TAGA Recap
The Annual Technical Conference (ATC) in Houston was a terrific success, with a diverse range of topics and animated discussions of standards and specifications, workflows and production efficiencies, measurement and color, and 3D printing and novel manufacturing applications. This year’s conference was bursting at the seams with content, as we had one of the strongest pools of paper submissions in recent years. I want to thank all the authors and researchers who contributed to the program and the many attendees that came to benefit from their work and contributed to the discussions that followed. This interaction of diverse points of view is the dynamic that sets TAGA apart as the premier outlet for research and technical innovation in graphics.
Sponsorship was up this year as well, with resources and assistance provided by Dow Jones & Company, Inc.; EFI; FUJIFILM North America Corporation; GMG Color; Heidelberg USA, Inc.; Konica Minolta; Sappi North America; and Xerox. I’m grateful that so many companies see the value of our conference and have offered continued support through the years. We also benefited by the involvement of our partner organizations Idealliance, IS&T, RadTech, TAPPI, and WhatTheyThink as they helped get the word out to boost participation in this year’s ATC.
Our student chapters are another unique aspect of the ATC, with seven universities from France, Canada, and the United States presenting journals showcasing student research at their institutions and their printing prowess in the Helmut Kipphan Cup Competition. Their ingenuity and creativity is among the conference highlights, and I hope we’re successful at drawing more schools in to TAGA next year.
Lastly, I’d like to thank our Board of Directors and the dedicated staff at PIA who worked so hard to make the Houston conference the success it was and who are even now renewing their efforts to make next year’s conference in Baltimore our best yet. I hope to see you all in Baltimore next year and I hope to see many new faces as well as we celebrate 70 years of TAGA!
2018 Call for Papers
TAGA is pleased to announce the call for Scientific Papers and Technical Innovation Papers for the 2018 conference. This conference allows industry leaders, innovators, researchers, and scientists to highlight their latest research and developments within the graphic arts field.
Scientific Papers are based on emerging science, technology, and the application of all forms of graphic technology and printing processes, including offset lithography, flexo, gravure, digital, inkjet, pad, and screen printing.
Technical Innovation Papers will cover topics where a broad technology perspective needs to be provided. They will focus on issues that are current to the industry and critical to its development, but will additionally include ideas and solutions relevant to the wider range of the graphic arts industry, including technical reviews.
Paper submissions and speaker presentations center on graphic arts systems, software, and computer technology developments, as well as the more traditional areas of press, ink, and paper engineering applications. The scope of the conference encompasses such diverse topics as color management, materials, packaging, curing, process control, data management, workflow, security, nanotechnology, MEMS, printed electronics, 3D Printing, and fundamental science.
Papers will be selected on the basis of submitted abstracts of 500–1,500 words and may include figures. Prospective authors should indicate Scientific Paper or Technical Innovation Paper.
Papers accepted and presented at the TAGA 2018 Annual Technical Conference in Baltimore, Maryland (March 18–21 at the Sheraton Inner Harbor) will be published in the 2018 TAGA Proceedings. TAGA is recognized worldwide as the most prestigious and comprehensive literature resource for graphic arts sciences and technologies.
All submissions can be sent to TAGA@printing.org. The deadline is September 8, 2017.
TAGA 2017 Student Competition Winners Announced
Since 1987, TAGA has recognized the research achievements of Student Members and Chapters by bestowing several awards for exceptional work in technical research writing, design, and production. This year, seven university student chapters—Appalachian State University, Cal Poly State University, Clemson University, Grenoble Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Ryerson University, and Western Michigan University—participated in the TAGA 2017 Student Competitions.
The TAGA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Student Competition Awards:
- 2017 Harvey Levenson Undergraduate Student Paper Award—Justin Furgurson of Clemson University
- Helmut Kipphan Student Publication Grand Prize—Cal Poly State University
- Special Recognition—Student Publication, Technical Writing—Grenoble Institute of Technology
- Special Recognition—Student Publication, Design Quality—Appalachian State University
- Special Recognition—Student Publication, Production Quality—Appalachian State University
- Special Recognition—Best Electronic Publication—Appalachian State University
- Attendee’s Choice—Student Publication—Appalachian State University
The winners were announced at an awards ceremony during the TAGA 2017 Annual Technical Conference in Houston, Texas on March 21. For more information about the TAGA Student Competitions, please visit http://www.printing.org/page/3700.
TAGA Board Update
At the recent TAGA Conference, Liam O’Hara, assistant professor of graphic communications at Clemson University, ascended to the presidency of TAGA. He is the TAGA advisor to the Clemson University student chapter. David Niles, outgoing president, passed the gavel to Liam during the Awards Banquet at last month’s Annual Technical Conference. David ably led TAGA for two years, establishing a foundation for renewed growth (this year’s conference saw growth in papers and attendance, along with the announcement of a new student chapter). David will remain in the officer ranks as Immediate Past President.
Wandee Poolpol, the incoming executive vice president, joins Liam in a leadership position. Wandee is End Use Manager for Graphic Arts at Eckart America.
Also joining the officer ranks are Vice President of Education Dr. Bruce Myers, professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. Bruce replaces Mandy Wu of Appalachian State University who stepped aside after serving admirably for the last two years. The position of vice president of membership is being filled by Dr. Mark Bohan, director, Prinect & CtP for Heidelberg USA. Mark, who takes over for Tim Payne, knows TAGA well, having managed its operation while an executive with Printing Industries of America. Dawn Nye of Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA will be stepping into the role of vice president of marketing as Udi Arieli of EFI has served his two terms in the position. Udi will remain on the board.
2017-2018 Officers
| President | Liam O’Hara, Clemson University |
| Executive Vice President | Wandee Poolpol, Eckart America |
| Vice President, Technical Papers | John Seymour, John the Math Guy LLC |
| Vice President, Education | Bruce Myers, Ph.D., Rochester Institute of Technology |
| Vice President, Membership | Dr. Mark Bohan, Heidelberg USA |
| Vice President, Marketing | Dawn Nye, Konica Minolta Business Solutions |
| Immediate Past President | David Niles, Sappi North America |
TAGA also welcomes two new board members: DJ Montalto (pictured right), technical marketing analyst at Canon U.S.A, and Michael Riebesehl, iGen business manager at Xerox. Both men are expected to bring considerable insights and strengths to TAGA’s governance.
The officers and board members will be working with PIA staff to organize a successful 2018 Annual Technical Conference, March 18–21 in Baltimore, Maryland.