“Either they let us work like the other trades or they give us money for being shut down,” said Mick Harrold, Victorian chair of the Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA), in an update to members on Tuesday.

For those who have been following our coverage of the administration of aluminium facade and ACM manufacturer Fairview Architectural, there was understandable skepticism of the ability to deliver on promises and proposals. It is now our happy duty to inform you that the DOCA is approved and a rare, if not unique, subheading of 'Creditors get 100 cents in the dollar, all 57 jobs saved,' is the order of the day.

Despite rain, snow and temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), ILFORD and Canon have set a Guinness World Record for the longest digitally printed photograph of almost 110 metres.  

Ricoh says it has opened up an array of production opportunities for printers and graphic arts display specialists with its new Ricoh Pro L5160e and Ricoh Pro L5130e, an evolution from the Ricoh Pro L5160 and Ricoh Pro L5130 latex large format printers.

Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions has launched two new films for short-term floor decoration applications and has a special product promotion for customers in Australia and New Zealand in the run up to Christmas.

At last week's Japanese-themed Epson event, launching several new technologies; Starleaton directors Ben and Josh Eaton nominated the SureColor R5000 as the most interesting product. The R5000 is Epson's first foray into the 'latex-type ink' market currently dominated by HP. The R stands for 'Resin' to differentiate what is essentially a similar aqueous fluid with strong environmental credentials.

The new Konica Minolta Business Solutions New Zealand Limited (Konica Minolta New Zealand) will be led by managing director Eric Holtsmark, a former general manager at Konica Minolta Australia for strategy, transformation and technology. Konica Minolta Australia will also provide resources to support the expansion. 

The free three-week online Printing United Digital Experience kicks off on October 26, highlighting the latest in graphics and wide format technology from leading manufacturers including HP, Agfa, Canon, Durst, Epson, Fujifilm and Roland DG.

Print and marketing group IVE (ASX:IGL) has signed a binding agreement to divest its IVE Telefundraising business Pareto to an entity associated with Merchant Place, a private investment company with offices in Sydney and Brisbane.

Kornit Digital, a global market leader in digital textile printing technology, has hired former Daimler executive Ilan Elad as incoming president of the company’s Asia-Pacific (KDAP) division, to push “Kornit’s commitment to growth and industry leadership in Asia-Pacific territories.” 

“With recent testing of Vivad's long term frontlit and backlit banner vinyl, we have learned that without any modification these products already successfully achieve a Group 1 classification,” says Vivad MD Ewen Donaldson. 

Sculpt Neon Signs is launching in the United States and the United Kingdom, with customers able to choose a customized sign or select from an extensive online catalogue and shipping available worldwide. 

US paper manufacturer Neenah, distributed by Spicers, says its new sustainable wide format solutions conVerd Board Wipe Clean and DigiScape FootPrint address significant market demand for safe signage solutions. 

Epson never does things by halves. In a stellar launch event at its new Yennora, NSW demo and distribution centre, the global President, Mr Yasunori Ogawa, who took over from Mr Usui (now Chairman) in April; addressed delegates via video call during the launch of new products for high volume dye-sublimation, a new resin 'latex-type' roll printer and Epson's first true flatbed UV printer. Also previewed was a new industrial-level DTG printer with dual printheads.