Ifra, the association for newspaper and media publishing has for the first time decided to extend the internationally renowned IfraExpo Ifra, the association for newspaper and media publishing has for the first time decided to extend the internationally renowned IfraExpo outside Europe by deciding to hold IfraExpo India 2007, in Chennai on September 4-6, at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam. This was also the site of the Ifra India conference last year with more than 35 exhibitors but not quite on the scale of a full-fledged Ifra Expo.

The Ifra Expo in Chennai will feature suppliers offering products and services to entire newspaper and magazine production workflow – editorial, content management systems, advertising systems, Imaging, CtP, prepress, presses, mailroom, e-paper, information technology, and workflow management. More than 60 exhibitors have confirmed their participation and some of the leading names among suppliers such as Agfa, Ferag, Goss International, IPP – MAN Roland, Manugraph, Kodak, Mitsubishi, Siemens Information Systems – PPI, and TechNova Imaging Systems will be showing their latest developments to the fast growing periodical publishing industry of South Asia and nearby region. There is limited stand space available for other interested exhibitors.

The expo will be accompanied by the fifteenth Ifra India annual conference. The conference will have two tracks -- the Technical Forum track; and, the Publisher Forum track. The conference program will discuss many of the vital topics of interest to newspapers and expert speakers are being invited from India and abroad.

“With growing newspaper business in the region, we chose India as the first destination for extending our ‘IfraExpo' to outside Europe and we are excited about the potential this country holds” commented Reiner Mittelbach, CEO of Ifra.

According to Magdoom Mohamed, the Executive Director of Ifra India, “Ifra in India has established a strong reputation for offering the publishing / media industry, advice on latest technology and developments in the publishing industry, which helps the industry not only improve their printing quality but also their bottom line. The annual Ifra India conferences over the years have become an important meeting point for the publishing industry where experts both from India and abroad exchange ideas and new knowledge.”

IfraExpo India will be open to all those interested in knowing about the latest developments in the printing industry. The entry to the IfraExpo area will be free to pre-registered visitors. The expo will also have a Solutions Park where delegates and visitors to the expo can hear from industry experts on various solutions that can help in improving the efficiency of their business.

The expo and the conference are expected to be attended by delegates and visitors from India, South Asia and the Middle East. The event is co-sponsored by INS. Other corporates supporting the event are Siemens Information Systems Ltd., Agfa India – Technova Imaging Systems Ltd., Goss International and Pressmart. The conference offers other sponsorship opportunities for those interested.

The media partners of the expo are Ifra Newspaper Techniques, Asian Newspaper Focus, All About Newspapers, Coramandal Printer, Indian Printer & Publisher, Newspapers & Technology, USA, PRESSIdeas and RIND Survey.