Every now and then we see an example of wide format inkjet printing that stands out as brilliant promotion and innovative use of space. Chatswood, Sydney barber Kleames Dawod has used just about every available wall and glass space to express his passion for Liverpool FC – currently top of the UK Premier league at time of writing.

Digital print giant Ricoh has expanded its industrial printing business with the acquisition of LAC Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer of unique inkjet technology that allows printing on three-dimensional surfaces including the sides of cars, trucks, tyres, aircraft and glass bottles.

Imagination Graphics, based at  Marrickville in Sydney, has taken the top prize in this year's Konica Minolta Specialised Print Awards (NSPAs) for its pop-up book The Hamptons. Owner Emmanuel Buhagiar will enjoy a trip to Tokyo to visit Konica Minolta’s headquarters and R&D facilities.

Konica Minolta has been named a finalist in the Business Award category of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2018 Human Rights Awards.

“We don’t believe it means very much,” says Xerox CEO John Visentin about a court decision last week that Fujifilm claims will allow it to continue negotiations over its proposed $6.1 billion takeover of the US giant.

Melbourne-based events signage and wide format printer Signex/Prologica joined four other Océ Colorado users in an international print challenge titled the World of Wallcovering at this month’s 2018 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas.

Ricoh is having a crack at HP's hegenomy of Latex, unveiling two new roll-to-roll latex wide format printers designed for faster short run production, running with Ricoh's own printheads and inks; plus a new LED-UV flatbed device with decor in mind.

 If you’re in the market for a new 24”, 44” or 64” eight-colour all-pigment aqueous printer, Epson has launched a new trade-in/cash-back offer until the end of 2018.

Roland DG’s TrueVIS VG series wide format printer cutters won two prestigious Buyers Lab awards, including Outstanding Enhanced CMYK Eco Solvent/Latex 54″/64″ Printer (7-Colour) and Outstanding High Production CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54”/64” Printer (Dual CMYK).

Suppose you’d just put on a trade show for the Sign and Display industries in ‘showtown’ Las Vegas, USA and it was a sell-out – needing a wait-list for exhibitors to get onto the floor. Over 25,000 visitors flock to it, it is a resounding hit with many sales conducted and new products released. You’d want to do it all again next year, surely?

Newly appointed CEO Bill Muir was on hand as digital print giant EFI showcased eight new products for signage and industrial textile production at the SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, including the world premiere of the Pro 32r.

The Sign, POS and Display production industry’s skills shortage is creating big problems for businesses across Australia. Industry recruiter James Cryer of JDA Print Recruitment told wideformatonline: “We have about a dozen vacancies on our books at the moment, all in sign and display, and we just don’t have enough applicants. Some owner-operators are tearing their hair out to get skilled people.”

Friday night saw the Roland DG folks let their hair down a little with around 150 invited guests at Sydney’s swanky Pier One function centre. 

Fujifilm Holdings has won a legal challenge against a New York court decision that blocked its proposed $6.1 billion takeover bid for iconic US printer and photocopier manufacturer Xerox Corporation.

Sign and display supplier Pozitive has been appointed the exclusive local agent for Monti Antonio - the Italian-based global leader in the manufacture of flatbed and calendar heat presses for dye sublimation, fixation and bonding.