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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

ACCC delays PMP/IPMG merger

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.