Ongoing changes in the internet age will lead to packaging print taking the major share of the print market by the end of the decade, according to industry analysts Smithers.

The latest Climate Reality Barometer published by Epson has confirmed the trend to fibre in packaging, finding that 71 per cent of the population is already reducing its plastic consumption.

Israeli digital die-cut and crease solutions developer, Highcon, has secured a fresh round of financing, has taken steps to turnaround the business, and will partner with BHS in the corrugated market.

Percival Print & Packaging is now in the hands of its management, with a team led by Colin Lamond and Anthony Pittaway buying the company from its owner of the past seven years, Westcare.

Heidelberg has delivered what it claims are the two longest sheetfed offset presses ever produced, to global packaging printer WestRock, with the machines almost half the length of a footy field.

Onpack has installed a Hinterkopf direct-to-can digital printing line, with finance provided by Finlease, as the company builds a new canning division, saying it will “transform the flexibility and turnaround times” for can decoration.

Melbourne-based flexible packaging print specialist, Filton Packaging, has acquired Australian Contour Packaging, in order to meet growing demand from the country's major food producers.

Fibre-based packaging is set for sustained growth as a key material, with corrugated, folding carton, liquid paperboard, flexible paper and moulded fibre all forecast for a significant upswing.

Innovative box supplier Pakko has invested in a Hanway HighJet 2500 digital inkjet printer, supplied by Kissel + Wolf, with the company entering new markets following the installation.

Xeikon and paper manufacturer Sappi have successfully teamed up to combine the barrier properties of Sappi’s packaging papers with Xeikon’s UV-cured Titon toner.

Trimatt Systems’ ColourStar AQ V colour digital packaging printing system, has won the coveted Mice Product Innovation Award for coffee accessories, from the capital of coffee, Melbourne.

Local supplier Graffica is now providing entire inline post-press solutions for folding carton, including a Wonderjet digital print system.

Adelaide-based innovative food packaging and print solutions company, Detpak, has been named fast food giant KFC’s Supplier of the Year for Australia. KFC serves in excess of two million meals a week.

The world’s biggest offset press manufacturer, Heidelberg, says it has seen a good start to the new financial year, thanks to the recovery in Asia, and continuing growth in the packaging segment.

Orora Beverage is installing the region’s first Velox digital, high-speed, full-colour, can printing system, enabling customisation of can design and decoration, and fast speed to market. It is keeping its offset litho can printing presses, and will run both side-by-side.

Sustainability demands will push surging sales of cartonboard, microflute and miniflute packaging over the next five years, according to Smithers, providing strong growth prospects for carton printing, with packaging cartonboard predicted to grow by an attractive 35 per cent to 2028.