Final report 2009

A 4-day anti-crisis remedy for the printing and graphic arts industry professionals

Presence of the leading companies, high-standard stands, equipment demonstrations, new product launches, numerous visitors and contracts – the printing and graphic arts industry professionals demonstrated, during their exhibition GRAPHITEC–CONVERTEC, the continuing dynamism of their industry.

GRAPHITEC–CONVERTEC, the trade show for solutions dedicated to printing and transformation, was held from June 9-12, 2009 at the Paris Porte de Versailles exhibition centre. This edition brought together 191 exhibitors, represented companies and brands, and delivered 10,650 professionals over the four exhibition days. Visitors came from all regions of France (58% from the Paris area / 42% from other regions). The show also attracted 10% of international visitors (Belgium, Germany, Maghreb countries, Switzerland).

The 2009 edition confirmed the printing and graphic arts industry's dynamism with the participation of all the market players and the attendance of visitors with purchasing projects. « In a communications market affected by the crisis Graphitec-Convertec 2009 showed that the printing sector is not at all moribund », Catherine Ressuge, Communications Director KOMORI FRANCE, declared.

The must-go-to show which brings together all the printing and graphic arts industries

The 12th edition of Graphitec-Convertec confirmed the importance of having a show in France which gathers all the printing and graphic arts industries, i.e. from pre-press to conversion, as well as all printing processes, finishing, forwarding, services and training. « Visitors came in large numbers to see machines in operation; this proves we need a national exhibition like Graphitec-Convertec », Sylvie Gibout, Communications Director AGFA FRANCE, stressed.

A sales-generating event

Exhibitors provided constructive and pragmatic answers to visitors looking for solutions to carry out their projects. Graphitec-Convertec 2009 has thus allowed a number of business deals to be concluded, as Soraya Taklaït, Communications and Marketing Manager FERAG FRANCE, emphasized: « In two exhibition days we achieved as much as during three weeks of customer appointments. Our presence at Graphitec-Convertec 2009 amply paid off with the sales concluded during the show ». 

A technological dynamic

While the crisis induced scepticism, the exhibition clearly confirmed the dynamism of the printing and graphic arts industry with printers who have sized up the market changes that have occurred over the last few years: automation, software engineering, and digital printing boom. This is what Philippe Pelletier, Deputy Marketing Manager CANON FRANCE, also felt: « The keynote is integration. It's no longer a single technology, a single software, but a combination of solutions. This is why we need to invest with partners who are capable of integrating all these different solutions. ».

Technological dynamism was also reflected in the great success of the presentation on: « Web to Print, e-business, collaborative portal: The development potential of the printing industry on the Internet. ». « The conference room was crammed full », Patrick Cahuet, Manager of 1PRIME concept and presentation facilitator, noted.

In a highly competitive market, printers are looking for technologies which ensure greater productivity, speed and profitability. « The trend is clearly twofold: process automation and business expansion », Régis Ruys, Marketing and Communications Manager FUJIFILM GRAPHICS FRANCE, stressed. This analysis is shared by Jean-Michel Cornet, Communications Manager CP BOURG: « In the finishing business the customer requires simple, flexible and versatile solutions. »

« Just a few days after the exhibition closed, feedback is on the whole very good. 80% of GRAPHITEC–CONVERTEC visitors do not go to other shows, and the exhibition once again confirmed its relevance… even in a period of crisis !
A majority of the industry leaders played the game. They took their chances and adjusted their participation to their objectives. They were right in doing so, and we thank them for their loyalty. This business-generating climate also benefited from the arrival at the exhibition of industry newcomers especially in the field of new technologies. », Véronique Sestrières, Exhibition Manager, pointed out.