Konica Minolta has received 12 Buyers Lab (BLI) Awards from Keypoint Intelligence, the world’s leading independent evaluator of document imaging hardware, software and services. All devices acknowledged are from Konica Minolta’s relaunched bizhub i-Series.

US industry heavyweights Printing United Alliance, the largest printing and graphic arts industry association in the US, and Idealliance, the US-based global standards developer and certifying body, have decided to merge.

The Outdoor Media Association’s new MOVE system upgrade will measure more than 100,000 Out of Home locations nationwide and “accelerate the industry’s transition to digital.”

Laminates and films, antimicrobial, with added silver (or copper & zinc) ions will become the new ‘norm’ says a leading Korean producer. Every SmartPhone, iPad, tablet, touch console, door push and possibly product labels may need to play a part in limiting the transference of viruses and bacteria. But there is more to know.

Idealliance, the global standards developer and certifying body for ISO and G7 colour specification, has named David Crowther of Sydney’s Colour Graphic Services as one of 25 global certified G7 colour expert instructors to lead new training sessions on G7 based print and packaging applications.

UK developer Global Graphics - known for digital inkjet software used by customers including HP, Canon and Durst – has completed its acquisition of HYBRID Software Group from Congra Software – after shareholders voted in favour of the deal earlier this month.

After gaining a Queen’s Enterprise Award in 2014 for Overseas Trade, and another in 2015 for Innovation, UK perforated window film manufacturer, Contra Vision, has been successful once again in winning a further Queen’s Award for Innovation - testament to the company’s continued investment into research and development.

Organiser Messe Dusseldorf has opened registration for exhibitors and interested companies from the international printing industry for virtual.drupa (20-23 April 2021). The event was announced last year after the face-to-face format of the world's leading trade fair had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Hexis has announced a new high-opacity printable film range that uses clear adhesive but has the opacity of gray adhesives. Designated 'TOR' for Top Opacity Range, stocks are on the way and expected to dock around end of February. Also, Hexis' Pure Zone anti-microbial laminates are seing high uptake in the fight against Coronaviruses.

Following the shock resignation of Alon Bar-Shany, general manager of HP Indigo last year, the industry has awaited his next move. The goods news is that his 25 years of experience will remain in the global digital printing and finishing sector, with his appointment as Chairman of Israeli digital finishing leader Highcon, whose board includes Benny Landa.

For multiple reasons, redundancies and company insolvencies have become a fact of life in the printing industry. Shrinking demand, Covid and an uncertain recessionary environment have impacted high volume web printers most, while labels and packaging and, to some extent, sign and display have found alternative product offerings such as Covid health and wayfinding graphics. However, the way in which Ovato has handled its necessary redundancies has attracted criticism.

Cathy O’Connor has  started 2021 in her role as CEO of Australia’s leading out of home media operator, becoming the first new leader of oOh!media since its founding more than 30 years ago. An influential leader in Australian media, Ms O’Connor takes the helm at oOh! after 12 successful years as CEO of Nova Entertainment Group, and five years prior to that as Managing Director of DMG Radio.

The Government has made changes to our insolvency framework to better serve Australian small businesses, their creditors and their employees. The changes introduce new processes suitable for small businesses from 1 January 2021, reducing complexity, time and costs for small businesses.

It is with great shock and sadness that we report a fire, started around 9pm on Boxing Day, December 26th has gutted one of South Australia's most respected wide format printers, Big Image of Hindmarsh, Adelaide. Wide format online visited Carlo and his son Deon Capogreco's new premises only 18 months ago, and previously in 2013 when Big Image installed Adelaide's first 5 metre UV printer from Fujifilm.