FSEA and IADD Gearing Up with Changes to its 2019 Odyssey Event

New name, logo and interactive website introduced
The premier event for diecutting/diemaking, foil stamping and other specialty print effects will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, May 1 through 3, 2019. This will be the 10th anniversary of the event, held every two years and hosted by the International Association of Diecutting and Diemaking (IADD) and the Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA).

In honor of the anniversary, a new name has been revealed – Odyssey Expo. Formerly the IADD·FSEA Odyssey, Odyssey Expo 2019 symbolizes a fresh inclusivity of companies from a variety of graphic arts and other industries. Leaders in the folding carton, corrugated, bindery/finishing, printing and package, and others are expected to attend. The revamped logo retains the globe from the original logo and adds a modern font, crisp color scheme and date/location line for instant event branding.

“We believe the new name and logo helps us broaden our reach and market our event to a wider audience,” explained FSEA Executive Director Jeff Peterson. “We have already begun creating new alliances with printing and folding carton organizations that are planning to co-locate an educational experience or event during the Odyssey Expo next year.”

Odyssey Expo 2019 will be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, a 20-minute drive from the airport and near two major interstates for attendees driving in from the surrounding area. After a day at the event, networking can continue at The Battery Atlanta – a newly constructed premier dining and retail space next to the stadium where home games for baseball’s Atlanta Braves are held.

In addition to the new name and logo, a new website has been launched for the Odyssey Expo (www.odysseyexpo.org). The revamped website features mobile responsiveness to meet the needs of attendees looking for the latest event information from their mobile devices. This will be particularly useful on site during Odyssey Expo, as attendees will be able to quickly and easily access session schedules both for the TechShopTM, where live equipment demonstrations will take place, and for the traditional classroom education opportunities.

The new Odyssey Expo website also packs a visual punch, with a focus on showing attendees – and potential attendees – what Odyssey is all about, from the TechShopTM to the show floor. A photo gallery and pages throughout the site showcase images from previous events.

“The 2019 Odyssey event has been rebranded with a new name and a new logo to reinforce our show’s impact in the diecutting, diemaking, folding carton, foil and engraving segments,” said Shaun Larson, president of IADD. “The new website is a continuation of our brand, and we’re excited to show the industry just what our event offers through an easy-to-use, mobile-responsive site.”

For more information on Odyssey Expo 2019, visit www.odysseyexpo.org.

FSEA and PaperSpecs Partner on Comprehensive “Foil Cheat Sheet”

The Foil & Specialty Effects Association has partnered with PaperSpecs, the leading online source of paper and print information for print designers, to help produce the “Foil Cheat Sheet.” This new resource will be displayed prominently on the PaperSpecs website and will be heavily promoted to more than 18,000 graphic designers and brand marketers through social media and other channels.

The “Foil Cheat Sheet” will be a concise, easy-to-read reference to the different types of metallic decorating techniques in the marketplace today and the best applications for each. This will include hot-foil stamping, cold foil transfer, digital foil transfer, laminated foiling (sleeking) and laminated metallic paper/board.

“Nothing dazzles graphic designers and their clients quite like foil, yet a lack of knowledge keeps many from actually using it,” explained PaperSpecs founder Sabine Lenz. “The cheat sheet will give the design community instant access to all the options available to them, all in one place.””

The “Foil Cheat Sheet” will be available soon on the PaperSpecs website at www.paperspecs.com, FSEA also is working with PaperSpecs to develop a printed/decorated piece that will be passed out at tradeshows and conferences.

FSEA Steps Up Partnership with PRINT 18 and ApTech

FSEA will be on full display at PRINT 18, September 30 through October 2 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. PRINT 18 is produced by the Association of Print Technologies (ApTech).

First, FSEA has increased its usual booth size at the event where it will showcase an extended number of its winners from the 25th annual Gold Leaf Awards in 2018; its industry-leading magazine, PostPress; and newly published white papers on the impact of high-visibility enhancements on shelf presence. Attendees can stop by and see FSEA at booth 3846.

Jeff Peterson, FSEA executive director will lead a seminar on September 30, the first day of the show entitled “Definitions and Applications for Specialty Effects on Print.” He will discuss new decorating processes now available in the marketplace and the best applications for each – from cold and hot foil to digital inkjet coatings and foils.

In addition, FSEA will sponsor a breakfast featuring Chris Eckhart – president, Eckhart & Company, and bindery representative on the FSEA board of directors – and Peterson, who together will give an overview of FSEA’s newly formed Binding and Loose Leaf Division. Both active members (trade binderies, bindery departments and loose leaf manufacturers) and associate members (suppliers to the bindery and loose leaf industries) are welcome. The breakfast will take place 8 to 9a.m. Tuesday, October 2 in Room S502a. To RSVP for the breakfast, please visit www.fsea.com/PDF/FSEA_Print18_ReceptionBreakfast_Registration_fillable.pdf or call 785-271-5816 for a registration form. There is no cost to attend.

Finally, Peterson will lead a guided exhibit hall tour on the last day of the show, October 2, taking a group of attendees to several booths that display specialty print and embellishment equipment and/or products. The tour will take place from 11a.m. to 1p.m. and will begin at booth #1652. The booths involved with the tour include Brandtjen & Kluge, Eagle Systems, MGI USA (Konica Minolta booth), Nobelus and Therm-o-Type.

Limited space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are required, and participants must be registered attendees of PRINT 18 to register. Attendees can register by emailing [email protected]. For further details on all of the scheduled tours, visit www.aptech.org, select on PRINT 18 Event and then the Learning Experience link.