Schur Star Systems has installed and commissioned a new Windmoeller & Holscher Miraflex 10-colour flexographic press, the first of its kind in Australia, to meet rapidly growing demand.

Smithers forecasts steady 3.8 per cent year-on-year growth for the global $69bn printed packaging labels market for the next five years, but says prices paid will decrease by half a per cent a year.

Peter Harper, CEO of industry suppliers’ association Visual Connections, and well-known industry identity, will retire in December, after a 50 year career in print.

Women in Print is running a series of special networking events around the country, aimed at bringing its community together in support of a significant cause – the Dignity Drive Fundraiser.

Lithocraft executive chairman Kevin Pidgeon is the new president of print’s peak industry body, Visual Media Association, with Matt Aitken stepping down after eight years in leadership roles.

Blue Star Constellation claimed the Kiwi Pride In Print Awards Paper and Board Packaging Category, for what judges said was its stunning production of 1839 Honey Cartons.

Ball & Doggett had a busy stand at Visual Impact, with solutions from partners Metamark, Kornit, HP, Roland DG and its turnkey Eclipse DTF solution all shown at the expo.

Nigel Spicer, general manager of Cactus Imaging, addressed the outdoor media industry this week, highlighting the sustainability of print, with the CEOs of oOh!, JC Decaux and QMS all listening.

Organisers of last week’s Visual Impact trade show in Brisbane say it outstripped their expectations, with visitor numbers up by 20 per cent, and a slew of sales recorded from the show floor.

Print, mail and fulfilment operation, Universal Approach, has secured the contract to print and supply all the official merchandise for the Australian Made campaign.

The print industry’s biggest software developer, eProductivity Software, now in partnership with Ball & Doggett, was demonstrating how its solutions can drive increased revenue.

Gale Pacific has launched a new PVC-free banner material, Ecobanner, which will be available in Australia through Ball & Doggett, and which promises 100 per cent recyclability.

The closure of regional printed newspapers and the move to digital, predicted by Print21 two weeks ago following the decision by Meta to stop its $200m a year funding, has already begun.

Epson launched a number of new print systems at Visual Impact, including desktop DTG/DTF and desktop UV printers, and had the worldwide launch of the F9560 64" dye-sub printer.

HP and Currie Group are inviting printing and packaging industry members to the Dscoop APJ Philippines Summit, taking place from August 29 to 30, in the beautiful city of Cebu.

Media mogul, and the world's biggest newspaper proprietor, Rupert Murdoch, says printed newspapers have 15 years left in them, and that’s only with “a lot of luck.” News Corp's lease on its new print plant in Victoria runs out in 2030.