World Printers Forum Conference will make strong case for print

"The newspaper is dead? Long live the newspaper!" is the not-so subtle title of his recently published book, written on the occasion of the Tiroler Tageszeitung's 70th anniversary. Petz, who serves as the chairman of the board of Moser Holding, will make a strong case for the power of print.

The conference will reflect the work of the World Printers Forum, the print community within World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). It will feature presentations on new research projects, innovations in the newspaper print business, product development and technology. Emerging business models will be presented and discussed, as well as new approaches in offset and digital inkjet printing, paper and ink, newspaper print sizes and production control.

Topics

• New business models of newspaper printing;
• Innovations in technology and product development;
• Optimising materials: paper and ink;
• Learn from other industries, lead in innovation and launch new projects.

The conference will also include a panel discussion on the question, "Is print part of the past or part of the future?" Experts will debate the future of the printed newspaper and present the top priorities and action plans needed to make print a part of the future of news media.

Speakers

Confirmed speakers include:

• Beat Lauber, Strategy and Communication, VR Delegate, Mengis Druck, Walliser Bote, Switzerland, will present the case study of the first inkjet printed European daily newspaper

• Hugo Jacqmain, Director, Aboriginal Affairs, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, will talk about the influence of paper procurement decisions on sustainable forest management in Québec, Canada

• Krishnendu Bose, Vice President, Manufacturing Excellence for Supply Chain of HT Media, India, will present a case study of the UV Project by Hindustan Times Media

• Kurt Kribitz, Managing Director, Styria Print Group, Austria, will give a presentation on "Boosting productivity with integrated production management." With end-to-end integration --from estimating through scheduling, production, delivery and accounting -- integrated production management can facilitate the collection and sharing of information.

• Manfred Werfel, WAN-IFRA Deputy CEO, and Martin Schwarz, Editor-in-Chief of the Trade Magazine 4c, in Austria, will do a joint presentation on new and emerging business models of newspaper printing companies. A new WAN-IFRA Report presents international cases that illustrate the development from different points of view. The Austrian 4c Magazin supported the WAN-IFRA project and initiated a survey on alternative business models for newspaper printers.

• Matthias Tietz, CEO of Rheinisch-Bergische Druckerei, Düsseldorf, Germany, will examine the request to change from traditional newspaper formats to a wide range of standard DIN A formats - an essential requirement for the future economy of newspaper printing plants.

• Nigel Wells, Joint MD and Editor, Print Process Champions best practice group, will present the results of the cooperative project, "Optimized Paper Handling & Logistics," supported by many publishing and supplier companies and associations worldwide.

• Thomas Drensek, GM Axel Springer Print Management, Germany, will talk about the new Axel Springer printing company

The World Printers Forum is one of three strategy conferences taking place during the World Publishing Expo, which will run 5-7 October 2015. Some 7000 visitors are expected at the Expo and conferences, which features more than 200 exhibitors and more than 70 speakers.

For more information, go to www.wan-ifra.org/events/world-printers-forum-conference-2015.