The Print & Visual Communication Association is going into its merger with The Real Media Collective on a strong financial footing, and with membership rising, according to PVCA vice-president Walter Kuhn, speaking on the release of the 2021 financial report.

The industry’s two big print associations, PVCA and TRMC, will merge, following a 100 per cent yes vote from TRMC members on the proposition.

After two years of lockdown, the printIQ team has been back exhibiting around the globe, and will be at the upcoming PacPrint show, on 29 June to 1 July, showcasing the new printiQ v44 on Stand D36.

The passing of Rod Spencer, at the age of 80 in Melbourne, has evoked a monumental wave of regard and tribute from the industry. Despite having retired over 20 years ago in 2001, he is still widely recognised and remembered.

Election 2022: Australians have cast a resounding vote for political and social transformation, with climate action, gender equity and industrial relations reform in the spotlight. Together, PVCA and TRMC will be stepping up lobbying efforts.

The government has shocked print by dumping five of the six apprentice categories from its new priority list, but the industry is joining forces to fight the decision, which it says is alarming, and of great concern.

Putting a dollar figure on a business in times of pandemic stress is complicated. Old methods no longer apply when buyers have to gauge how much scope the business has to bounce back to previous revenue levels. Richard Rasmussen looks at the issues.

A new initiative, Print Against War, is calling upon the world's print and packaging companies, and suppliers, to join forces to support printers in Ukraine during this incredibly difficult time.

Michael Schulz, general manager of The SOS Print + Media Group, has joined The Real Media Collective Sleepout team for this year, to support its efforts to raise money for Vinnies.

Two Sides has successfully challenged 880 organisations from sending greenwashing messages to customers, forcing them to stop making misleading anti-paper claims.

Negotiations by The Real Media Collective have achieved a 20 per cent discount from Australia Post with its New User Addressed Promotional Mail Rebate offer for new mail users.

The 112 day strike at papermaking giant UPM Kymmene, which crippled production at the €10bn a year business from new year’s day, and raised the anxiety levels of printers everywhere, is over.

New Zealand’s Top 10 print apprentices for 2022 have been unveiled by PrintNZ alongside its training arm Competenz/Te Pūkenga. The Top 5 will be announced at a Training Graduation Ceremony on 17 May, with the presentation to the winner at Pride in Print a month later.

Marketing guru Malcom Auld says understanding your customers' needs is crucial to keeping them, even more so for growing them, and really listening to what they are saying is the essential first step to that.

Digital print solutions developer Durst has partnered with software specialist Four Pees, to enhance the integration of software solutions such as Durst Workflow and Durst Smart Shop at its clients.

Stora Enso has initiated a sales process for a possible divestment of four of its five paper production sites, which produce 1.7 million tonnes of printing and communication papers between them.