My First PRINTING United: Why I Can’t Wait to Dive In

This year I’ve got the huge privilege of being one of the PRINTING United Expo All Stars  and the funny thing is, it’s actually my first time ever attending! I’ve heard so many people in the industry talk about how it’s the one event you just can’t miss, and now I finally get to see it for myself.

I’m not going just to walk the floor (though with 800+ exhibitors that alone sounds amazing),  I’ll be throwing myself into all the show features too plus I'll be speaking on the Wednesday too. If you’re on the fence about coming along, let me give you a wee insight into what’s happening. 

Hands-On Learning (yes, you actually get to do stuff)

I love the idea that PRINTING United isn’t just about looking at shiny machines,  it’s also about getting stuck in. The Apparel Zone is where you can try your hand at screen printing, sublimation, embroidery and more, even if you’ve never touched the kit before. Then there’s the PDAA Installer Zone where you can practice wrapping tricky surfaces (and apparently even win prizes for it). For me, this feels like the perfect way to learn, not just watching, but actually giving it a go. I'm a hands on kinda guy so this suits me to a tee. 

Education That’s Actually Useful 

There’s a full program of paid education sessions run by real industry experts, including yours truly. When I'm not speaking, I’m planning to sit in on as much of this as I can because it’s one thing reading about what's important in our Industry online, it’s another being in a room where people are breaking it all down for you. As a PrInt Coach, I’m always teaching,  so I can’t wait to be on the student side for once.

Something For All The Print Geeks Out There

The G7/G7+ Exchange is happening at the show, and if you’re serious about colour consistency and workflows, this is where you’ll want to be. Colour management can feel like a dark art, but this looks like a great chance to demystify it. I for one, will be there looking to pick up some knowledge I can pass onto my clients. 

One Part I'm Really Excited About: The PRINTING AI Pavilion

If you’ve followed me Linkedin recently, you’ll know I’ve been going deep on AI in print with my colleague Emma Farquharson (who's also speaking at the show), so to have a whole AI Pavilion packed with micro talks, live demos and a wall of new tech… well, that’s basically my Disneyland. I’ll be camping out here a lot, so if you’re also curious about where AI is taking our industry, come and join me.

Student Day

This is such a cool initiative, October 23rd is Student Day, where young people get tours, live demos and education tailored to them. I love that PRINTING United is investing in the future of the industry like this and I'll be involved in taking some of the students around the show. If you’ve got staff just starting out, bring them along.

Networking… And Then Some More Networking 

PRINTING United doesn’t stop when the show floor closes. There’s After Dark networking in the evenings where everyone gets together in a more relaxed setting (and yes, there’s a VIP option with an open bar!). No surprises as to where you'll find me!

Plus, there’s the Spill the Ink lounge during the day, a drop-in spot for informal, real-talk conversations. To me, this is just as valuable as the education sessions, because sometimes the best ideas come from those casual chats. I'll also be moderating some of the discussions in here throughout the show. 

Why I Think You Should Be There

Here’s the thing: PRINTING United isn’t just another trade show. It’s a proper industry experience.

You can:

• See the latest tech launches up close.

• Learn from experts in every corner of print.

• Actually get your hands on the equipment.

• Meet people who are as passionate about this industry as you and I are.

As a first-timer, I couldn’t ask for a better introduction. And as Team Captain of the Expo All-Stars, I’d love to connect with as many of you as possible while I’m there.

So if you’ve been thinking about it, make this the year you go. I’ll be the one running around like a kid in a sweet shop trying to fit in everything hi! Or better still, let's plan something in advance, drop me an email [email protected] and let's set something up in advance.