The NSW Labor Party has unveiled its gambling reform policy ahead of the state election in March, promising to reduce the number of poker machines across the state, introduce a cashless gaming card trial and ban all ‘VIP lounge’ signage. The City of Sydney last week announced a review of ‘VIP Lounge’ signs in its council area.

Epson has been placed on the prestigious A List for climate change by international environmental non-profit CDP, which evaluates companies’ environmental activities.

Avery Dennison Corporation has joined 200 of the world’s leading sustainable businesses as the newest member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), setting ambitious sustainability goals for 2030 and 2050.

Agfa will showcase the fastest version of its high-end multi-pass Jeti Tauro H3300 inkjet printer at the C!Print 2023 trade show in France this month. Visitors will also be able to see vibrant signage samples produced on the Jeti Tauro H3300 and the Avinci CX3200.

An overwhelming 90% of businesses expect to be affected by staffing shortages in 2023, according to Ai Group’s survey of Australian CEO Expectations for 2023.

Opal Australian Paper has stood down 37 workers at its paper mill in Maryvale, eastern Victoria, with a further 120 workers expected to be stood down later this month or early next month. The move follows a Supreme Court order that forced supplier VicForests to scale back its harvesting operations in endangered possum habitats. The Victorian government has stepped in to reach an agreement with Opal that ensures - "until mid-February" - workers who are stood down will receive full pay and entitlements.

Australia’s largest sign franchise company has kicked off 2023 with a new video featuring franchisees talking about what it’s like to own a Signarama franchise.

Outdoor company oOh!media has partnered with Nine Entertainment to deliver key highlights of this year’s Australian Open tennis to Out of Home audiences across Australia.

The Flexographic Label & Packaging Manufacturers Association (FPLMA) has opened registration for its two-day Technical Forum and Awards night to be held in Melbourne on March 2-3, 2023. Label & Packaging printers are among the fastest growing adopters of industrial inkjet technology, sitting alongside conventional Flexo, Gravure and Offset.

Messe Frankfurt, organisers of the DS Printech China trade shows, has announced the digital and screen printing show will return to Guangzhou in May after China last month abandoned its zero-COVID policy.

The City of Sydney has announced a review of flashing ‘VIP Lounge’ signs outside Sydney pubs to see if they comply with council rules covering “excessive or special illumination schemes.” If the signs are found to be unauthorised, they could be removed.

Roland DG announced the worldwide sales launch of the newest addition to its VersaSTUDIO series, the GS2-24 vinyl cutter, which was previously available in only limited regions.

TAFE NSW has opened enrolments for a range of Study Fee-Free courses for 2023, including eight Print and nine Graphic Design courses as well as Sign & Graphics Certificate III.

Global trade show organiser Messe Frankfurt says it’s back on course for growth after pandemic restrictions were eased in April 2022. The return of face-to-face events drove the company’s sales to around €450m for financial year 2022 but pandemic-related cancellations in the first quarter resulted in an after-tax loss “in the region of €-30 million.”

Canon Europe has introduced the new imagePROGRAF TC-20 large format desktop printer -  “targeted towards the ultra-low volume market, which includes Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) offices, educational settings and the hospitality industry.”

Digital media company Motio has entered into binding terms to acquire oOh!media’s Café and Venue Digital Place Based networks for $2.35 million, under a vendor financing facility provided by oOh - the owner of wide format business Cactus Imaging.

Color-Logic, a leader in metallic colours systems and print embellishment, says its entire suite of products is now fully compatible with Adobe Creative Cloud 2023.

Most Sign & Display printers are aware of the 'lateral' markets available to them, thanks to many having screen or pad printing backgrounds. Tee-shirts, baseball caps and coffee mugs are the most visible opportunity, branded using either DTG, heat transfer or dye-sub. The same applies for flags, bunting and banners, all of which can be produced in short runs, on-demand. The Australian Promotional Products Association is gearing up for a blockbuster 2023, with 5 Roadshows and 2 trade shows.

Colour Management specialist Colour Graphic Services (David Crowther: 'The Colour Doctor') has extended its special offer for an on-site colour health check and one profile, until March 31st. This offer, costing just $695 inc. gst, is available across Australia, with non-NSW and regional centres dependent on grouping David Crowther's regular interstate travels to perform G7 and ISO colour standardisation at commercial printers.

Fine Art, Photo and Exhibition media does not come much better than Moab, the Utah, USA desert city that is dedicated to the Fine Art and Photography sector. From early 2023, Total Image Supplies is the go-to place for Moab media products.

Mimaki's full-colour 3D printing technology is really coming of age. To celebrate 50 years of the UK soap opera Emmerdale, the producers wanted a TV trailer featuring actual cast members during a wild storm in the village. Enter Mimaki and 3D scanning boffins Europac3D, with help from UK Mimaki distributor Hybrid Systems and their 3DUJ-553 full colour tech. As Mimaki says: "Every signmaker should look into 3D printed signnage & display."