Print World Asia • 2/2016
10
Digital Technology
Canon wraps up first Publisher S.E.A. Forum in Singapore The inaugural event aims to bring together publishers and printers in an effort to ease the digital transitioning of the book printing and publishing industry. Sha Jumari reports. Targeted at those in the book printing and publishing industry, the Canon Publisher S.E.A. Forum explored latest market and technology innovations in digital print, case studies and industry trends. Held at Canon’s headquarters in Singapore, the half-day event saw an attendance of about 70, consisting of publishers, printers and industry players from the region including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and even Pakistan. “We introduced this event to the region in order to bridge the gap between publishers and printers. Publishing new titles is a key business for publishers. Book publishing has
become very difficult to predict, as it is largely dependent of whether each book title printed can sell. Every book title printed poses as a financial risk on one hand, and on the other, a great opportunity for publishers. By going digital, the business can still be viable, and that is the message we want to send across here,” said Philip Chew, Director and General Manager, Canon Singapore Pte Ltd. Canon initiated the forum at its Commercial Printing Headquarters in Munich, Germany. It was only three and half years and five successful conferences later that Canon decided to bring it into the Asian region. “The intention of the event is to bring the industry together. The publishers,
the distributors, the printers, the retailer, as well as the customers,” added Engelbert Stranegger, Director for Business Development, Océ Printing Systems GmbH.