UK developer Global Graphics - known for digital inkjet software used by customers HP, Canon, Roland, Kodak and Durst - entered into a binding conditional agreement for the acquisition of HYBRID Software Group from holding company Congra Software - to create the “foremost enterprise software supplier for digital printing.”

Entries are now open for the Pride in Print 2021 Awards for the best in visual print communication products produced in New Zealand. Each sector of the printing industry is covered, with expert panels of judges analysing every entry. 

The fully automated Durst P5 350 high speed system can print over 600 sqm per hour, twice as fast as the Durst P5 350 standard model, making it “the most productive hybrid printer in the market,” says the Italian printing technology manufacturer.

Italian regulator AGCM has fined HP Inc and HP Italy a total of €10 million for using “misleading and aggressive” practices to limit the use of non-original cartridges in its printers. 

The ASGA & FESPA HP National Conference scheduled to take place in Sydney on Friday 19 February 2021 has now been cancelled due to "unpredictable and uncertain" restrictions related to Covid-19. The HP Awards For Excellence, due to be presented during the conference, have been rescheduled to 28 September 2021 in Melbourne, at the start of the Visual Impact / PacPrint21 trade show.

Roland DG will be closed from COB of 23rd December and re-opening on Monday 4th January. In an advisory sent to customers, some very useful tips and a checklist are shared on how to correctly shut down, keep prepared and re-start wide format inkjet printers.

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell handed down her Insurance Inquiry final report today, finding "widespread market failure" in regards to the availability and affordability of essential small business insurance products.

In a not unexpected move, and following the postponement of drupa 2021, the organisers of FESPA Global Print Expo, Amsterdam, have been forced to fast forward the show by six months, from March to October 2021.

Creditors and company members voted unanimously in favour of a $40m restructure scheme by printing company Ovato that will cut 300 jobs and close its heatset plant at Clayton in Melbourne before Christmas 2020. The plan asked creditors to accept 50 cents in the dollar. 

Wideformat Online’s Publisher Andy McCourt is also editor of Labels Plus magazine, on behalf of the Visual Connections and FPLMA associations. The label and wide format sectors are closely aligned, with many wide format shops also offering labels and ‘stickers.’ The December 2020 issue can be viewed online for free!

That talented Sydney Northern Beaches airbrush artist David Brown is at it again, bringing joy and art to shop windows on Sydney's Northside. Great to see the art of airbrushing is still vibrant in a digital world.

Industry printable films, laminates, reflective materials and industrial tapes supplier, Orafol Australia, has recently relocated its NSW facility to a larger corporate office and distribution facility in Erskine Park, western Sydney, and added seven new industry professionals to the staff complement.

Wide format workflow software developer PrintFactory has signed a partnership with wide format technology manufacturer Durst, which will now be providing its global customers with PrintFactory API workflow software.

Canon’s new free platform graphiPLAZA offers a network of large format graphics experts to inform global customers about new applications, latest market trends and best practices around the world.

Kayell Australia is celebrating 50 years of business supplying the digital imaging, video & audio, fine art inkjet printing and graphic art industries. The Artarmon, NSW-based company's portfolio includes Epson wide format and Ricoh DTG printers.