QMS, one of Australasia’s fastest growing outdoor media companies, has acquired leading New Zealand outdoor advertiser iSite for A$44.4 million. “This is an exciting opportunity for QMS and iSite to combine our complementary businesses to capitalise on the compelling growth opportunity in NZ."

Epson unveiled a new system called PaperLab that promises to revolutionise office recycling by destroying securely shredded waste paper documents and turning them into new office paper, without the use of water.

Workflow automation is probably the most important IT investment a printing company can make yet few printers put it high on their shopping lists, says the latest drupa report that surveyed 741 printers from around the world.

Printing began in 618* in China when the T'ang Dynasty used ink on carved wooden blocks to make multiple transfers of image to paper. Canadian printer Chris Landry has compiled an interactive storymap that examines the history of print technology throughout the next 1400 years.

Indonesian pulp and paper giant April will spend $136.8 million over the next ten years on conservation and double its peatland restoration program to 150,000 hectares. The announcement, made at the climate change summit in Paris, is the latest move by April to boost its sustainability profile.

Print and marketing company IVE Group, formerly Blue Star, will list on the ASX before Christmas after two brokers underwrote the company’s $75.6 million IPO. Existing shareholders Wolseley PE and the Selig family will retain majority ownership.

Australia’s consumer watchdog has approved a 43% increase in basic postage rates, opening the door to Australia Post’s plan to hike prices on all commercial and bulk mailing. The basic rate for letters will rise from 70 cents to $1 from 4 January 2016, subject to federal approval.

As if the deforestation abuses by APP weren’t bad enough, Indonesia recently reached the top of the global warming rankings. "The Indonesian government and local vested interests such as APP pay lip service to halting it and to restoration projects but not much seems to change."

Auckland-based Hexagon Holdings has acquired family-owned trans-Tasman label converter Hally Group in a deal expected to be completed mid-December. "It’s the end of an era,” said Grant Hally, chairman of Hally Group, which was established in 1965 by his parents Ian and Pam Hally.

Konica Minolta has appointed print veteran Anthony Lewis as general manager of its production printing business, effective December 7. "He has a unique talent for energising and inspiring people, and for stakeholder and customer engagement," said David Procter, sales director, KM.

This year’s Media Super Yearbook features innovative augmented reality technology that allows readers to bring some pages to life by using mobile phones. “We wanted to highlight some of the great work being done by our members in the printing industry,” said Joel Clapham..

Printing Industries refutes what it terms a ‘false and highly inaccurate accusation’ that it adopted a less than rigorous and caring approach to the storing of items of historical significance during its move to new offices in Chatswood.

The rush into wide format shows no sign of abating but printers need to be aware of the structural changes reshaping the marketplace and adapt in order to survive.

Printheads are a key component of any wide format printer, so it’s important to understand how they work. FESPA consultant Nessan Cleary looks some of the latest printhead technology for large format printers.

The popular Women in Print program is seeking supporters after original sponsor Heidelberg stepped back and handed over the reins to industry associations Visual Connections and Printing Industries. WiP was originally an initiative of Heidelberg Graphic Equipment.

Almost seven in ten printers either matched or increased growth over the past year despite an overall decline in the Australian printing industry, according to a new survey. The Printing Industry Report 2015 by Sohraen Consulting found that over 15% of those surveyed grew by more than 20%.