There probably has never been a better time for the Australian and NZ printing, packaging and allied industries to re-equip. Interest rates are low, print runs are getting shorter but more frequent, digital technology is getting better - to quote Mr Abbott's election edict, “Australia is open for business.”

Snap kicks off 2014 with two high-profile sporting sponsorships, putting its full strength behind print as a vital ingredient in the marketing mix. The print franchise group is pumped to get behind Iron Man athlete Nathan Smith, and signs up as naming rights sponsor of SMU Racing for the coming year.

A surge in supplier demand has forced upcoming FESPA Digital 2014, to pump up their floor-plan by 4000 square metres, making for their largest ever digital print show. With another five months still to go, the numbers blow-out has even forced the show to spill out into a second hall.

High-profile industry leader and CEO of Look Print, David Leach steps up to the bar as the new president of PIAA. A firm change-agent, Leach tells Print21 he looks forward to the challenge of creating a dynamic vision for the future and shaking things up a bit for 2014.

We're only ten weeks out now, and after a rocky run through the early parts of last year, Ipex 2014 looks to be set to go off in style this March. The folks over in London have retooled the entire event to deliver answers to the burning questions, solutions to the big issues and a profitable future for print.

Australian technology innovator Rapid-X Digital draws back the curtain on its new one-touch digital label press, the Rapid XL220. This latest offering is the first in a new wave of digital label printing systems, combining digital and flexo technology to achieve industry-leading speeds and quality.

Spandex shores up its position as a market leader in WA sign and display, welcoming two new wide-format specialists to expand its service to this firmly valued market. Mike Bancroft and Neville Linton join the team, bringing between them more than 45 years of hands-on industry experience.

US-based Platinum Equity picks up a 70% stake of Sensis for a stark $454 million, with the entire business valued at less than its print revenue for 2013. PMP's print contract for Yellow and White pages directories is under threat as Malcom Turnbull puts the directory service up for review.

A final $3.4 million grant to peak industry body, Printing Industries, approved in December, takes Federal Government print industry funding to an unprecedented $11 million since 2012 and fuels an ambitious industry transformation scheme. It coincides with the launch of a blueprint policy document, Priorities for Print.

Heidelberg has cashed in its stake in digital inkjet, selling off the Linoprint L to Markem-Imaje in a surprising departure from the German offset giant's recent move toward an integrated digital portfolio. Gallus Australia will continue to handle distribution, sales and service for the Linoprint L.

Few organisations in the printing industry have such a high profile as Xerox … or in our case, Fuji Xerox. And few members of the company are as well known as the copier/printer salesman. Michael Miller looks back at how it was starting out working for Xerox in London in 1964.

Former Heidelberg Australia and New Zealand head-honcho, Andy Vels Jensen has stepped up as managing director of PaperlinX operations in UK and Ireland. He becomes an essential part of CEO Andrew Price’s team to fix the ailing European businesses that drag the company.

manroland web reinforces its sales and services management team with the new appointment of Joern Gossé to the executive board. Gossé will head up sales and services alongside managing director, Eckhard Hoerner-Marass, following a recent streamlining of management hierarchy.

Catalogues and print marketing have played a major role in the recent upturn in retail performance. A rise in spending over the Christmas and New Years period has seen a return of investor confidence, with predicted post-Christmas sales figures up a respectable 3.8% to $15.1 billion.

HP unveils the latest upgrades to its popular suite of custom wall décor solutions. Set to launch today at Heimtextil 2014, the biggest international trade fair for home and contract textiles, the expanded offering includes exclusive new content, design and mobility features for HP WallArt.