10/10/2024

NAPIM’s First-Ever Combined Annual Convention/Technical ‎Conference a Strong Success

Article By: Molly Alton Mullins, NAPIM

From September 30 – October 4, NAPIM held its Annual Convention/Technical Conference collocated for the first time in the association’s 108-year history. In total, almost 200 attendees participated in the event, which allowed registrants to pick what portion they wanted to attend– the first half that was the Annual Convention, the second half which consisted of the Technical Conference, or the full weeklong affair.

One of the most significant changes to the collocated event was the opportunity to host a joint Awards gala. In years past, NAPIM has hosted an Annual Awards Gala in the spring, and a Technical Awards event in the fall. This year, both award shows were combined into one, to provide a larger audience representing the industry’s best and the brightest. This year the following were recipients of NAPIM’s Annual Awards:

• NAPIM Lawter Lecture Series Awards: First place winner, Natasha Banke of INX Ink International, Co.; second place winner, Joshua Kempfer of BASF
• TAM Service Award: Dave Tappa, BASF
• Technical Achievement Award: Kim Hill, INX Ink International, Co.
• Printing Ink Pioneer Awards: Tom Socha, INX Ink International, Co.; Ron Rauck, artience Toyo Ink America; Dr. Scot Pedersen, Siegwerk USA, Inc.; and Dr. Mohammad Farahat, Sun Chemical
• Ault Award: Gregg Dahleen, Central Ink Corporation

During the Annual Convention portion of the event, attendees heard from speakers focused on the economy, as well as a session that addressed challenges facing ink manufacturers in the flexible packaging world. Speakers also addressed AI and its impact on the sales process, as well as overall pricing strategies to improve company overall bottom lines. NAPIM also hosted its popular Ink panel, where some of the industry’s leading ink manufacturers collectively addressed their key business challenges and their approach for delivering solutions.

Later in the week, during the technical portion of the meeting, topics ranged from current packaging manufacturing to a EuPIA Update, as well as a panel on trends in sustainability. Sessions also covered innovations with carbon black, color measurement, and tactics to overcome challenges in ink and coatings development. More than a dozen industry exhibitors also participated in the weeklong event, and seven industry service companies showcased during NAPIM’s Sponsor Spotlight series, where they had time to share with attendees detailed information on their products and services.

While survey responses are still being collected, overall respondents reviewed this year’s collocated event as very positive and enjoyed the Phister hotel located in Milwaukee. Almost 85 percent of respondents stated the event “exceeded or highly exceeded their expectations.” The majority also preferred the combined Awards format, and 67 percent of respondents stated that, “collocating the Annual Convention/Technical Conference into one location added to the quality of the event.”

Looking ahead, most respondents plan to attend NAPIM events in 2025, with almost 80 percent saying they plan to join their industry colleagues next year. NAPIM’s leadership is taking all feedback into account to determine the appropriate format and location for next year’s NAPIM event, and will share more information as it becomes available with the Ink World community.