Fujifilm Australia's Graphic Systems division has a new national sales manager with the internal promotion of Ashley Playford, and Kodak yesterday announced the appointment of Brendan Pearce to the role of Queensland Territory Manager.

Our industry is seeing massive improvements in ink technologies, especially to suit new print methods and substrates. Technology advances are taking print into all sorts of new applications. One of the most attractive for all concerned is textiles.

Demand for printing and communication papers plummeted over the past year, signalling rough times ahead for the commercial printing industry. Not counting the continuing disastrous drop in newsprint, overall demand for printing paper fell by 6.2 percent (73,400 tonnes) last year.

Fuji Xerox has inked a deal with Screen Graphic and Precision Solutions to resell the flagship Screen Truepress Jet W3200UV flatbed UV machine in Australia. The agreement is part of a strategy by Fuji Xerox to move further into wide format products.

Printing Industries has called for greater transparency and accountability in electoral material in a submission to a federal parliamentary committee. Mary Jo Fisher, Membership Services Director PIAA, spoke to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters last Thursday.

Sydney's Bellmac Cartons is holding a three-day unreserved online auction for all its remaining equipment. The family-owned folding carton producer has sold its business operations and ceased production.

Dscoop Asia 2016 has come to a successful end with Alon Bar-Shany, Vice President and General Manager, Indigo Digital Press Division, labelling it “the best Dscoop ever”. The two-day conference and networking event culminated at HP’s Centre of Excellence (COE) in Singapore.

Major addition to the heatset web sector brings extra capacity in Sydney, even as PMP and IPMG look to reduce the number of their presses through their merger. Blue Star is stepping up to claim more market presence in the hotly contested magazine and catalogue business.

The 2016 Dscoop Asia conference has kicked off in Singapore, with creativity, innovation and change taking centre stage. This year’s Dscoop Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) event, with the theme 'Winning Inspirations', marks the first time that creative agencies, print service providers and brand owners have all come together for the same conference.

The federal government has launched an inquiry into the need for printed parliamentary documents in "an increasingly digital and online environment” - the latest move in Malcolm Turnbull's ambitious digital transformation policy.

Digital embellishment initiative focuses on new products to be introduced to the local market in time for PacPrint. Anthony Lewis, GM Specialised Print, Konica Minolta, (pictured) believes the time is right for printers to move further into adding value to their print.

New Zealand-based Oji Fibre Solutions will build a new $68 million corrugated packaging facility at Yatala on the Gold Coast to supply Queensland, parts of NSW and the NT. The investment reflects a substantial lift in demand for corrugated packaging in Australia, says analyst IndustryEdge.

As if paper was not always undergoing reinvention, an Israeli technology company is claiming to have reinvented it. This isn’t really a reinvention of paper, but rather a new recipe for office paper that makes it deinkable using just a laser.

Roland DG says it’s had a positive response to its new finance program that allows printers to install wide format printing technology without any upfront investment. “The Roland Rental Platinum program has so far been well received and initial feedback has been positive."

Spicers, formerly PaperlinX, posted a profit of $5.3 million for the 2016 financial year – the company’s first full-year profit in eight years – and says it's making progress towards solving a deadlock with its hybrid shareholders. But the Australian business experienced a disappointing 12 months.

Neopost has launched unique new offerings in window film from Studiojet and LG Hausys, which are designed for visual impact and ease of use.