Registration is now open online for Australia’s PacPrint 2021, with the organiser citing the event as likely to be the ‘most important’ edition ever held.

Held since 1970, PacPrint is described as a ‘comprehensive and relevant’ business-to-business (B2B) event serving the evolving needs of the print, sign and graphic communications industry in Australasia. Held biannually in Melbourne, PacPrint, together with the co-located sign, display and wide format show, Visual Impact, and Label & Packaging Expo, typically attracts more than 8000 visitors from Australia, New Zealand and the surrounding region.

PacPrint 2021 will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 28 September to 1 October, 2021. Register and find out more at www.pacprint.com.au.

PacPrint 2021 also has the potential to be a landmark and benchmark event for print industry events and exhibitions worldwide, which continue to be delayed and prevented from running as in-person events by the consequences of Covid-19, including travel restrictions, limits on social gatherings and interactions, and health and safety concerns of both exhibitors and attendees alike. Labelexpo Americas and Europe are both now to take place in 2022, as a recent example.

Some events have been staged in Asia earlier in the pandemic, notably All in Print China and K-Print in South Korea. Peter Harper, CEO at Visual Connections, which organises the event and co-hosts it with the Print & Visual Communications Association (PVCA), noted that indications from fellow event organisers and the Exhibitions & Events Association of Australia are that, not only are markets ready to return to in-person events, but are keener than ever.

‘For example,’ he commented, ‘we heard this week from colleagues in Queensland that the events they have held late last year and in early 2021 have not only exceeded expectations but, in some instances, have broken attendance records for the shows in question. Not only that, but record business has been transacted at many of these shows, reinforcing the value of the physical B2B environment of an industry expo.’

Visual Connections’ own research supports this contention that the market is ready to gather at trade shows, with some 70% of respondents to a recent survey indicating that they would ‘definitely’ attend the Melbourne show. Another 18% said they were considering it, with only 12% saying they had no plans to attend at present.

With Australia in one of the stronger positions globally in relation to the pandemic, this year’s event is expected to be more strongly subscribed than ever.

Mr Harper said, ‘We are in a great position in Australia to plan for a return to exhibitions and events. With seven months still to run until doors open at the MCEC, we are extremely confident that PacPrint will not only proceed, but potentially be one of the biggest and most important shows we’ve ever held.

‘Now, with plans progressing well for the show, it’s time for business owners and key decision makers to clear their diaries, start to make plans, and of course register to attend the show.’