Melbourne-based events signage and wide format printer Signex/Prologica joined four other Océ Colorado users in an international print challenge titled the World of Wallcovering at this month’s 2018 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas.

Ricoh is having a crack at HP's hegenomy of Latex, unveiling two new roll-to-roll latex wide format printers designed for faster short run production, running with Ricoh's own printheads and inks; plus a new LED-UV flatbed device with decor in mind.

 If you’re in the market for a new 24”, 44” or 64” eight-colour all-pigment aqueous printer, Epson has launched a new trade-in/cash-back offer until the end of 2018.

Roland DG’s TrueVIS VG series wide format printer cutters won two prestigious Buyers Lab awards, including Outstanding Enhanced CMYK Eco Solvent/Latex 54″/64″ Printer (7-Colour) and Outstanding High Production CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54”/64” Printer (Dual CMYK).

Suppose you’d just put on a trade show for the Sign and Display industries in ‘showtown’ Las Vegas, USA and it was a sell-out – needing a wait-list for exhibitors to get onto the floor. Over 25,000 visitors flock to it, it is a resounding hit with many sales conducted and new products released. You’d want to do it all again next year, surely?

Newly appointed CEO Bill Muir was on hand as digital print giant EFI showcased eight new products for signage and industrial textile production at the SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, including the world premiere of the Pro 32r.

The Sign, POS and Display production industry’s skills shortage is creating big problems for businesses across Australia. Industry recruiter James Cryer of JDA Print Recruitment told wideformatonline: “We have about a dozen vacancies on our books at the moment, all in sign and display, and we just don’t have enough applicants. Some owner-operators are tearing their hair out to get skilled people.”

Friday night saw the Roland DG folks let their hair down a little with around 150 invited guests at Sydney’s swanky Pier One function centre. 

Fujifilm Holdings has won a legal challenge against a New York court decision that blocked its proposed $6.1 billion takeover bid for iconic US printer and photocopier manufacturer Xerox Corporation.

Sign and display supplier Pozitive has been appointed the exclusive local agent for Monti Antonio - the Italian-based global leader in the manufacture of flatbed and calendar heat presses for dye sublimation, fixation and bonding.

A new training initiative in New Zealand aims to attract high school students into the signage industry, writes NZ Sign and Display Association (NZSDA) secretary & marketing co-ordinator, Melissa Coutts.

“There is huge profit potential for savvy print suppliers in the growing digital textile print sector and the RT-640M is the ideal entry point system," said Paul Willems, head of business development, Roland DG EMEA.

The industry’s peak body has reinvigorated its board with three new high profile appointments: Richard Celarc, executive chairman of Opus Group; Theo Pettaras, owner of  Sydney’s Digitalpress; and Tom Eckersley, managing director of Queensland-based Eckersley Group.

The new VersaWorks 6 RIP is now available worldwide for select Roland DG printers and printer cutters. The latest version includes an extensive range of features to make the printing process more accurate and reliable for users.

“It might be time to think ‘indoors’ over ‘outdoors’ for wide format-capable production. The outdoor printed sign market is giving way to LED digital billboards. You can’t use LED screens as cushion covers or curtains.”