Whew! What a year! Filled with surprises and disruption, 2016 is one for the records. Rarely have landscapes changed so radically… politically, internationally, with wars and terrorism, with Brixit and Trump. In our own small pond of the Australian and New Zealand printing industry it was also a year of radical change. Plenty of crisis but along with that a great fund of hope and ambition to carry us forward towards 2017.
Here's a quick look back at some of the high and lows of a year to remember.
January 2016
Full Paragon catalogue up on 28 January
Wednesday, 20 January 2016
The complete catalogue of assets to be auctioned off from Paragon Australasia’s ACT site will be published by Graysonline on 28th January, the day that bidding begins.
$1.5 billion boost from Bauer to PMP
Thursday, 21 January 2016
Gordon and Gotch has become the 800lb gorilla in magazine distribution as Australia’s largest magazine publisher quits its distribution business.
PIAA revolution postponed – President resigns.
Thursday, 28 January 2016
A drive to hold the Printing Industries Board to account with a Special General Meeting runs out of steam as disaffected members claim their concerns are now being listened to following ‘recent developments.
February 2016
Heidelberg fires up for digital future
Monday, 22 February 2016
Offset giant seeks to balance its portfolio by introducing new inkjet digital presses for both the packaging and label sectors while expanding its services to the printing industry.
Dick Smith drags down PMP profit
Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Australasia’s leading printer PMP has blamed the collapse of retail chain Dick Smith and customers supplying their own paper for a 58.8 per cent drop in half year profit.
PIAA president pleads with members for unity
Thursday, 25 February 2016
The PIAA board will meet next week to ‘quickly address’ a range of issues raised in Tuesday’s emergency meeting between board members and the Members Action Group (MAG) over the direction of the peak industry body.
March 2016
Spicers bounces back into profit
Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Paper merchant Spicers, formerly PaperlinX, has bounced back from the collapse of its European operation to post a statutory profit after tax of $6.3 million for the six months to 31 December 2015, compared to a loss of $90 million for the prior corresponding period (pcp).
Blue Star ramps up with four Fuji Xerox iGen5′s
Tuesday, 29 March 2016
Blue Star has signed a major deal to boost its production capabilities with the installation of four brand new Fuji Xerox iGen5 presses at its plants in Melbourne and Sydney.
Landa challenges offset with Nanographic presses
Thursday, 31 March 2016
Never one to shy away from a big fight, Benny Landa, father of digital printing, is aiming to replace all offset printing with his revolutionary Landa Nanographic Printing Presses.
April 2016
PMP’s $22m digital deal for Griffin Press
Wednesday, 06 April 2016
Australasia’s leading printer PMP has signed a mega deal with Currie Group to install a web-fed HP PageWide T410 inkjet, a HP Indigo 10000 B2 sheetfed and HP Indigo 7800 digital press.
‘No pay’ fight for printed bills
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Consumers are being pressurised to switch to digital billing by companies that are charging for the privilege to get a bill in the post.
Andrew Macaulay named new PIAA CEO
Thursday, 28 April 2016
The PIAA has appointed Andrew Macaulay to replace Jason Allen as CEO after an extensive recruitment process involving over 100 applicants from within Australia and overseas.
May 2016
Takeover #10 for Focus with Sydney Allen
Friday, 06 May 2016
Takeover specialist Mark Shergill of Focus Print Group has signed a deal to acquire failed Sydney printing icon Sydney Allen, which collapsed into receivership last month.
He’s gone! Neil Whittaker ejects from Fuji Xerox
Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Controversial Kiwi senior managing director of the leading Australian digital supplier has suddenly left the company following an audit by the Singapore HQ.
Drupa 2016 is open – first impressions
Tuesday, 31 May 2016
While drupa’s public opening was on Tuesday, for your media correspondents, the press conferences start a day before.
June 2016
Battle joined at drupa for the future of printing
Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Competing technologies stake their claim as manufacturers lean away from commercial printing towards developing products for packaging print.
Sacked workers save ALP election posters
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Workers from a collapsed Sydney signage company have worked around the clock to complete a critical ALP order for a nationwide supply of election-day banners.
Digital drives Currie success at drupa
Friday, 24 June 2016
Currie Group came into its own as the digital printing equipment supplier at this drupa. Reinforcing the Group’s preeminent position in the local market, in excess of 15 million dollars of business was signed at the show, predominantly made up of digital technologies.
July 2016
Snap shock – CEO Stephen Edwards resigns
Tuesday, 05 July 2016
Stephen Edwards has resigned as CEO of Snap Franchising after 15 years with the company.
Wu walks after fall out with the Aboughattas
Friday, 08 July 2016
Managing director of Ability Press in Melbourne Docklands is accused of lying to his partners over last year’s high profile merger.
Longbeach Printing grinds to a halt
Wednesday, 20 July 2016
Leading Melbourne printer Longbeach Printing, an official supplier of the Australia Made campaign, has suddenly halted production.
August 2016
Access Print Solutions rescues Cadillac
Friday, 26 August 2016
Sydney’s Access Print Solutions has continued its national expansion by buying Adelaide web offset business Cadillac Printing that was to shut down this month
IVE doubles profit to $20.9 million
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
IVE Group posted $20.9 million in profit for the full year, more than double the previous year, and increased revenue by 13 per cent to $382 million.
Aboughattas brothers buy Wu’s On Demand
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Leading Melbourne print group Mercedes Waratah, co-owned by Moody and Abbey Aboughattas, has scooped up Michael Wu’s collapsed digital print business On Demand.
September 2016
Starleaton steps up with DES takeover
Thursday, 01 September 2016
Ben Eaton has created a major new force in the printing, graphics and signage industry with his acquisition of Ian Clare’s supply business.
$43 million loss for Fuji Xerox NZ
Thursday, 08 September 2016
Fuji Xerox New Zealand recorded a $43 million pre-tax loss for the year ending March and its Japanese-owned parent company is ready to step in to provide financial assistance “if necessary,” according to New Zealand’s National Business Review.
Currie & HP power world 1st print line
Friday, 09 September 2016
The most productive HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press in the world plays an integral role in the unique PMP/Griffin Press book printing line that is turning the publishing paradigm upside down.
October 2016
Fuji Xerox staff cuts around the country
Friday, 21 October 2016
Reports of substantial redundancies in Fuji Xerox Australia are coming in from all states in Australia as management declares ‘no comment at this time.’
Patterson beats Orel for Victorian board seat
Friday, 28 October 2016
Ron Patterson, former Victorian state secretary of the PIAA, will return to the association following his election to the board as representative for Victoria.
It’s on again – PMP & IPMG $120 million merger
Friday, 28 October 2016
The two largest printing companies in the region are set to become one following the buyout of the Hannan-family’s Independent Print Media Group (IPMG) by publicly listed PMP.
November 2016
Final roll of the presses for Perth printers
Friday, 04 November 2016
About one hundred printers will be out of a job on Saturday after the final edition of The Sunday Times rolls through the presses at News Corp’s Perth Print.
PCA members green light PIAA plan
Thursday, 10 November 2016
Members of the Packaging Council of Australia (PCA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a plan to join the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA).
Management buy-out of Ferrostaal
Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Carsten Wendler, managing director, takes over the Australian and NZ printing and packaging supply business, renaming it Print & Pack Pty Ltd.
December 2016
IVE’s $116 million takeover of Franklin & AIW
Monday, 05 December 2016
Huge play in large format web offset (LFWO) will consolidate the sector into two players – IVE Group and PMP, once the mergers on the table complete.
APN Outdoor leads oOh! into $1.6bn merger
Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Out-of-home advertisers APN Outdoor and oOh!media have signed a $1.6 billion “merger of equals” deal that will see with APN Outdoor shareholders taking 55 per cent of the newly merged group
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
PMP has been forced to delay its planned merger with IPMG by almost two months to allow the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to take a closer look at the proposed deal.