NAPIM’s 2025 Annual Convention/Technical Conference Brings Industry Together in Charlotte

From September 8 to 11, more than 175 attendees gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the NAPIM 2025 Annual Convention/Technical Conference, the premier event for the printing ink industry. Building on the success of last year’s collocated format, this year’s meeting once again combined the Annual Convention and Technical Conference into one impactful program.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising the quality of sessions, strong networking opportunities and meaningful conversations throughout the week.

Highlights from the Program

The Annual Convention and Technical Conference featured a robust lineup of speakers and sessions that sparked dialogue and delivered timely insights for both business and technical professionals.

Panel discussions and general sessions generated new ideas and thoughtful debate on key industry issues, with attendees highlighting the practical takeaways they could bring back to their companies. Topics included AI implementation strategies for business and manufacturing automation, Economic and Policy, Digital Technology, and Color Management.

Technical sessions explored topics ranging from packaging recyclability and microplastics to innovations in food packaging development, printing inks and coatings for circularity, and advances in offset press technology.

Regulatory updates covered both European and U.S. developments, including an FDA panel discussion that addressed compliance challenges, supply chain transparency and the role of public perception in regulatory priorities.

Across the board, attendees cited the quality of discussion and breadth of content as standout features of this year’s event.

Celebrating Industry Excellence

A highlight of the Annual Convention /Technical Conference was the Awards Reception and Dinner, where the industry came together to honor colleagues who have made outstanding contributions to the field. This year’s award recipients included:

Lawter Lecture Series Awards: First Place - Matthew Welmers, INX International; Second Place - Joseph Lengyel, BASF

TAM Service Award: Gene Cassidy, Lawter

Technical Achievement Award: Alex Folloso , INX International

Printing Ink Pioneer Awards: David Biro, Sun Chemical; Ron Deegan, INX International; Allan Neal, Sun Chemical; Jeff Newton, Sun Chemical

Ault Award: Chris Parrilli, Sun Chemical (retired)

Exhibits and Showcases

The week also featured industry exhibitors and service providers sharing their latest innovations. Through tabletop exhibits and spotlight presentations, companies had the opportunity to engage directly with attendees and showcase products, technologies and solutions that are advancing the printing ink sector.

Preliminary Survey Results

While responses are still being collected, early survey results reflect strong satisfaction with the 2025 collocated event in Charlotte. Among respondents, 70% reported that the Annual Convention/Technical Conference either exceeded or highly exceeded their expectations, and another 26% noted it met expectations. The average recommendation score came in at 8.6 out of 10, underscoring the event’s overall success.

Attendees also responded positively to the combined Awards format, noting its value to the program. Looking ahead, nearly 70% of respondents plan to attend NAPIM events in 2026, with another 26% considering participation.

Respondents praised both the quality of the content and the opportunities for networking, reinforcing the importance of continuing the collocated format. NAPIM leadership will take all feedback into account as planning begins for the 2026 program and location, with details to be shared with the Printing Ink community in the coming months.

Looking Ahead

With this year’s success in Charlotte, NAPIM is already preparing for what comes next. Attendees can expect another strong program in 2026, designed to deliver cutting-edge insights, impactful networking and opportunities to celebrate the leaders and innovators of the printing ink industry.

Stay tuned for announcements about next year’s event!

NAPIM extends its sincere thanks to the sponsors, supplier showcase participants, and exhibitors whose support made this year’s event possible.