PacPrint Showtime… tips, rumours and extra news
The aisles of PacPrint show are abuzz with information and news. Everyone has a take, most have an angle and everyone wants to know if it’s true. Drop us a line with what you heard. It could be the story of the show.
Rock'n'roll lives on
You can't stop the music at PacPrint it seems. Following the kerfuffle over the exhibition organisers pulling the plug on the Océ rock band on Wednesday, the Currie Group stole the show last night with Russell Morris and his band on the back of the Currie Colour Express. As the giant exhibiion centre emptied out the sweet notes of the wings of an eagle echoed around the vastness.
Then it was across the road to the event of the show. The Konica Minolta bash with Mental As Anything. Can 400 rock'n'rolling printers be wrong? And if you ever wondered why these acts have such long careers … it's because they are great musicians.
And then, to finish it off the Océ band powered up again on Friday night, just to showthat the music never dies. My, that Servio Notermans can blow a mean sax.
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Every PacPrint is a milestone in the industry with some signalling the beginning of a new technology, others the end of an era. This show is the swansong of MIS industry notables, Judy and Dave Bell, founders and creative force behind Quote & Print. They’ve passed the company on to Shanti Kuhmar, who has his eyes set on expanding the software into Asia.
Judy and Dave have left a parting gift… the first MIS to incorporate a reckoning of a job’s carbon footprint. Although dressed in red, it’s their green legacy to the industry.
There’s a big farewell dinner with all the Q&P resellers who are at the show and then it’s … Goodbye!
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Word rushed around the show yesterday that Kodak has closed its Sydney office. How can that be? Seeking the good oil we checked with Kodak people on the sand. Yes, the North Ryde office is closing, but that’s because the lease has expired. The people and business are moving west to Greystanes. Where?
OK it’s a little further towards the mountains, but then so are a lot of printers.
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The night rock’n’roll died. The Océ Colour and the Waves rock band with Servio Notermans, managing director blowing a mean sax behind lead singer Mike Boyle, kicked up a storm on Wednesday arvo. But only for a few short minutes before the exhibition management pulled the plug.
What’s that about? It’s supposed to be show?
Anyone know the real story?
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We’re still waiting on the offical press announcement to wend its way through the torturous official channels of EFI worldwide, but the word is that DES is the main channel partner n this part of the world. Ian Clare, managing director, DES is known as a man who rarely puts a foot wrong and this latest tie-up shifts the company nicely into the wide-format space. He is establishing an EFI centre of excellence at the Rhodes site.
But that’s not official, yet.
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Spotted a familiar face in the aisles as used machinery guru, Paul Carthew, went by. Usually a recession is a bonanza for the used machinery sector but this time around he doesn’t have a stand. Told a downbeat tale of the Federal Government’s equipment tax break pulling the rug from beneath the second-hand market. The concession only applies to new equipment. He reckons the business fell off the cliff in January and won’t recover until next year.
And it’s not that printers who would buy used kit are switching to new presses. According to Paul they’re not buying printing equipment at all.
“I’m from the Government. I’m here to help.”
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