Clancy . . . overflow . . . the best bits . . . funnies.

“I am particularly proud that Victoria is hosting an event of such high calibre,” he said. There is no word as to whether the premier will officiate at the opening of the show as former premier Jeff Kennett did in 1996.

PacPrint 05 is on at the Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th May, 2005.

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The UK printing industry is defying gravity, at least insofar as investment is concerned. According to a PrintWeek poll the top 500 printing companies are re-equipping to the tune of AUD $2.49 billion, even as they complain that ‘margins overall remain miserably low.’ During the 2003/2004 financial year average operating margins slipped from 4 per cent to 3.29 per cent, and pre-tax margins from 3 per cent to 2.6 per cent. There is some evidence that margins have picked up in 2004.

The investment figures are boosted by News International’s massive $1.5 billion investment in new web presses. There were also two new gravure printing plants established. Print Week reported one printing executive as saying "If you're going to stick around in this business you need bigger machines, with faster turnarounds and quicker makereadies. With no sign of prices improving all you can do is maximise throughput on the floor."

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As part of the UK industry’s continuing equipment splurge it comes as no surprise to hear that IPEX 2006 will be bigger than the previous UK trade show in Birmingham. A new Hall 20 at the massive National Exhibition Centre will add another 6,000 m2 to the prepress part of the exhibition. Organizers say over 70 per cent of the available space is now sold for the April 2006 show.


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Canon Australia has cemented its environmental credentials, earning individual ISO 14001 certification for each of its operations and offices. It’s part of the company’s adherence to the corporate philosophy of kyosei, a Japanese word that exemplifies living and working together for the common good.

"Many imbalances in our world seek to hinder kyosei. We actively strive to resolve these imbalances through our commitment to the environment, both in our products and in our work practices," said Shuichi Tsukahara, managing director of Canon Australia.

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In the USA the Government Printing Office placed orders worth AUD $580 million for printing and related services from thousands of private sector companies. In what is recognised as one of the US Government’s most efficient purchasing schemes 600 to 1,000 print-related projects a day are put out for tender. The contracts cover the entire spectrum of printing and publishing services and are available to fit almost any firm from the largest to the smallest.

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And finally . . . it seems there is an endless supply of flaxen-haired female stories.


A blonde, a brunette and a redhead are out camping. One day the brunette goes hunting. She comes back with a dead deer slung over her shoulders. The blonde and the redhead are impressed. They ask her how she did it and she says, "I found the tracks, followed them and shot the deer."

The next day the redhead goes out hunting and comes back with a dead deer. The blonde and brunette ask her how she did it and she says, "I found the tracks, followed them and shot the deer."

The next day the blonde goes out and comes back empty-handed and much the worst for wear. The brunette and the redhead ask her what happened and the blonde says, "I found the tracks, followed them but never saw the train coming."