Production levels in the Printing & Recorded Media sector were “particularly strong” in April and May, according to latest data from AIG. "This suggests some respite from the long-term disruptions of technological change and intense import competition.”

National newspapers are leading the growth in news media audiences, with print readership rising by 4.7 per cent year on year, according to the latest emma data for March 2018.

Ricoh Australia expands in the thriving direct-to-garment market with a new series of DTG printers that range from an entry-level model for small businesses to printers designed to meet the needs of established garment-printing businesses.

Jet Technologies has released a new range of thermal laminating films for the digital printing industry. "The films are the perfect solution for small to medium size digital printers who regularly manage short run prints," says director Jack Malki.

Océ's Colorado 1640 UVgel wide-format printer will kick off its Australian tour in Brisbane next month with a pop-up showroom, which will give potential customers the opportunity to see the machine in action.

The Fair Work Commission has raised the national minimum wage by $24.30 a week from July 1, bringing it to $719.20 a week or $18.93 an hour. The 3.5 percent increase is only half of the unions' requested $50 increase, but almost double the $12.50 boost employers argued for.

Syncoms’ Ali Jaffar joined Print21 editor Patrick Howard from a late evening in London to discuss the benefits and strategies of web-to-print solutions for the commercial print industry.

Konica Minolta has opened entries for the 2018 National Specialised Print Awards, celebrating exceptional craftsmanship in digital printing. Launched in 2016, the National Specialised Print Awards are now in their third year.

The final round of state PICAs before next month’s National Print Awards have been awarded this week with Adam’s Print winning six gold medals at the Victorian event and Multi Colour Corp and Openbook Howden leading the way in South Australia.

Offset press giant Heidelberg has stepped up its push into digital with the launch of a 50-strong Heidelberg Digital Unit (HDU) to oversee its expanding €100 million digital products and e-commerce business.

The PIAA is urging members interested in taking advantage of the Federal Government’s $20,000 immediate asset deductibility for small businesses to act now before it’s too late. Several companies are offering last-minute tax write-off deals.

NSW has won Currie Group’s inaugural State of Indigo competition, claiming the hard-fought series and booking themselves tickets to Game 1 of the actual State of Origin in Melbourne.

QLM Label Makers has installed three new Mark Andy flexo label presses at its Brisbane headquarters and added new finishing technology to its HP Indigo digital platform in Melbourne.

22-year-old mill worker Tom Johnson is clinging to life in Albury hospital six days after two of his colleagues died in a gas leak at Norske Skog’s Albury paper mill in NSW. His family has issued a statement saying Johnson is "trending in the right direction."

Melbourne print and design business Print Supply Management has closed its doors and gone into liquidation. A search is already underway for a new buyer.

High-profile industry figure Tim Saleeba has been appointed sales manager for production and industrial print at Konica Minolta in Victoria. Saleeba was GM of Canon Professional Print until January 2018.