When First Impressions went into business as a Melbourne offset printing house with one and two-colour machines in the 1980s, it would have been hard to imagine where the company would end up today.

Members of the Packaging Council of Australia (PCA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a plan to join the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA).

News Corp is planning to slash another $40 million in costs from its Australian publishing operation before the end of the financial year after a further slump in advertising revenue. "We will need to implement a series of cost initiatives across the business."

Global press giant Heidelberg posted robust second quarter results, with net earnings of €9 million compared to a loss of €9 million in the same period last year. The company says its investment in digitalisation, digital printing and services is 'bearing fruit.'

Marisa Rossi from BJ Ball and Sandy Aspinall from Bowden Group will take on the local patrons’ role for Women in Print in South Australia. “Both felt that a lot of the social culture in the industry in South Australia has been lost with the demise of the PICA’s."

Q: When is a Legend not a Legend? A: When she is a woman. Strong words but the recent ‘Industry Legends Awards’ in Queensland displayed, maybe innocently, a gender bias, which spurred Robyn Frampton to call it out.

The New Zealand Commerce Commission says it will reject a proposed merger between NZME and Fairfax NZ over concerns it could lead to the second highest level of print media ownership in the world, behind only China.

Opus CEO Richard Celarc will retire from the job next year but plans to continue as board chairman until 2020. Celarc had taken on the role of chief executive in March 2016 shortly before long-term CEO Cliff Brigstocke was appointed the new chief at Blue Star.

The online auction for all equipment at Sydney’s Bellmac Cartons starts tomorrow, Thursday 10th Nov. The family-owned folding carton producer based in Guildford, Sydney has sold its business operations and ceased production.

Brisbane printers Colour Chiefs and Platypus Graphics dominated the printing categories at the 23rd annual Queensland PICA awards. Colour Chiefs won four golds and two silver medals in the printing section while Platypus picked up three golds, two silvers and one bronze.

Global packaging company Schur International has acquired Melbourne labels and flexible packaging specialist Burgess Printing & Packaging to strengthen its position in the Australia and New Zealand markets.

Packaging giant Amcor has expanded its presence in China with the acquisition of flexible packaging products maker Hebei Qite Packing Co for $A36 million. "China is a very attractive growth market for flexible packaging," says CEO Ron Delia.

The Local Government Association of Tasmania has passed a motion to support Keep Me Posted, the campaign for the consumer's right to choose how service providers communicate with them, free of charge. "Tasmania becomes the first state to promote the consumer’s right to choose."

Foster Packaging and Omniverse have joined forces in a merger which won't cost a single job.

About one hundred printers will be out of a job on Saturday night after the final edition of The Sunday Times rolls through the presses at News Corp’s Perth Print.

The ACCC has opened its informal review into PMP's proposed buyout of IPMG, calling for industry submissions by November 18.