Well, 2015 wasn't the best of times, but then, it wasn't the worst either. A year that saw the recession ebb slowly away but without lifting the animal spirits of the printing industry. Consolidation continued, companies rolled over, but there were fewer dead cats to be picked up. Most sales were as going concerns.
Then there was PrintEx in May, and that was a great party. As we finish off the year going strong, before we go, here're some of the high points and the low spots of a fairly forgettable year.
January 2015:
Norske Skog follows market with price rise
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Brave start to the year with a price rise for Tassie catalogue paper.
End-to-end workflows, 3D printing, and getting Benny out of bed – that’s a wrap for Connect
Sunday, 25 January 2015
By Patrick Howard
What happens in Vegas sometimes leaks out.
Australian Paper accused of dumping uncoated cut-sheets on USA.
Friday, 30 January 2015
People in glass houses should beware of flinging rocks.
February 2015:
Blue Star builds on its STI buyout
Monday, 02 February 2015
Early in the year Geoff Selig started his build towards a December ASX launch for IVE, aka Blue Star.
https://print21.com.au/australia-post-continues-to-hike-prices-for-commercial-mail-dm/80989
Friday, 06 February 2015
"No monopoly should have the right to set its own prices," says Bill Healey, as Australia Post announces a new round of price hikes.
https://print21.com.au/paperlinx-cuts-price-with-immediate-effect/81346
Thursday, 19 February 2015
Trouble at PaperlinX as MD Andrew Price is dumped after two years.
https://print21.com.au/debt-down-as-pmp-kicks-the-habit/81671
Friday, 27 February 2015
PMP slashes debt and boosts earnings under CEO Peter George.
March 2015:
https://print21.com.au/dscoop-braves-us-deep-freeze-for-the-cause-of-print/82227
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
26 Australian HP customers battle 'bloody freezing' temperatures to attend the 10th Dscoop conference in Washington DC.
https://print21.com.au/michael-smith-moves-into-former-tlc-premises/82572
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Perfectly Bound secures former TLC premises at Silverwater.
https://print21.com.au/cash-crunch-for-paperlinx-in-europe-triggers-trading-halt-on-asx/82790
Friday, 27 March 2015
PaperlinX breaches a banking agreement and suspends trading on the ASX.
April 2015:
https://print21.com.au/firewall-safeguard-for-spicers-as-paperlinx-uk-goes-up-in-smoke/83114
Thursday, 02 April 2015
Hundreds lose their jobs as PaperlinX UK calls in administrators.
https://print21.com.au/blue-star-rebrands-as-part-of-ive-group/83710
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Blue Star rebrands as print and marketing group IVE.
https://print21.com.au/pantone-reveals-most-average-new-colour-minion-yellow/84060
Thursday, 21 April 2015
Pantone unveils a new 'fun-loving' colour, Minion Yellow.
https://print21.com.au/here-comes-the-sun-as-solar-powers-up-printak/84006
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
SA printer opens 'world first' 100% solar-powered print room.
https://print21.com.au/too-good-to-refuse-john-wanless-buys-out-stephen-and-john-norgate/84305
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Bambra Press buys McKellar Renown to bring two of Melbourne’s best-known printers under one roof.
https://print21.com.au/bill-healey-to-retire-as-ceo-of-printing-industries/84523
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Bill Healey says he'll retire as PIAA head early next year.
May 2015:
https://print21.com.au/major-mailroom-upgrade-for-news-limited/84994
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
News Corp invests millions in new Ferag mailroom technology.
https://print21.com.au/great-kick-off-for-printex-from-the-organisers/85175
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
PrintEx 2015 opens in Sydney - with not a single offset press on display.
https://print21.com.au/gamaa-and-visa-merger-is-on/85767
Wednesday, 20 May 2015
Leading supply groups GAMAA and VISA announce merger plan.
https://print21.com.au/blue-star-to-seek-public-listing-again/86295
Wednesday, 27 May 2015
IVE Group reveals plans to list on the ASX
Thursday, 28 May 2015
News Corp ditches commuter paper mX.
June 2015:
Thursday, 11 June 2015
IVE calls off ASX float citing 'underlying market conditions.'
https://print21.com.au/paperlinx-uk-assets-to-be-auctioned-off/84138
Tuesday, 16 June 2015
Collapsed PaperlinX owes creditors $106m and has a pension fund deficit of $360m.
https://print21.com.au/currie-scores-10-out-of-10-with-hp-indigo-10000/87551
Thursday, 18 June 2015
Currie Group installs 10th HP Indigo 10000 Press.
July 2015:
https://print21.com.au/piaas-bill-healey-slams-ausposts-fahour/88357
Wednesday, 1 July 2015
Bill Healey takes aim at Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour over plans to axe 2000 jobs.
https://print21.com.au/shetler-to-head-govt-digital-transformation-agenda/88497
Thursday, 02 July 2015
Brit Paul Shetler named CEO of federal government's new Digital Transformation Office.
https://print21.com.au/what-the-market-wants-the-market-gets-hp-indigo-in-israel-2/88872
Thursday, 09 July 2015
Patrick Howard reports from HP's customer conference in Israel.
https://print21.com.au/fairfax-sells-tullamarine-and-chullora-plants/88906
Thursday, 09 July 2015
Fairfax sells former printing plants at Tullamarine and Chullora.
https://print21.com.au/jason-allen-named-new-ceo-at-piaa/89156
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
Ex-Waratahs CEO Jason Allen is named new chief of Printing Industries.
https://print21.com.au/frank-todisco-bows-out-of-melbourne-printing/89461
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
Melbourne mega deal sees industry doyen Frank Todisco step back from the industry.
https://print21.com.au/mining-collapse-buries-qld-printer/90219
Friday, 31 July 2015
'Boom to bust' inside six months for Mackay-based Digimax.
August 2015:
https://print21.com.au/paper-price-rises-ahead-as-merchants-battle-falling-aussie-dollar/90328
Wednesday, 05 August 2015
Paper merchants warn of major price hikes ahead.
https://print21.com.au/visual-connections-steps-into-the-light/90664
Friday, 07 August
Supplier super-group Visual Connections launches with inaugural board meeting.
https://print21.com.au/revolt-against-catastrophic-auspost-price-hikes/90730
Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Mailing houses campaign against Auspost's 'catastrophic' price rises.
https://print21.com.au/techno-stoush-sends-5-star-unit-broke/91631
Thursday, 27 August 2015
Dispute over a digital printer claims 5 Star Print.
September 2015:
https://print21.com.au/major-shakeup-in-melbourne-printing-power/91864
Wednesday, 02 September 2015
Ability Press and Docklands Press move into former Mercedes Waratah premises.
https://print21.com.au/visual-impact-a-hit-in-melbourne/92978
Friday, 18 September 2015
Numbers good for Visual Impact - the first trade show under Visual Connections.
October 2015:
https://print21.com.au/uv-inkjet-battles-for-a-share-of-the-digital-label-sunshine/93971
Friday, 02 October 2015
Patrick Howard checks the latest in inkjet presses at Labelexpo 2015.
https://print21.com.au/printers-are-making-less-than-the-pension/94976
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Shock study reveals 25% of printers are making less than $30,000 a year.
https://print21.com.au/aap-denies-starting-fires-as-boycotts-bite/95024
Friday, 23 October 2015
Singapore supermarkets pull APP products as massive smoke haze blankets south-east Asia.
https://print21.com.au/goodbye-paperlinx-hello-spicers/95077
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Collapsed paper merchant PaperlinX changes its name to Spicers.
November 2015:
https://print21.com.au/consolidation-puts-a-finish-to-q-print/95406
Wednesday, 04 November 2014
Trade printer Q Print collapses into voluntary administration.
https://print21.com.au/ive-prepares-to-relaunch-ipo/95590
Thursday, 05 November 2015
IVE Group reveals its 2nd IPO attempt in six months.
https://print21.com.au/opus-buys-protectaprint-out-from-under-pmp/95671
Friday, 06 November 2015
Adelaide-based Protectaprint sold to a division of OPUS.
https://print21.com.au/norske-skogs-e1bn-debt-threatens-australian-operation/96335
Thursday, 19 November 2015
Norske Skog's massive debt threatens local newsprint operation.
December 2015:
https://print21.com.au/ive-goes-public-on-strong-print-outlook/96904
Tuesday, 01 December 2015
Brokers underwrite IVE Group's ASX float.
https://print21.com.au/turnball-shift-to-digital-claims-paragon-printers/97281
Tuesday, 08 December 2015
Paragon collapses owing $3m - 50 staff lose jobs.
https://print21.com.au/sea-change-of-staff-at-piaa/97263
Tuesday, 08 December 2015
PIAA details remarkable staff turnover under new CEO.
https://print21.com.au/ato-kick-in-the-guts-for-yamba-printer/97856
Thursday, 17 December
ATO audit claims NSW printer Printit.