ASGA has called for changes to regulations covering combustibility of materials on buildings – which have “greatly affected our industry” - under the new National Construction Code (NCC) that is currently being prepared by The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).

The Real Media Collective’s (TRMC) self-regulatory body, the Distribution Standards Board (DSB) has updated its code to discourage signatories from delivering anti-vaccination flyers such as those from Clive Palmer’s United Australia party.

NSW apprenticeship commencements for Sign & Graphics jumped by more than 48% over the past year, while the number of women entering the industry doubled.

For the past six years, industry recruiter James Cryer, a 4th generation Australian printing identity, has been consumed with researching his grandfather's 1913-14 sea voyage to America to study printing techniques - mostly Letterpress. From diaries, postcards and other material, he has completed a magnificent 164-page lavishly illustrated hardcover book that is a must for anyone in the industry.

The trade show premiere of the Canon Colorado 1630 and Canon Arizona 135 GT at FESPA (12-15 Oct, Amsterdam) will show “what is possible when it comes to creative large format printing.” Canon will also be demonstrating for the first time its new UV LED ink set on the Canon Arizona 135 GT.

Electronics For Imaging launched the latest update to the EFI Fiery Command WorkStation, version 6.7, which helps users to “improve automation and job management to better handle growing numbers of short-run print jobs.” 

It's a great time to save money on Mimaki equipment!

Peter King, director of Gigantic Signs in Adelaide, says his sign warning vaccinated people not to enter the business is simply “making a statement” and he doesn’t intend to check on people’s vaccination status. Meanwhile, Wideformat Online launches a free file service for sign manufacturers to stimulate retail business re-opening, see below.

JCDecaux has won one of the largest Out-of-Home advertising contracts in Australia, with Sydney Trains appointing the Paris-based OOH giant as its main advertising partner on station concourses and platforms for up to 10 years. JCDecaux Australia announced mass digitisation plans shortly after winning the lucrative contract, previously held by oOh!media. 

“Incidents involving EWPs have resulted in fatalities and serious injuries,” says Safe Work Australia. The federal work health & safety agency has published a comprehensive new 34-page guide about the risks posed by Elevating Work Platforms (EWPs) that are commonly used in outdoor signage installation. 

Mimaki will showcase its broad portfolio of digital print technologies for the signage, 3D and textile industries at FESPA Global Print Expo 2021 (12-15 October 2021, RAI Amsterdam, The Netherlands), taking advantage of the first in-person FESPA event since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The South Australian print industry recognised their best examples of print perfection at the state PICAs event held at The National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide, attended by an crowd of more than 60 industry professionals.

While it is great to hear that the Dutch government has eased quarantine restrictions in time for October's FESPA Global Print Expo in Amsterdam, it has little impact on prospective visitors from Australia and New Zealand, where the hardest part is finding a flight that will get you there. Andy McCourt comments

Bianca Wilson from Multi-Color Corporation in Adelaide has been named South Australia’s LIA Heidelberg Australia Graduate of the Year at a presentation held at Fujifilm Business Innovation.

Out-of-Home advertiser JCDecaux Australia is on track to digitise 35 large format billboards across the country, growing its national total by 25 per cent, but says traditional or ‘classic’ large format sites will remain an important part of its business.