NPES 75 Years Later

(NPES International E-commerce Website, March 28, 2008)  This year, NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies celebrates 75 years of service to member manufacturers, importers and distributors who provide the equipment, supplies, systems and software used in every printing, publishing and converting process from design to distribution. Throughout 2008, in every issue of NPES News look for some of the featured highlights from our association's distinguished 75-year history.

Back in 1933 and during 1934, the leaders of NPEA (as NPES was known then) worked to create a tangible organization with benefits for the entire industry. Dues were established based on a company's number of employees and member recruitment began, and by 1935 the organization's membership had increased to 110.

That same year, on June 19, 1935, at the association's General Meeting, members turned their attention to selecting several key initiatives for the organization to pursue, which continue to be enduring objectives for NPES today:

-  education in the graphic arts, to ensure a steady stream of well-trained personnel for the future;
-  promotion of print as a medium and expansion of markets for members' products; and,
-  collection, evaluation and dissemination of information bearing on the industry, including statistics.

Later that same year, in October 1935 at NPEA's second Annual Meeting, plans emerged for a "three-year program" to embrace education, promotion and other activities. The idea of a national printing show was also considered. The last event of this type had been held in 1927 and, although plans called for a show every five years, none had been held since because of the Depression.

In 1936, NPEA's membership agreed to hold a major national show in New York in 1939 in conjunction with the World's Fair scheduled for that year. Preparation for that show, together with vigorous pursuit of print promotion, education and statistical programs, occupied NPEA's attention for the rest of the decade.

Today, with NPES fully engaged in implementing its 2006-2011 Long Range Plan, it's interesting to note that no formal long range planning meetings were held until NPEA's Long Range Plans Committee met for the very first time in May 1975 at the Sheraton Hopkins Motel in Cleveland. From that session (in addition to the ongoing management of the international PRINT show), these initiatives emerged:
-  an expanded program of compiling and developing information for dissemination to members;
-  an aggressive educational or publication program to promote the equipment industry; and,
-  a newly established standards program to provide coordination between member companies, and to establish leadership with other industry associations.

During the next five years special priority was placed on expanding membership to include the following supplier segments: in-plant equipment and supplies; commercial graphic arts equipment and supplies; and, the newspaper industry – all vital market segments represented within today's NPES membership.