updated 6 June 2002

In the late 1960s the market for print finishing was very small and most of it was done in-house by the printers themselves. As the laminating and varnishing of printed paper products grew it became evident that specialist companies should perform these processes, preferably not too far away from their potential customers, ie. printers, carton manufacturers, publishers, advertising agents etc. Coating companies sprung up all over the UK and Europe mainly in Germany France and Italy, and very soon it became quite clear that although all these factories produced different kinds of work, they all had similar problems, learning curves, experiences etc. , and it was obvious that some sort of liaison between them would be of great use.

It was at this time in the early 1970s ,that one or two UK larger companies tried to form an organisation under the sponsorship of the Printing Industries Research Association (PIRA), to swap ideas. This plan badly backfired and the idea was given up only to be replaced on an international basis where there was no competition, and this was the start of the IPFG.

The first conference was held in London in 1972 with companies representing the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Holland and Austria attending.
The topics discussed covered a wide range of areas common to all of us ,and included prices, raw material suppliers, machinery suppliers, different processes and quality problems. We had to do our own translating into 3 languages which slowed the meetings down especially with the very technical terms.
Everyone agreed that the first conference was a great success, and the "CLUB " was formed. We tried to meet every 18 months always in a different country, but soon it became every 2 Years in May. As well as the meeting we had our social programme and Ladies day, and as we grew in numbers we very soon became a group of good friends all working in the same industry world wide. As at today's date we have 18 members representing 15 countries, and at least 6 of these companies already have the second generation taking over from their fathers, thereby bringing down the average age of our group.

                     
IPFG group photo outside Airth Castle,
May 1987 conference

With all this new youth and experience we are entering the Internet world with our own website links to our members' own websites, for those who have them, and full address and email address for all our members in each country. Our policy is still very much the same as when we started 29 years ago.
New countries are welcome to join our group by applying to the present secretary of the organisation, Gad Simon - see Contact Page), and it is only up to the member or members for each country to invite any new company to join. In both cases however it is polite and correct to discuss these matters at one of our meetings first. Our conferences are held every 2 years round about the third week of May. The venue for these conferences are discussed at our meetings but it is left to the secretary to provide a suitable destination.

After the success of our DRUPA (largest printing exhibition in the world) business meeting, in May 2000 it is most probable that we will have a one day meeting in the alternate year to
our conference to be held at IPEX (International Print EXhibition - second largest exhibition next to Drupa) and DRUPA. These will be business meetings only to discuss the agenda for our next conference.