market," says Hank Brandtjen, president of Brandtjen & Kluge. "We can also focus our efforts and exhibit more equipment."

Among the converting and package printing-related exhibitors taking space to date are Blumer, Bobst, Brandtjen & Kluge, Brausse Group, Gluing Machinery & Systems, INX International Ink, Körber Paperlink, Press Solutions/Albo System, Prime UV Systems, Print Craft Supply/Carton Craft Supply Inc., Schiavi, and Sun Chemical.