This year’s Expo was an authentic statement of where our industry stands and, more importantly, where it is headed.
The experience felt less like a trade show and more like a turning point for APA as we raised the bar.
Our total registration of 2,119 was a dramatic increase over last year, as we showcased 87 exhibiting companies across nearly 20,000 square feet of booth space, representing a 10 percent increase over 2025.
What struck me most was the common thread running through this year’s Expo: Our industry is embracing intelligent tools, from automation to artificial intelligence, not to replace craftsmanship, but to enhance it.
We saw this play out in real time across the show floor. For example, xTool’s camera systems now translate 2D images into dimensional engraving effects, turning careful setup into a seamless creative step. On the UV-printing side, advances from PDS Equipment and LogoJET are pushing color vibrancy and consistency to new heights. Perhaps most striking was IKONICS Imaging’s automated sandcarving cabinet, potentially the first designed for large-scale production. Meanwhile, Rayzist Photomask continues to unlock new levels of detail through advanced masking solutions.
The message is clear: Innovation and craftsmanship are not in competition; they are partners.
The businesses leaning into this moment are also the ones willing to ask hard questions, explore new platforms, and invest in tools that amplify their capabilities.
You’ll read about several people asking these hard questions in this issue of Insights, including Cheryl Kuchek, who wanted to rethink sublimation opportunities and share the latest technology and techniques with fellow makers. She embodies so many of our members who are setting the pace for the rest of the industry.
Our association has long championed the value of community, education, and shared progress. The Expo demonstrated that those values produce results. Our members are driving change rather than reacting to it.
As we move forward, I encourage each of you to carry that momentum. Connect with the peers you met at the Expo or in the Member2Member Forum. Follow up on the ideas that sparked something new for your business. Explore the tools that caught your attention and could impact your bottom line. The conversation that began at the Expo is merely a starting point.
If you missed this year’s Expo, save the date now for next year’s: February 23–26, 2027, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Thank you to every member, exhibitor, sponsor, and volunteer who made this year’s Expo such a success. You are the reason this industry continues to inspire me and APA.
Justin Varn