Some high profile environmental awards in the graphics industry have been quietly discontinued over the past couple of years but a notable exception is Kodak's Sonora Plate Green Leaf Awards, which recognise customers who cut the environmental impacts of their businesses.

They were all there, the heavy hitters of the printing industry; the big web printers, the high-end sheetfed offset packaging makers, as well as leading supply siders. All came to the Banjo Paterson restaurant in Sydney to pay tribute to one of the industry’s true gentlemen, Steve Dunwell, (pictured).

Printing Industries says its members are 'blown away and horrified' by news that Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour is being paid $5.6 million a year. "He's not worth it because he's not delivering," says PIAA CEO Andrew Macaulay.

The digital sector is on the rise for label converters, with European brand owners to invest in five percent more digital solutions in the coming year. The latest report from trade association FINAT indicates solid growth in digital among printers in Europe, according to Thomas Hagmaier, president.

The market launch of Heidelberg's Primefire 106 - its first industrial digital printing system in B1 format - is running on schedule with a US packaging printer beginning the pilot phase. The new system provides 'dependable offset-like quality with the benefits of digital printing.'

Komori and Screen GP have started testing a new integrated workflow system that enhances automation in all processes from prepress through to postpress. The system has been installed at Japanese printing company Mizukami Insatsu, which plans to create a 'smart factory' by 2025.

Judges have named the finalists in the 2016 Australian Photobook of the Year Awards to be presented at the Magic Johnston arts centre in Melbourne next week. Photobook printer Momento Pro is offering cash and credit prizes worth $10,000.

AGS has signed an agreement to become the Australian agent for Cron Platesetter Systems and already has begun to distribute Cron products to the local market, with installations completed at Associated Printers in Melbourne and Mallee Printers in Sea Lake, Victoria.

Brother International Australia has unveiled a new camera alignment system for its Brother GT-3 series of digital garment printers. The system is not limited to substrates and can align designs on shoes, caps, shirts, coasters and more.

Six state finalists have been named in this year’s inaugural Konica Minolta National Specialised Print Awards that celebrate excellence in print. The national winner will receive a $10,000 advertising package at the awards event held on Thursday 23rd February at SoHo in Sydney.

Sydney’s Graphitype Printing Services is auctioning off excess plant and equipment following its acquisition by Dominion Print Group. The online auction is now live and runs until Friday 5pm (AEST) .

Australia Post has lost its bid to keep secret the $5.6 million salary package paid to MD Ahmed Fahour - more than ten times the amount earned by the Prime Minister. The national carrier argued the move could attract “unwarranted media attention.”

Printing Industries has called for legislative changes to the "dysfunctional and partisan" Fair Work Commission (FWC), the national workplace relations tribunal. Former Liberal senator Mary Jo Fisher (pictured), the PIAA’s director of government relations, will travel to Canberra to lobby federal ministers.

Screen GP MD Peter Scott says he’s delighted with the early test runs on his new Truepress Jet L250AQ digital label machine. “The machine came out-of-the-box and quickly ramped up into production; it’s very simple and intuitive to operate."

Early bird entries are now open for the 2017 Media Super National Print Awards to be held in Melbourne on May 25. The best in the industry will compete in 18 general print categories and five design categories, as well as the Media Super Industry Legend and Young Executive awards.

Canon Australia has appointed ICT specialist Kaaren Lewis as general manager of sales for Canon Business Services. Lewis has more than 20 years of experience with companies such as Hewlett Packard, Dell, Compaq, IBM and Insight.