Mergers, acquisitions and alliances from around the world: 4 October 2011
This week’s M&A activity is headed by Webstar’s partnership with MPA and the ECRM and Dotline alliance, plus HP’s certification of Aslan digital printing films for latex inks.
Webstar partners MPA to bolster magazine publishing industry
Blue Star Group’s NZ web printing division, Webstar has become a Strategic Business Partner of Magazine Publishers Association (MPA), to bolster awareness of its mag printing capabilities.
According to general manager, Bernie Roberts, the partnership will help strengthen the two industry sectors.
“Our newest Auckland printing facility is already producing high-quality ACP Media magazines, such as Woman's Day, Metro, Next and Fashion Quarterly. The partnership with MPA will help us further build and maintain a more effective magazine and print promotion strategy.
“The equipment we have purchased offer high levels of automation, besides speed and efficiency. Coupled with Webstar’s new association with MPA, this will help us to set new industry benchmarks in magazine printing,” he says.
In tandem with the latest binding technology, Webstar is also developing a broader fulfillment option for its clients with the intent to offer both mailing services and an increased range of inserts, onserts and special options by the end of this year.
Kath Hurley, MPA marketing & communications manager, says Webstar’s support will advance NZ’s ever diversifying magazine publishing industry.
“One goal of the partnership is to increase reader subscriptions through consumer and trade promotions and education about the strengths of printed publications.
“With Webstar’s support MPA is also looking to build the capabilities of all magazine industry employees to strengthen market share and position,” she adds,” says Hurley.
HP certifies Aslan’s digital printing films for latex inks
HP officially certifies a wide range of Aslan digital printing films officially for latex printing.
According to HP, the water-based and solvent-free adhesives of Aslan films make them the suitable eco-friendly complement of latex inks. Every Aslan digital printing film has been tested, approved and certified by HP.
Now a registered HP latex developer, Aslan checks the printability of its vinyl directly with HP. The strength of the films is the ideal match of materials and adhesives for very specific applications.
Color-Logic becomes a Graphics Solutions Partner for HP Indigo
HP Indigo customers have a shiny new feature at hand as the developer of the Process Metallic; Color-Logic joins the HP Graphics Solutions Partner Program.
According to Color-Logic director of sales and marketing, Mark Geeves, the technology has been extensively tested and is already used in production by several HP Indigo users.
“With the Color-Logic Process Metallic Color System, HP Indigo users can produce incredible images on metallic substrates, creating folding cartons, labels, and other packaging materials, as well as collateral material,” he says.
Color-Logic special effects utilize the existing workflows of printers and designers, to produce marketable results without the use of special equipment.
Colorific turns a little Japanese
Tokyo-based Rustech has signed on as an official reseller of Colorific inks in Japan; the deal was struck at the recent International Graphics Art Show (IGAS) 2011 in Tokyo.
According to Colorific’s BDM, Shaun Holdom, the Japanese market is where the vast majority of printing equipment and supplies originate.
“The demand for print quality is very high as customers need to be able to create top quality output, yet they also want value for money. With its wide range of cost-effective, high quality inks, Colorific is ideally positioned to meet these requirements."
"We take great pride in being accepted as a credible supplier in the modern day home of inkjet - a country where print quality is absolutely the critical factor,” he says.
Naozumi Hibi, business manager at Rustech says, Japanese customers are looking for choice and want access to high quality alternative inks.
“Colorific ink is one of the first brands of alternative ink that printers can switch to and remain confident that they can still achieve the print quality their customers have grown to expect."
Pre-press solutions make way to the cradle of life
Southern Africa is the latest country to take advantage of EskoArtwork packaging technology, as Antalis signs up as an official distributor.
According to director of graphics for Antalis Southern Africa, Keith Solomon, the two companies share a passion for service. “Our very strong service and support group prides itself in providing optimal customer service.
“Working with a high quality, customer-oriented company like EskoArtwork makes it even easier for us to meet our customer service objectives,” he says.
Under the agreement Antalis can now distribute EskoArtwork’s complete flexo product line with CDI flexo platesetters, HD Flexo and Digital Flexo Suite, the complete Suite 12 packaging software editors and workflow solutions, and the digital finishing solutions.
Armand Gougay, Vice President EMEA of EskoArtwork, says Southern Africa is the economic hub for the continent and the partnership will be a huge benefit to both companies over the long term.
“There is tremendous potential in the Southern African market, where both packaging and wide format printing are booming, growing faster than almost anywhere else in the world. Antalis further completes the resellernetwork we have in the region with GTS,” he says.
Antalis Southern Africa will have EskoArtwork products available to customers beginning in the 4th quarter of 2011.
Heidelberg crosses the border with Ricoh for tag team digital offering
Mexico is the next market to participate in the phased global rollout of the new Heidelberg and Ricoh strategic cooperation.
The relationship enables Heidelberg México to sell Ricoh’s latest color digital press, the Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts Edition, as part of it’s total print solution.