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It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Mr Geoff Selig, Chairman of IVE, Australia's largest printing and marketing services company. Geoff died following an accident in Barcelona, Spain. The circumstances are yet to be revealed. We extend our deepest condolences to Geoff's family, fellow IVE directors and staff.
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ORAFOL has established a sales company in Auckland, New Zealand. In setting up this new branch, the globally active family-owned company is responding to the significantly increasing market potential for premium films and special plastics in the Asia Pacific and Oceania region.
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Last month we reported on on an interloper disrupting the cosy PE-backed MBO of signage industry darling Roland DG. That 'interloper' was Brother Industries, a mighty big cheese compared to Roland DG. Brother can see a fast track into major wide format market share - especially in the USA and Europe but Roland DG's majority shareholder is the very equity company that is looking to back the MBO and guess what - it's second time around for Taiyo and Roland. Andy McCourt investigates.
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A group of more than 30 people joined the LIA Victoria contingent on Tuesday night, 30th April, to tour the impressive IVE catalogue and magazine plant at Sunshine, giving many their first opportunity to see a heatset web printing plant in full flight. Well done to all involved and kudos to IVE for supporting the initiative!
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Hot on the heels of Ball & Doggett's strategic partnering with Kornit Digital, accomplished digital print specialist Phillip Rennell has joined the company as as National Manager – Industrial Equipment & Apparel Solutions.
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The manufacturing halt, from June 30th, brings to an end iGen and Nuvera press production, 22 years after the iGen stormed into markets, with the first one in ANZ going in at Mike Jones' now closed CDM printing, Sydney. Xerox has also announced 15,000 job cuts but will continue its OEM cut-sheet press offerings with Fujifilm and, an as yet unamed, 'high volume continuous feed' inkjet press manufacturer.
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Since spinning off from EFI in January 2023, Fiery has strengthened its postion as the digital front-end (DFE) of choice with the majority of OEM partners in digital imaging. Still sharing parentage with EFI via Siris Capital, drupa 2024 will be the company's first independent showing, plus its DFEs can be seen on multiple other stands.
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Epson printer and scanner models have been named winners of an iF Design Award 2024, one of the world's most celebrated design awards. A total of 5 models were chosen by Germany's iF International Forum Design.
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At drupa in Düsseldorf in May and June, experts will present the drupa Imaging Summit for the first time as part of the "drupa next age" event series. Speakers from qualified companies will give 20-minute keynote speeches and panels on the most important topics at the interface between imaging technologies and printing, including the potential offered by the use of AI.
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SCREEN Graphic Solutions Co., Ltd. has received the 2024 Technology Award from the Japanese Society of Printing Science and Technology (JSPST). The award is in recognition of the Truepress LABEL 350UV series, a group of independently developed UV inkjet systems for label production.
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Packaging, labels, books, and graphics all provide major growth opportunities for commercial inkjet printing, according to the latest exclusive data from Smithers. A host of the latest inkjet technologies will be on show when Drupa 2024 opens on 28th May, with new sales accelerating the industry transition to digital printing across multiple sectors.
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Fujifilm, occupying an enlarged stand at drupa 2024, in space vacated when Xerox pulled out, will highlight its Automation system to give customers the option to upgrade their high end Acuity Hybrid wide format machines with a fully automated solution.
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Ball & Doggett, a leading distributor of printable materials, press consumables, and printing equipment has announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership with Kornit Digital Ltd, a worldwide leader in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production technologies.
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With drupa 2024 stand construction already well underway prior to the doors opening on May 27th, major exhibitor Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG has announced that Jürgen Otto will succeed Dr. Ludwin Monz as Chairman of the Management Board as of July 1st, 2024 – Dr. David Schmedding will be appointed as a new member of the Management Board.
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It’s official – all stands for the Visual Impact Expo at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in July are now 100% booked, with a full house of suppliers ready to showcase their latest equipment, systems and services. And, as the first local show for Queensland in more than six years, organisers Visual Connections are expecting record attendances.
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One of the world's finest print history foundations, St Bride's of London, just off Fleet Street, is organising a global online 'Wayzgoose' to celebrate all things Letterpress. ANZ Letterpress shops and museums are invited to post up on Instagram on Sunday 28th April between 11am and 4pm GMT and join in the fun!
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Mimaki will be exhibiting at drupa in Dusseldorf in Hall 9, Stand A04, demonstrating its innovative approach to the inkjet printing market. Renowned for bringing some of the most pioneering technologies to the international wide format, textile and 3D markets, Mimaki offers visitors an insight into its engineering excellence and showcase technologies and solutions that support the future productivity and profitability of the sign graphic, industrial, and textile industries.
Mimaki says its exhibit highlights the company’s pioneering role in shaping the course of the digital printing industry over the past 20 years and marks its renewed commitment to drive innovation in the years to come, as Mimaki Europe celebrates its 20th anniversary. As such, alongside its cutting-edge technologies, Mimaki will demonstrate how the company's solutions can be integrated into the most advanced Industry 5.0 production environments for improved automation, with robotics and other smart machines working alongside people.
Sustainability will also be central to the Mimaki show at drupa. Sharing its vision for the industry’s future, the company will present its latest innovations, initiatives and practices aimed at supporting a sustainable development of the industry and substantially improving the environmental footprint of both customers and Mimaki itself.
Robots, objects and textiles
Mimaki’s vision for a more sustainable future will be evident throughout the product line-up at drupa. The company will showcase its very latest in pioneering UV print technologies, designed to help users reduce energy consumption, minimise VOC emissions and generate less waste. Among the technologies from the current Mimaki product portfolio is the recently launched UCJV330-160 printer, an integrated sign printer/cutter that features innovative 2.5D printing function to create embossed effects.
Also central to the Mimaki booth will be the JFX600-2513 flatbed UV printer and CFX-2513 cutting plotter, demonstrated as a complete industrial print-and-cut solution. Expanding Mimaki’s cutting plotter portfolio, the CFX-2513 is a high-end cutting solution which operates with increased speed and efficiency.
With the trend of customization on the rise, Mimaki will also showcase its range of direct-to-object solutions, including the UJF-6042 MkII e, which will demonstrate 360-degree printing with the Kebab HS rotary unit. Notably, two industrial-grade UJF-7151 plus II UV printers will be working alongside a robotic arm, highlighting Mimaki's commitment to addressing future trends in printing, particularly automation, and showcasing how Mimaki solutions can seamlessly integrate into automated workflows.
For the textile segment, Mimaki will feature the TxF300-75 for direct-to-film (DTF) printing, which has been gaining traction in recent years. Additionally, Mimaki will exhibit its revolutionary Neo-Chromato Process, a world first in cyclical textile technology. Allowing the re-use of previously dyed polyester textiles, this process eliminates the need for incineration and reduces energy consumption associated with recycling by decolourising polyester textiles that have been dyed using dye sublimation technologies.
Mimaki stand promises to ‘wow’ visitors
In addition to technology innovation, sustainability, collaboration and inclusivity are also key to the Mimaki vision, one example being the company’s work with Indian foundation, Tiny Miracles. The foundation, created to employ and support women in local communities, will produce environmentally friendly, Mimaki branded cotton bags especially for drupa, beautifully designed to encourage reuse.
Additionally, a fascinating display of inspiring, vibrant, and high-quality applications will be showcased in Mimaki’s very own ‘shopfront’, created especially for drupa. The shelves will be packed with new samples, real-life applications and products people may not even realise Mimaki’s technology is behind.
Working Towards a Sustainable and inclusive Future
Mimaki’s comprehensive and inspiring goals driving sustainability across the industries in which it operates will be at the core of its drupa presence. Marc Verbeem, Product Management Supervisor, Mimaki Europe, will be speaking at the 'Touchpoint Textile Forum' (Hall 4 – Digital Textile Micro Factory), on both the 4th and 5th June at 14:30-14:50 on the topic of ‘Textile Transformation: Pioneering Sustainability through Digital Printing’.
Danna Drion, Mimaki Europe’s General Manager Marketing and Product Management EMEA, is hosting a drupa cube discussion, titled ‘The Diverse Benefits of an Inclusive Workplace’ on 4th June at 13.45. From the challenges women can face in workplaces, to engaging a younger generation, Drion discusses how Mimaki, and the print industry as a whole, can foster inclusivity and diversity.
“As well as previewing our exciting technology, we also understand that the lasting prosperity of our business and the businesses of our customers hinges on the well-being of the people and communities we serve,” says Drion. “Sustainability for us encompasses social and economic aspects too, including advocating for equitable labour practices and empowering communities.
“There are many reasons to visit Mimaki at drupa and we are so excited to welcome our customers and prospects from around the world. It is Mimaki Europe’s 20th anniversary, so it seems very fitting that we have this opportunity to celebrate Mimaki’s innovative approach on this global platform. The products on display are enabling success and innovation today and the technology being previewed offers an insight into Mimaki’s aim of transforming the industry of tomorrow. We’re looking to the next 20 years but, right now, we’re also counting down to the exciting, innovation-packed show that drupa promises to be.”
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Following the unexpected fall into administration and subsequent Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA), Starleaton has restructured and is in the process of resuming scaled-down business. To address concerns, Managing Director Ben Eaton has written the following open letter.
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In response to the shift towards paperless workplaces, evidenced by a 26% decline* in MFP and office printer shipments sice pre-Covid times; Fujifilm and Konica Minolta propose to merge certain functions in order to save money. Konica Minolta, Inc. and Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. have announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin a feasibility study for a strategic alliance in the multifunction printer (MFP), office printer and production printer segments.
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May will be a busy month for the Sign & Print Career Connections team, with Careers Expos in both South Australia and Queensland set to feature the new-look talent initiative. Now, organisers Visual Connections are putting out the call for volunteers to share their industry experience with students.
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New York may seem a long way away but, make no mistake, if proposed legislation to ban the use of Carbon Black in printing inks is enacted, this lunatic cancel-culture movement could spread globally. Andy McCourt looks at recent reports from the US Print & Graphic Communications Association and Patrick Henry from Whattheythink.com.
- Drupa reaches out to 'the next generation' in the printing industry
- Inkdustrial appointed Roland DG dealer
- PrintNZ reveals top 10 NZ print apprentice of the year finalists
- BREAKING - Orafol's Alex McClelland promoted to Executive VP Asia-Pacific
- LIA Victoria to host tour of IVE's Sunshine, Vic site
- Brother and TAFE NSW announce winner of first Excellence in Digital Decorating Award
- Visual Connections, LIA & FPLMA join forces for post-drupa briefings
- SAi Launches Flexi Complete
- Epson introduces new 64-inch P-Series printer
- ASGA announces closer partnership with MEGT on apprenticeships - free webinar
- Kyocera to take on the 'Big 5' of digital cut-sheet print at drupa
- Workflow Automation Drives the Future of Print - Pat McGrew, MD, McGrewGroup, Inc.
- Drupa - Print Horizons report on digital transformation
- Onyx Graphics Previews ONYX 24 and QuickBooks Integration at ISA 2024 this week
- World First for CMYKhub and EFI
- Two months to go to enter 2024 ASGA Currie Group National Sign & Graphics Awards
- LIA Victorian chapter has a fresh new committee
- Blockbuster Brisbane Bash almost full!
- Ball & Doggett inks partnership with Lamination System, makers of Sign Master Workstations
- GJS adds Exile and BBC to its screen print range