Deals valued at $50 million were closed during this month’s PacPrint trade show, according to organisers.

While attendance was down – at just over 6500 across four days – organisers say more than 60 per cent were business owners, senior managers or decision-makers.

Under new arrangements, the Sydney show previously known as PrintEx is being rebranded under the PacPrint banner and will be Australia’s next major printing trade show and the region’s largest.

Organisers wanted to strengthen the appeal of the show to visitors outside Melbourne, and have set May 20-23, 2025 as the date for the next PacPrint, to be held at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, earmarked 2027 for a Melbourne show.

Exhibition partners Visual Connections plan a Visual Impact Sydney show from May 3-5 next year at the same venue, and a Brisbane event in May 2024.

PacPrint has been held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre since its move from the Royal Exhibition Buildings in 1996.

The rebranding of PrintEx notionally lifts the concept of a ‘scheme only’ exhibition, although the size restriction originally placed on it has been effectively ignored in recent years. Launched in 1998, GXpress’ graphic arts-focussed parent GX Report made its show debut at the Sydney show.

Pictured: manrolandGoss was one of a tiny number of newspaper-focussed exhibitors at PacPrint