A "Truly Fantastic" Industry Event

A "Truly Fantastic" Industry Event

“Print with Passion” proved to be an apt theme for this year’s Single Width Users’ Group (SWUG) Conference, with the event being widely hailed as the most informative, engaging and fun in its 15-year history.

Hosted at the Qualmark 4 Star Plus-rated Millennium Hotel Rotorua on August 29-30, the showpiece industry event attracted over 130 New Zealand and overseas guests from within the web offset print sector.

Highlights included presentations from 15 local and international industry experts, a site visit to the Kawerau paper-making plant of Norske Skog, a poolside networking dinner/quiz and a gala Awards Dinner.

SWUG chairman Dan Blackbourn describes the event as “truly fantastic”.

“From the opening presentation, when Anthony Payne from Fairfax Australia provided insights on occupational health and safety, to the last pre-site briefing from Kevin Mackey of Norske Skog, everyone was riveted and keen to soak up the valuable information that was being shared,” he says.

“The site tour of the Norske Skog plant was undoubtedly a highlight of the conference and thanks to Willie Townend, Aaron Buist and Kevin Mackey for organising this.

“Sir Ray Avery gave a fantastic presentation on his life. He is a truly remarkable man who continues to give back. It can definitely be said he is making an impact in this world -- very inspiring.

“The committee has received some very good, positive feedback on the conference with many attendees sharing their individual highlights.”

Mr Blackbourn says it was pleasing to see a strong representation of overseas visitors at the event.

“These included delegates from Tonga, Fiji and Australia which nicely boosted the Kiwi contingency. It was good to see attendees -- be they overseas visitors or locals -- connecting with people that they have not caught up with in some time.”

He says attendees also appreciated the opportunity afforded by the Awards Dinner to embrace and celebrate the exceptionally-high quality of work being produced by the sector.

“This was a great night, with a fantastic dinner at the spectacular Skyline Rotorua and some great comedy provided by New Zealand’s own Ben Hurley.

“Well done to the winners of the Quality Awards and to the SWUG Apprentice of the Year, Navdeep Sidhu. This is the fourth year in a row apprentices from NZME’s Ellerslie print site have won this award, so kudos to them and the training plans that they have in place.”

Confirming next year’s conference will be held in Wellington during August, Mr Blackbourn adds that the SWUG committee is very interested in receiving further feedback to aid in the planning process.

“We are inviting members of our industry to contact one of the committee members if they have any suggestions as to items for potential inclusion or modification. This is our industry’s conference and we are always looking at ways to improve it.”

ENDS

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