“Despite the proposed acquisition combining the two largest providers of heatset web-offset printing in Australia, we reached the view that IVE was the only viable purchaser of Ovato.” The decision comes a day after IVE announced an agreement - subject to ACCC clearance - to buy Ovato for $16 million.

Print and marketing business IVE Group says it's signed a deal to “acquire substantially all of the assets of Ovato for a net purchase consideration of approximately $16 million.” [Update: The agreement will not be opposed by the ACCC].

The Australian Out of Home (OOH) industry reported half year 2022 net media revenue of $478.6 million, up 19.5% from $400.4 million for the same period in 2021.

$1.6m Lithgow, NSW recycling facility Ecoloop - owned by façade cladding & signage specialist Fairview - diverted 309 tonnes of cladding rectification waste away from landfill projects in NSW, VIC and the ACT in its first full year of operation. “The programme is only beginning,” said Fairview’s Melissa Herrmann.  

Belgian-German printer manufacturer Agfa-Gevaert was “strongly impacted by cost inflation and supply chain issues” in Q2 2022 but reported continued revenue growth in its sign & display business. “The top line of the wide-format printing equipment business continued to recover from the strong COVID-19 impact.” Agfa's integration of the newly-acquired Inca Onset printers is progressing, with Agfa's own inks now certified for Inca.

The Federal Court of Australia case management hearing in the Fuji Xerox 'accounting scandal' case, scheduled for 21st Sptember, has been brought forward to Wednesday 1st September in the WA branch of the Court. This tends to indicate that the settlement reached in the New Zealand jurisdiction, may be featured in the accelerated case management hearing. The NZ Serious Fraud Office investigation is still ongoing.

The Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA) is offering a free set of golf clubs and other prizes at its inaugural Victorian Golf Day on Wednesday, 7 September at the Sandhurst Club. A pre-golf networking event will be held the night before at the iconic Hotel Esplanade (The Espy) in St Kilda. 

The region’s largest print business IVE Group posted full-year 2022 revenue of $759 million, with earnings before tax up 13% pcp to $96m and net profit after tax up 66% to $33m.

The Integrate Expo, held last week at Sydney's ICC, Darling Harbour, was supported by ASGA and amongst the main AV exhibits were examples of how digital and printed signage can work in harmony. Projected and LED screen signage is becoming more widespread and many sign businesses have already adopted a dual-channel approach, or dived right into screen-based signs.

Leading digital printer Peacock Bros used its HP Indigo label presses and HP’s Mosaic variable data software to print 75,000 cans of Little Bang Brewery’s Little Bang Hazy IPA beer - each with a different label. 

City of Sydney councillors voted on Monday to investigate a ban on fossil fuel advertising on its outdoor network and at public events such as New Year’s Eve.

“Our new Sign & Display Catalogue (Edition 2) out now is an invaluable resource to the screen and wide format printing industry and encompasses consumables, hardware, inks, software, accessories, training and support,” says Spicers Australia.  

Banyan Software has added Queensland-headquartered workflow software company printIQ to its list of 20 software businesses operating throughout the US and Canada. printIQ CEO Anthony Lew will continue at the helm of the business he founded as a New Zealand startup.

Roland DG Corporation says the MPX-90S, the newest addition to the VersaSTUDIO MPX series of metal printers, provides easy customisation of premium goods and accessories. It can also engrave photos on metal.

The manufacturer of digital cutting solutions for global packaging, signage, display and manufacturing markets has unveiled a new online store to boost the speed and ease of ordering replacement consumables.