Personal videos of this year’s PrintNZ Apprentice of the Year Top 5, recorded while they were in lockdown, have been progressively uploaded to the association’s Facebook page this week.

Currie Group is the latest leading industry supplier to confirm its participation in Australia’s first virtual trade show for print, sign, display, and graphics, taking out the largest presence at the online show.

The CorruJet digital carton press from the joint venture between Koenig & Bauer and Durst has been voted the winner in the prestigious Drucker des Jahres (printer of the year) awards for the manufacturer category at Druck & Medien magazine in Germany.

Trade employers association Print & Visual Communication Association has seen its figures move into positive territory for the first time in three years, CEO Andrew Macaulay commending the board for their focus.

Brendan Hill, CEO of magazine giant Bauer, has signalled its intention to have its furloughed print magazines back on the presses by September, with big hitters NW, OK! and WHO all currently suspended.

Cactus Imaging took out an Honourable Mention in the OMA Big Bold and Bright quarterly awards for its Schweppes roadside job.

Agfa saw its first quarter plate sales hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, and says the remaining quarters are also likely to see lower levels of production, while inkjet system hardware sales fell, but ink sales remained steady.

Dandenong-based Perfection Packaging has scooped the prestigious (North American) FTA Best in Show wide web category Award for Print Excellence, crediting the use of the Kodak Flexcel NX plates in large part for the award.

Currie Group sales and marketing director Phillip Rennell says the closure of trade house Sydney Binding is an opportunity for more printers to bring binding back inhouse.

Perceptions that flexo is bad for the environment and produces grubby output are changing, and rising numbers of print buyers embrace this print method, writes print environmentalist Laurel Brunner.

The federal government has told all its departments and agencies to pay suppliers more quickly than they are doing, and says invoices for less than $10,000 must be paid immediately. PVCA CEO Andrew Macaulay hailed the edict as “great news” for printers.

Amcor has raised its full year earnings per share outlook, as it released robust third quarter profits it said were due to virus-induced supermarket panic buying.

Innovative award-winning Sydney print business Carbon8 is using its technology and expertise to produce thousands of protective face visors for front-line workers.

Bob Gardner, one of the founding directors of pioneering Sydney company SOS Print + Media has passed away at his home in Perth following a long illness.

HP is launching an inline coating system for its high-speed inkjet webs, developed by Harris & Bruno and capable of both aqueous and UV coating, as part of its drive into the commercial market.

Imaging giant Kodak is doubling down on its investment in digital printing for its growth prospects, as its March quarter figures reveal its Sonora processless plates are experiencing surging demand.