Takeover specialist Mark Shergill of Focus Print has snapped up the client list of collapsed Sydney printer AP & Prior Print, which went into liquidation last month with debts of more than $200,000 owed to 50 trade creditors, including paper merchant KW Doggett.

Absolute Electronics and Xeikon have combined forces to show how one converter has achieved 25% year on year business growth over recent years. CS Labels MD Simon Smith is joining the How to Build Growth into Your Business road show in Auckland (June 22), Melbourne (June 24) and Sydney (June 26). Xeikon will also preview what it's planning to release at Labelexpo in September.

The Australian Greeting Card Association (AGCA) wants Australia Post to cut its postal rates for greeting cards, describing the current 70c charge as “a mental barrier.” The association has asked AusPost to consider a 2nd class postal rate similar to the UK model.

Major pulp and paper manufacturers APP and APRIL have announced significant new sustainability initiatives for their forestry operations in Indonesia. APP’s local partner Paper Force says it will be able to offer Australian customers a greater range of PEFC certified products by the end of 2015.

The booming Outdoor industry is seeking to increase its $600 million share of the advertising market by building what it calls the world’s first one-stop hub for the buying and selling of Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising in all formats.

Kiss Lajos of Hungary has retained his title of FESPA World Wrap Master for the second year running, ahead of Marco Dittl from Germany and Jeremy Gayet from France. The global wrap event, sponsored by 3M and Mutoh, took place over FESPA 2015, with 36 wrappers battling it out for the title.

Western Australia’s offset printers are embracing processless and lo-chemistry plates from Fujifilm with gusto. The ultra-competitive Perth area print market has always been one of the most progressive in Australia.

Joint lead managers Evans & Partners and Bell Potter are calling for retail bids next week ahead of the planned stock market float by printing and marketing company ive Group – formerly Blue Star. Bids are due in by June 10 ahead of a bookbuild on June 11.

Following the death of Robert J. Koehler on May 17, Dr. Siegfried Jaschinski is new chairman of Heidelberg Druckmaschinen in Germany. He is taking over as chairman for the remainder of the term of office till the annual general meeting in 2018.

Qantas has signed a deal with global publishing platform PressReader to provide passengers with free in-flight access to thousands of newspapers and magazines on their digital devices. The print titles will be available as free downloads in the 12 hours before a flight.

The new owner of SIGNWAVE Artarmon took over the franchise after researching the signage industry and finding ‘plenty of upside.’ 30-something Blake Haymen is part of a trend towards younger professionals who are choosing franchise ownership, according to SIGNWAVE Australia.

A large Australian contingent will join 1600 exhibitors at this year’s largest-ever ProPak Asia event in Thailand. The 23rd International Processing, Filling and Packaging Technology Event for Asia will run from 17-20 June at Bitec in Bangkok, Thailand.

Melbourne print and design company Print Supply Management has acquired former competitor Core Print and will integrate both businesses and their staff under one roof at Thomastown. Print Supply says it remains on the lookout for further expansion opportunities.

Packaging giant Amcor has boosted its operations in China with the acquisition of the Zhongshan Tiancai Packaging Company in the southern Guangdong province. The deal expands Amcor’s footprint in China to a total of ten manufacturing plants across the country.

Strategic corporate acquisitions over the past couple of years in marketing communications and mailing have helped grow the former Blue Star – now rebranded as ive Group – into a corporate behemoth valued at between $261 million and $290 million ahead of a prospective sharemarket bid.

Long-time Foilmasters GM Matt Murcott says the decision to buy the embellishing business from Colorpak will allow his new company MatteGold to focus on customised products. “I envision MatteGold to be the go-to company for bespoke embellished products."