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Major Melbourne print operation is re-equipping with a new five-over-five B1 press as it ramps up its investment in new technology. The new XL-106 will arrive in March and join the company's six-colour. Read more
The Ovato administrator is wasting no time in seeking a sale for the stricken print giant, calling for expressions of interest to be submitted by this Friday, and for binding offers to be in two weeks later. Several potential buyers are in the frame.
Print21 assesses what the next steps are for the stricken business, what that will involve, who is linked to who, and who may be looking to buy the one time giant of ANZ print.
While still a shock for the local print industry, Ovato going into administration can’t be too much of a surprise, given its travails over recent years. Since the PMP IPMG merger the company has racked up some $430m in losses.
The fall of Ovato into voluntary administration has been caused by rapidly changing market demands, and in particular the supercharged rise of the smartphone as a primary communication channel.
Heatset giant Ovato is in voluntary administration. Ovato has been in stormy waters for the past five years, its many recent attempts to stabilise the ship ultimately proving unsuccessful, as it finally hit the rocks.
Jill Cowling has been made group chief executive officer of New Zealand’s Blue Star Group – encompassing both the Blue Star and Webstar operations – the biggest print business in the country.
WA-based Beyond Solutions has become the latest printer to invest in the Dimense one-pass print and emboss systems, and will use it to produce custom wall graphics.
The region’s biggest print industry trade show, PacPrint, will now run every two years, and will alternate between Melbourne and Sydney, with Visual Impact also back up and in the mix.
Highway Press has purchased its fifth Konica Minolta printer, a highly specified AccurioPress C7100 series, in order it says, to take advantage of the versatility, productivity, and efficiency benefits it offers.
Multi-channel communication solutions provider DMM has rebranded itself, with the company now trading as Engine, and focusing on four main pillars of business.
Peter Clark, print industry pioneer, leader and servant, and president of PVCA, has passed away following a short illness, leaving the industry in mourning.
The main AAB print businesses Pegasus Print Group and SOS Print + Media, along with F&M Supplies and AB Warehousing & Logistics, are now operating as one brand: Pegasus Media & Logistics.
For four days in Melbourne last week the ANZ print industry got back together. With exhibits, demos, forums, parties, and face-to-face meetings, printers reconnected – take a look at the showreel.
Visitors to PacPrint will see all the technologies awarded a Print21 Hot Pick, given to real world solutions enabling print service providers to enhance operational efficiencies, develop new markets, and produce work in a more sustainable way.
The organiser of PacPrint says some $50m worth of sales were done during the show last month, with exhibitors also going home with several months’ worth of leads that could be worth another $50m. The dates for the next PacPrint and Visual Impact shows have now been released.
Marketing guru Malcolm Auld has released his new book Direct Mail, The Real Digital Disruptor, which he says will show the younger marketing professionals the unrivalled benefits of printed DM.
Global anilox roller developer has just signed a distribution deal with ANZ industry supplier to see its engraved rolls, including GTT rolls, offered to the local market.
Argo founder and drupa author Christophe Bossut says the time for printers to bring augmented reality into their offerings is now, with the market ready for the connection it provides.
Melbourne Mailing, now part of the Precision Group, has ordered a new Kyocera Taskalfa Pro 15000c from the company at PacPrint, which will join the two already running at Precision.
Allclear Print + Signs has ordered a new EFI Pro 30h wide-format print system from Currie Group, and in fact, the one that is on the company’s stand at PacPrint.
Highway Press has purchased its fifth Konica Minolta printer, a highly specified AccurioPress C7100 series, in order it says, to take advantage of the versatility, productivity, and efficiency benefits it offers.
WA-based operation Footprint is moving into the labels market, ordering a new Epson SureColor L-4533 digital label press and Scorpio converting unit from Fujifilm Business Innovation.
The Trimatt 1170 digital colour printer for sustainable paper and cardboard packaging has been a showstopper, with several selling straight off the stand.
Wenger Cutting Forms has purchased a Century 1050Q die-cutter and stripping unit from Graffica, to speed up its die-cutting offerings and efficiently eliminate waste.
German press manufacturing giant Koenig & Bauer will be independent of pipeline gas by the end of the month, meaning it will not be subject to variations in supply from Russia.
Japanese press manufacturer Komori returned to profit in its last financial year ending April, with orders up by a third, sales up by a fifth, and all figures showing improvement over the previous year.
Ball & Doggett – Australia’s largest distributor of printable materials and consumables – is sponsoring the Fespa Future Leaders programme, continuing its investment in industry talent.
Matthew Penfold is taking on the role of chair of the Kwik Kopy franchise, one of the largest in the country. As he steers the group towards a revitalised future, he shares his ambitions with Patrick Howard.
Blue Star Collard (Auckland) printer Kosema Fuiono was named BJ Ball Papers Apprentice of the Year on stage at the Pride In Print Awards gala dinner.
Label press manufacturer Gallus has pledged all its products will be carbon neutral by the end of the year, using the Kyoto gold standard carbon offsetting programme.
Some 40-plus exhibitors and visitors took part in Print21's livestream podcast – sponsored by Ball & Doggett – during PacPrint. Here's who we spoke to, and what they talked about.
Ball & Doggett is partnering with Avery Dennison to help raise skill levels in the fast-growing car signage market, through workshops in Victoria, NSW and WA. There are still spots available on two of them.
Label press manufacturer Omet, represented in Australia and New Zealand by Currie Group, has opened its new Innovation Park, a 1500sqm permanent showroom, at its Italian HQ.
Thomas Anderson has joined industry supplier Starleaton as sales executive for media and consumables in Melbourne, bringing a wealth of knowledge about sustainability solutions with him.
June was a Big Month in Print, and in this latest Print Files podcast, direct from PacPrint, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson dissect the big stories, issues and trends emerging in ANZ print.
