Xerox has named eleven “highly qualified” independent candidates it intends to nominate to replace HP’s board of directors at HP’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders - the latest move in Xerox’s $33.5 billion bid to take control of its larger rival. It's an impressive list of eleven finance, accounting, law, banking, M&A, travel & hospitality, healthcare, insurance, telco and general business directors but none appear to have any experience running a company whose main profits come from PCs and print, like Enrique Lores and Dion Wiesler on the incumbent board.

EFI’s Connect 2020 conference in Las Vegas (January 21-24) is showcasing new solutions for its print and packaging MIS/ERP technology portfolio, the worldwide debut of the new VUTEk D3r mid-volume, roll-to-roll superwide-format printer and new cloud-based solutions for digital print management.

Idealliance, the global think tank, standards developer and certifying body for ISO, G7® colour specification and brand supply chain management programs and consulting, has appointed David Crowther of Colour Graphic Services to head its Australasian office, based in Sydney. Crowther is a certified G7® Expert.

Dye sublimation printing using inkjet printers might be viewed as a specialist area but, as SAi's Director of Marketing, Michelle Johnson, notes - it could be the next growth opportunity you are looking for.

The Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA) and FESPA Australia have announced the first national conference for sign and display professionals, which will coincide with the Visual Impact trade show on the Gold Coast, 29 April-2 May 2020.

EFI is introducing a new roll-to-roll LED 3m and 5m printer line that “helps sign and display graphics customers drive more volume with high-end digital print for endless applications and designs.”

“Digital textile printing is one of the largest growth markets for inkjet technologies,” says the Italy-based digital print and production technologies manufacturer. Durst announced that its restructured industrial textile printing unit will be headed by technical chemist and executive team member Dr. Stefan Kappaun. Durst Oceania opened its new base in Tullamarine VIC in November 2019.

Leading supplier of Graphic films, Reflective materials and Adhesive tapes, Orafol Australia has revealed that the owner and CEO of Orafol worldwide, Dr Holger Loclair, on January 15^th was awarded Hall of Fame, Family Business status by a jury representing Germany’s leading business newspaper, Handelsblatt.

Epson’s new high-production SureColor F3070, launched on Friday at Impressions Expo in Long Beach, California, allows print shops to produce hundreds of custom shirts per day.

“This is a very exciting time for us at Roland – as the personalisation market gets bigger, we’re building machines that can slot perfectly into pretty much any business, big or small, and give them what they need to grow,” says Roland DG. At the Printwear and Promotion 2020 trade show in the UK this week, the company showcased a range of technologies including its TrueVIS SG2-300 printer/cutter, the VersaUV LEF-12i and its new LV series of laser engravers.

The Federal Government says immediate tax-free cash grants of up to $50,000 and concessional loans of up to $500,000 are now available to small businesses that have sustained damage as a result of the bushfires.

A new panel of international judges will award the best the industry has to offer in this year’s state Printing Industry Creativity Awards (PICAs) that lead into the National Print Awards to be held in July 2020.

Xerox is preparing to nominate as many as 11 directors to HP’s board as it pushes ahead with its $33.5 billion takeover bid, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

“The industry is currently facing huge challenges and some of those taking part at Heimtextil have really felt this,” says Detlef Braun, CEO of Messe Frankfurt, organisers of the 50^th anniversary edition of the global textiles trade fair held this month in Frankfurt, Germany. “No manufacturer will be able to avoid environmentally friendly materials and production processes in 2020. Even big names are placing value on textiles made of certified materials and avoiding plastic packaging.” HP showcased its LATEX and new STITCH technology at the show.

Kornit Digital has introduced the Kornit Vulcan Plus, its next-generation system for direct-to-garment mass customization, and the Storm HD6 Lite technology, for smaller print businesses, at Impressions Expo in California.