Distinguished Industry Leaders Support Efforts to Update Global Printing Taxonomy

PRINTING United Alliance, in partnership with IT Strategies and Zwang & Co., announce progress on its important initiative developed to provide the printing industry with a comprehensive global taxonomy. A special advisory board has been created to guide the Taxonomy project to ensure it adequately represents companies and the relative nomenclature needed to address the printing industry’s under-representation in government statistics, and help prepare the printing industry for growing business in the future, in all regions of the world.

Since officially launching the initiative earlier this year, there has been extensive support from industry thought leaders across a wide spectrum of the industry, including conventional and digital printing equipment and finishing suppliers, packaging converters, and trade associations worldwide.

The group is targeting to approve the first version of the updated taxonomy at a meeting at PRINTING United Expo this October in Orlando.

Meet the Leadership
The Taxonomy Advisory Board reflects a large group of distinguished print industry experts who are providing input for the updated Taxonomy structure with representative across all market segments. These leaders collectively recognize the importance of improving global print taxonomy and have committed to progress in this important area:

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“The response we have received from this initiative has been very spirited,” says Bowers. “Without doubt, the need for a global taxonomy is universally recognized and will assist everyone in the printing industry in critical ways. We are very happy to be a part of this foundational work.”"The printing industry in particular is in a constant state of flux, in order to meet current and future challenges, so it is of great importance to keep the taxonomy up to date,” says Sammeck.

“Printing is so much more than books, newspapers, magazines, advertising, and packaging,” adds Klose. “Properly defining and sizing our industry at international level is an extremely valuable activity that will help to combat misconceptions and demonstrate the importance of our essential sector. Intergraf welcomes the opportunity to be involved in redefining the global graphical sector’s taxonomy. We will contribute a European perspective and understanding of printed products and services to the process.”

Join the Initiative
For further details on the global Taxonomy initiative, or to provide input and learn more, email Marco Boer, boer@it-strategies.com, or David Zwang, david@zwang.com.

About IT Strategies
I.T. Strategies, Inc. is a 29-year old research consultancy dedicated to helping digital color printing equipment and supplies manufacturers develop their next generation of technology. The company delivers intelligent data, analysis, strategy, and implementation practices to vendors in the digital printing industry around the world on applications ranging from 3D printing to packaging printing, centering on inkjet technology development.

About David Zwang, Zwang & Co.
David Zwang travels around the globe helping increase the productivity, margins, and market reach of firms in the fields of publishing and packaging across the globe. He is currently the Chairman of the GWG (Ghent Workgroup) and sits on many national and international standards bodies.

About PRINTING United Alliance
PRINTING United Alliance is the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in the United States, comprised of the vast communities which it represents. The Alliance serves industry professionals across market segments with preeminent education, training, workshops, events, research, government and legislative representation, safety, and environmental sustainability guidance, as well as resources from the leading media company in the industry – NAPCO Media. Now a division of PRINTING United Alliance, Idealliance is the global leader in standards training and certification for printing and graphic arts operations across the entire industry supply chain.

PRINTING United Alliance also produces the PRINTING United Expo, the most influential days in printing. The expansive display of technology and supplies, education, programming, and services are showcased to the industry at large, and represents all market segments in one easily accessed place.