2017 Call for Papers
We are less than two months away from the deadline of September 2 for the Call for Papers. Do you have research findings or technical innovations that you are willing to share? The conference gives industry leaders, innovators, researchers, and scientists the opportunity to highlight their research and development efforts within the graphic arts field. Papers and presentations must fall under one of two categories: Scientific or Technical Innovation.
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 cover topics where a broad technology perspective needs to be provided. They 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.
Topics can range from graphic arts systems, software, and computer technology developments to 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, and fundamental science. We are especially looking for packaging-related topics.
Papers will be selected on the basis of submitted abstracts of 500–1,500 words and may include figures. Papers should be submitted to tagapapers@printing.org.
Annual Technical Conference Keynotes
A powerful group of keynote speakers have committed to speak at the March 20–22 conference in Houston. The keynoters will address the expected worldwide impact of new color communication standards, approaches for achieving never-before-attainable levels of print efficiency, recent breakthroughs in 3D printing speed, and the technical and legal nuances with patenting colors.
- Steve Smiley, principal, Smiley & Associates
- Gary Dispoto, R&D director, HP Labs
- Anthony Thirlby, general manager, Prinect, Heidelberg
- John Seymour, color scientist, QuadTech
In addition, the TAGA conference will feature a panel of brand and graphics managers from consumer packaged goods companies discussing the changes they are making in workflows, production processes, and graphics. The conversation will also delve into smart labels/packaging and the growing need for short-run packaging.
Keep in mind that the conference has been shortened by a half day to protect more of your weekend. It officially begins on Sunday evening with a welcome reception and continues through the optional plant tour on Wednesday morning.
Proceedings Update
The 2015 Proceedings books were handed out to members at the Annual Technical Conference and mailed to members who were not in attendance. Please alert us at TAGA(at)printing.org if you were a member in 2015 and did not receive your copy. We have additional copies available for purchase. The Proceedings book with CD-ROM (digital text of all papers) is $75 for members and $150 for non-members. The larger Proceedings book containing printed text of all papers is $100 for members and $200 for non-members.
We are also nearing the publication of the 2016 Proceedings. The goal is to have it completed and delivered to members this October. We will also have the papers available to TAGA members in the Members Area of the TAGA site at http://www.printing.org/tagamember. You will need to be logged in to access it. Please email TAGA(at)printing.org if you need help with your login credentials.
TAGA Board Welcomes Martin Delp and Mark Bohan
We welcome two new members to the 20-person TAGA Board of Directors. Dr. Martin Delp is a professor in print and media technology at the Munich University of Applied Sciences (MUAS) in Munich, Germany. For the first part of this year he served as a visiting professor in Cal Poly’s Department of Graphic Communication.
Dr. Mark Bohan is a business consultant for Heidelberg and formerly an executive at Printing Industries of America and the managing director of TAGA. His relationship with TAGA goes back many years, first as a member and contributor, then in leadership capacities, finally as managing director.
We will have open Board positions at the conclusion of next year’s conference. If you are interested in serving as a board member, please contact Jim Workman, TAGA Managing Director, at jworkman(at)printing.org or 412-259-1710.