Australia’s largest fabric signage display manufacturer is introducing a ground-breaking sustainability program that will allow customers to return fabric for recycling within Australia. It’s the first initiative of its kind in the Australian signage industry and aims to divert 100 tonnes of fabric from landfill in its first year alone.

Peak industry body the Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA) has reported a spike in membership numbers as sign businesses look for help in dealing with new building code legislation relating to ACM cladding.

It was always fated to happen; substantial Perth, WA printer Picton Press is finally to be liquidated following a protracted period of administration, Deed of Company Arrangement and what other Perth printers describe as ‘unsustainable cut-throat pricing’ as an attempt to stay afloat.

“Almost 100% of signage ends up in landfill, resulting in hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste each year,” says grand format company Mesh Direct, which has launched a bold new eco initiative to “challenge the signage industry as a whole…and lead the way to drive change.” The company also introduced a new range of sustainable signage options and committed to being carbon neutral by 2020.

Electronics For Imaging (EFI), a world leader in digital printing technology, has been acquired by New York-based private equity giant Siris Capital Group in an all-cash transaction valued at $US1.7 billion. 

Succession planning is always hard for small business, no matter how good you are or how long you've been there. Sometimes it's just time to go when age or health catches up with you but, finding a suited buyer isn't always easy if you are in a regional area - particularly if scarce skills are required to operate the business. Check out Signography in Shepparton for a good opportunity.

LED lighting specialist SAled Australia is bringing its latest illumination solutions to PrintEx19 in Sydney, including LED modules for signage, shopfitting and commercial fitout applications.

Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions has teamed up with Red Bull Holden Racing Team to offer customers the chance to win a four-day, all-expenses paid trip for four people to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in October. 

Following the success of the Colour L*A*B* at Fespa Global Print Expo 2019 in Munich, the organisers have announced its return for March 2020, when the event will open in Madrid, Spain.  Colour L*A*B* at Munich consisted of two areas; a presentation theatre and ‘hands on’ tour of the many areas required for a colour managed workflow.

Hexis Australia has added an extra component to its Wrap Battle 2019 Australia 1^st prize. Not only will the winner take away a trip to Las Vegas including airfares and accommodation, plus a Trade Entry pass into the SEMA show (Nov 6-8) - the world's largest automotive parts, accessories and apearance event - also included is automatic entry into the USA Hexis Sema Wrap Battle round (with US$5,000 first prize), plus an Exotic Racing experience – choose any car from their supercar fleet and run 5 laps around the track! Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Mercedes and many more marques are there to pick from…a thrill of a lifetime opportunity.

Drytac has announced the global availability of Polar Chrome, an innovative new reflective film perfect for the creation of eye-catching graphics in a range of environments.

SAi, the leading provider of software solutions for the signmaking, digital printing and CNC machining industries, has introduced a number of significant enhancements to its EnRoute CAD/CAM software.

If you do nothing else at PrintEx 19, August 13-16 in Sydney, make sure you get yourself a demo on the new Ricoh L5160 1625mm (64”) latex printer on stand D18. From the earliest Encad and Calcomp machines through the HP DesignJets, Epson StylusPros, Seiko ColorPainters, HP Latexes, various UV rollfed machines: I’ve seen some amazing product launches pushing the edges of productivity and image quality. Few, if any, have impressed as strongly as the Ricoh L5160. Don’t just take my word for it – check it out for yourself and book a demonstartion at PrintEx.

Leading Graphic Arts, Sign, Display, Photo and Fine Art distributor of hardware, software and consumables, Starleaton will celebrate forty years in business during PrintEx. The company has the largest individual stand at the event, at 345 square metres.

Antalis has unveiled new Coala Textiles, an environmentally-friendly range of coated polyester printable textiles for signage and decoration. An addition to the Coala range of large format digital media, the introduction of textile products comes in response to the increasing trend for bespoke and personalised signage and decoration in commercial and residential environments.

The outdoor advertising industry is stepping up its fight against the Queensland government's plans to ban junk food advertising on its billboards, concerned that the policy could be adopted by Labor Party-controlled governments in Victoria, Western Australia, the ACT and Northern Territory.

Wilenco, master Oceania distributor for the Norwegian-made Rollover flatbed applicators, will have at least two or three models on their prominent stand  A18 right near the main entry to PrintEx 19.

Sign software supremo SAi will feature on several supplier stands at PrintEx, including the recently released Flexi 19, a more powerful and feature-rich update of its flagship signmaking software, engineered to meet the demanding design to production challenges of sign & display and large format print providers.

Sharing stand B08 with dealer Jet Technologies, near the main entry of PrintEx, Screen will be featuring the latest developments in the Truepress Jet L350UV label press range, with live demos including orange ink and chill roller.

Colour Graphic Services has brought back free detailed offset, digital and wide-format colour health checks for PrintEx 2019 in August. These proved very popular at the last PrintEx, in 2015 when they were introduced.

On stand A28 opposite the entry, Roland DG will again show their continued support of the industry, taking the Platinum Sponsorship of PrintEx and VI.