Waratah Group has bought Victorian large format print business Pumpkin Digital, in a move that COO Brett Chalmers says will bring much of its wide format print inhouse.

Half year results reveal that the Nine regional newspaper and printing business ACM had a difficult six months, as did the New Zealand newspaper business, known as Stuff, with Nine now putting both divisions up for sale as a result.

The new Printing Industries Association of Australia board met for the first time this week, and immediately discussed strategy over a raft of issues facing the print industry.

Shares in packaging business Pact Group plunged by 17 per cent to a record low on the company's half year figures, as company executive chairman Raphael Geminder told investors that, “We've not done a great job.”

Heidelberg top brass in the shape of Supervisory Board member Ferdinand Ruesch and Asia Pacific region sales boss Thomas Frank are in Australia, to assess the market, explain the Masterwork (MK) investment, and introduce Dierk Wissmann as the new Mr Gallus ANZ.

Messe Duesseldorf managing director says visitors to drupa next year can expect to enjoy more educational sessions, expert insights, and supporting functions, as well as a greater emphasis on networking activities and gatherings, as the owner of the gigantic exhibition centre makes a €140m upgrade.

In a watershed result digital revenues in the out of home (OOH) media market overtook print for the first time, however print revenue still increased – albeit only slightly – in the booming sector.

Australian creative services print business Wellcom – which operates on a global basis – saw its net profit from continuing operations increase by 11 per cent in the first half, on sales, excluding print management pass through costs, that were up by 13 per cent.

Paper merchant and wide format solutions supplier Spicers doubled its first half earnings, as its print and packaging division grew, while sign and display dipped.

Peak industry association PIAA has appointed Ben Reale-Cornel as its new industrial accreditation officer, as it ramps up its services to members.

Currie Group has shown off the refurbished HP Indigo 7r press to printers in Melbourne and Sydney, at star-studded events featuring the Triple Eight racing team.

Trade association Visual Connections is calling on the industry to support McDonald Signs & Print in Young, NSW, as the owners battle with the consequences of a serious car accident on their seven year old daughter.

Wide format and promotional products printer supplier Roland DG is launching a desktop t-shirt printer, the VersaStudio BT-12, for printing directly onto cotton based products, such as t-shirts, tote bags and textile interior decor.

Registrations have just opened for the biggest domestic print event of the year, the PrintEx trade exhibition, which will run in Sydney in six months time, from August 13-16.

A slump in sales last year, and a thin order book for the new year, is sending manroland sheetfed owner Tony Langley to seek bolt on acquisitions that can use the manufacturing facilities in the main Offenbach plant.

Dates for this year's state based PICA and the National Print Awards have just been released, with the five state based events in June and July, to be followed by the national awards which will be held during PrintEx in August.