Look to APR, DuPont, and Esko for an assist with Organizing, Adapting, and Innovating the future of the Plateroom.
We’ll discuss the future of platemaking and how to make decisions that will drive your company into the zone for a profitable future. There will be time for questions and answers, product demos, and networking. Refreshments will be provided, and we’ll be showing the March Madness Tournament games on multiple screens.
When: Thursday, March 19th, 2026. Where: APR Headquarters, 140 W Lake Dr, Glendale Heights, IL 60139
This seminar is intended for members of the Flexographic print industry, specifically print production and prepress and plate-making departments - press operators, platemakers, prepress specialists, production managers, and decision makers.
Seminar Schedule
| Time | Session | Speaker | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 – 8:30 AM | Registration & Continental Breakfast | Attendee check-in, networking | |
| 8:30 – 8:45 AM | Welcome & State of the Industry | Catherine Haynes, APR | Introduce event and discuss the state of the industry |
| 8:45 – 9:45 AM | Changing the Playbook | PJ Fronczkiewicz, DuPont Larry Moore, Esko | This session dives into the most relevant technology and market trends shaping the industry today. |
| 9:45 – 10:00 AM | Break | ||
| 10:00 – 11:00 AM | Filling Out the Bracket | Catherine Haynes, APR | This session focuses on defining your goals and evaluating what technology is right for you. |
| 11:00 – 12:00 PM | Running the Plays | Julian Fernandez, DuPont | This session focuses on how to integrate and optimize new technologies. |
| 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Networking Lunch | ||
| 1:00 – 1:45 PM | March to the Championship | Katherine Wolfgram, APR Cayleigh Anderson, Esko | Understand what happens post-installation: training, adjustments, and maximizing long-term ROI from new systems. |
| 1:45 – 2:30 PM | Panel Q&A | All Speakers | Moderated discussion with audience questions on process change management, cross-training, and technology adoption. |
| 2:30 – 4:00 PM | Reception & Technology Showcase | APR/DuPont/Esko | Informal networking, live demos, watching basketball, and refreshments. |
Featured Presentations
Welcome & State of the Industry: How Priorities are Shifting in 2026
You're in the paint, do you shoot or pass?
Learn findings from a North American converter survey done by industry research firm LPC, exploring how companies are entering 2026 and how priorities are shifting across operations and capital investment decisions. Based on feedback from more than 70 converters, the research points to a market that remains active but increasingly selective, shaped by ongoing labor constraints, margin pressure, and the need for greater predictability on the production floor.
Changing the Playbook: How New Technologies Are Redefining the Game
Why yesterday’s strategies won’t win tomorrow’s tournament.
This session dives into the most relevant technology and market trends shaping the industry today. Presentations by DuPont and Esko highlighting what they are doing to address market trends through their portfolio of solutions.
Filling Out the Bracket: Choosing the Right Tech Solutions to Advance
How to avoid early upsets and pick solutions that go the distance.
This session focuses on defining your goals and evaluating what technology is right for you. Attendees will learn how to conduct a thorough discovery process to uncover potential challenges, ask the right questions, and establish an evaluation plan that gives them the confidence to make decisions. Speaker(s) will share best practices and successful examples of the technology vetting process to ensure your goals are met.
Running the Plays: Turning Tech Strategy into On-Court Execution
Why great systems fail without disciplined execution.
This session focuses on integrating and optimizing new technologies. Through practical examples and vendor insights, participants will gain tools to streamline the transition, accelerate optimization, and ensure a faster return on investment for new technology integrations. The discussion will also cover how to minimize downtime, manage risk, and plan end-of-life equipment transitions that position your company for success in its next phase of growth.
March to the Championship: Continuous Improvement After Implementation
Coaching, adjustments, and optimization that keep you advancing.
The journey doesn’t end when new equipment is installed—it’s just the beginning. This session explores how to make the most of your training, fine-tune processes, and build a culture of continuous improvement after installation. Attendees will discover how to identify post-installation gaps, adjust workflows based on real production feedback, and leverage data-driven insights to sustain efficiency. Learn best practices for maintaining optimized performance and ensure that your team remains confident and capable as technology evolves.
After the presentations, there will be time for Q&A, networking, refreshments, and of course, lots of basketball action to watch.
The Seminar will be held on March 19th, at All Printing Resources' Headquarters, located at 140 W Lake Dr, Glendale Heights, IL 60139.
The Seminar is free for Printers, Converters, and Trade Shops. A $30 fee will be charged to Suppliers and Vendors.
