Printing Industry Association

Welcome to the Printing Industry Association of the South (PIAS), a non-profit trade association that has been serving the graphic arts industry for over a century. Our organization is dedicated to the stability and growth of the industry, and we are committed to providing our members with the resources and support they need to succeed.

PIAS is proud to serve a seven-state region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Our active membership includes printers, trade houses, paper houses, press manufacturers, and various other support service organizations. We all share a common goal: to improve and maintain the standard of the graphic arts industry.

Our History: Over 100 Years of Service

The roots of PIAS go back to the year 1893, when Nashville and 32 other cities in the United States formed the United Typothetae of America. In 1914, the Nashville group became known as the Nashville Typothetae, and in 1937, the name was changed to the Nashville Printers Club, Inc. The original territory of the association was Nashville, TN, but in the late 1950s, it was extended to include from Nashville south to Chattanooga and east to Bristol, and was to include all but 13 counties in West Tennessee.

In 1968, the association was granted jurisdiction over the state of Alabama. In 1970, the Printing Industry of Memphis, which held jurisdiction over 13 counties in Tennessee and 10 in Arkansas, and the Printing Industry of New Orleans, which had jurisdiction over the state of Louisiana and six counties in Mississippi, joined and formed the Printing Industry of the Mid-South. In 1973, the association was granted jurisdiction over the state of Arkansas, and in 1974, after a name change and with Board representatives from each state, the Printing Industry Association of Kentucky closed their association and added their jurisdiction to PIAS. In 1980, the printers of West Virginia, which was a part of the Printing Industry Association of the Virginias, elected to withdraw from the Virginia association and join PIAS, extending the PIAS territory to 7 states.**

Our Mission: To Improve Industry Stability, Growth, and Economic Soundness

PIAS's number one priority is to respond to our members' needs by carrying out our mission statement: To continually improve industry stability, growth and economic soundness and to make the PIAS's graphic communications industry an international center with quality products and services. We offer many programs and services to help companies run their operations more efficiently, comply with strict environmental laws and regulations, train the work force for the future, assist in recognizing and responding to changes in the market, technology and operating environments, and provide a forum where the industry can come together to work on common problems.

Our benefits include group buying programs, educational and HR support, The Print University, insurance services, legislative efforts, and the PIAS Credit Union. We are committed to providing our members with the resources they need to succeed in an ever-changing industry.

Join PIAS: Become a Member Today

If you are a company or organization involved in the graphic arts industry, we invite you to join PIAS. Our membership is open to printers, trade houses, paper houses, press manufacturers, and various other support service organizations located in our seven-state region. By becoming a PIAS member, you will have access to a wide range of benefits and resources that will help you grow and succeed in the industry.

At PIAS, we are dedicated to the stability and growth of the graphic arts industry. We share a common goal with our members: to improve and maintain the standard of the industry. We invite you to join us in our mission and become a member today.