The organisation is inviting suppliers to join as full voting members. Enfocus Software will no longer chair the body and any member will be able to nominate candidates to serve on the Workgroups executive committee, with the exception of chair and vice chair, which are reserved for industry association members.

The incumbent Workgroup chair Saskia Desmet said that she was pleased members wanted to continue supporting the initiative.

In addition to industry bodies, we will be also begin accepting suppliers as full voting members. We believe its important to include their input and increase mind share, said Desmet.

She added that in the interest of neutrality the Workgroups strategy would be in the hands of industry associations.

The Periodical Publishers Association (PPA) is considering joining the Workgroup. IPC production director, Debbie Read, who chairs the PPAs pass4 press committee said: Its important for us to keep abreast of whats happening.

FE Burman head of IT and project management Andy Psarianos, who has attended meetings at the Workgroup on behalf of the PPA, said that Enfocus Softwares decision legitimised the organisation.

The industrys major suppliers Agfa, Xerox, Creo and Fuji have made presentations to the group or acted in an observational capacity.

The Workgroups membership comprises 13 industry organisations from 10 counties including the IPA, formerly the International Prepress Association and the European Rotogravure Association.

Story by John Davies