Press giant Koenig & Bauer is establishing a dedicated sustainability department, which it says is immensely important for the future development of the company group.

Imaging giant Ricoh will be launching a B2 sheetfed inkjet press next year, with the aqueous inkjet technology delivering instant drying, and printing onto coated and uncoated offset stocks. It will be aimed squarely at the commercial print market.

The country’s biggest trade printer, CMYKhub, has installed the first HP Indigo 100K Digital Press in the Asia Pacific region, and Currie Group supplied the machine.

The deal to save Ovato has more plots and sub-plots than a series-deciding five-day test versus India. Print21 goes behind the scenes to reveal a story of business imperatives and personal relationships, acquisitions, and losses, all set against a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Creditors at print giant Ovato have unanimously agreed to support the company’s restructuring plan, which will see unsecured creditors take a 50 per cent haircut on outstanding invoices, the company closing its Victoria print operation, and receiving a $40m cash injection.

Epson is launching two new SureColor T-Series wireless multi-function printers with integrated scanners: the 24-inch SureColor T3160M and the 36-inch SureColor T5160M.

Workflow software provider PrintFactory is partnering with digital production technology manufacturer Durst, which will now be providing the PrintFactory API to customers in mixed print environments.

The world’s biggest offset press manufacturer Heidelberg is setting up a new production joint venture in China, with its partner Masterwork, as the company seeks to build on its biggest single market.

Print franchise groups Kwik Kopy and Snap have ranked as the number one and number two B2B franchises in Australia, in the annual TopFranchise awards. Kwik Kopy reached number five overall, while Snap came in at number ten.

Prima Printing has invested in one of Australia’s first Kolbus DA 270 Casemakers, as part of a sizeable investment in capacity and efficiency for personalised photobooks, as it continues to achieve record growth.

Innovative business Print 2 Metal has won the inaugural industry supplier award at the national Find A Photographer Australia Photography Business Awards.

Print giant Ovato has passed the first hurdle in its restructuring plan, gaining court approval to present its plan to take the company forward from its current difficulties to its creditors and members, with a vote in a fortnight's time.

Soar Print is celebrating 100 years in business, with the occasion marked by a surprise party for the owners Tui, Fred and Vicky Soar and Jenny Carter by the staff, for the company which began operations in November 1920. Soar was established by the grandfather of the current managing director Fred Soar, who began by printing business cards and ferry timetables.

HP Indigo is supplying the world’s leading online retailer of personalised products Shutterfly with a new fleet of more than 60 digital presses in landmark deal, in what is biggest the HP customer rollout to date.

Rising sales of its offset presses to Chinese printers in July–September enabled press giant Heidelberg to recover from a first quarter slump, although it still recorded a half yearly sales total of 28 per cent lower than the same period last year.

Print giant Ovato is closing its main Victoria print plant at Clayton, with the loss of 300 jobs. It is also raising an additional $40m in cash through a rights issue, and it is asking suppliers to take a 50 per cent haircut on their outstanding invoices.