Fujifilm’s advanced new OnsetX3 HS with ¾ automation makes its global trade show debut at this week’s Printing United in Dallas, Texas. The high speed flatbed printer with robotic handling systems is part of a showcase of new Fujifilm inkjet solutions.

Industry researcher Smithers says the digital print market will reach $225 billion by 2029 as digital (inkjet and electrophotography) systems become increasingly important across the global print marketplace through the 2020s. The new research also identified several challenges facing digital print.

Leading industry supplier and HP Indigo specialist Currie Group has signed a partnership equity agreement with Melbourne-based EVOK3D, a supplier of HP Jet Fusion 3D printers.

Hexis Australia has appointed two new Business Development Managers in Qld. MD Ian Parsonson comments: “It is really pleasing to have two very experienced new members join the Hexis Team, they will certainly value add to the level of product knowledge here and I look forward to working with them both”.

Mutoh Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Melbourne based Total Image Supplies as a new dealer across the full range of Mutoh printers. Mutoh General Manager, Russell Cavenagh, commented “Total Image Supplies have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and commitment to their customers and the broader industry."

Epson is introducing its first 12-colour large format printers - the SureColor SC-P7500 (24”/61 cm) and SC-P9500 (44”/111.76 cm) - aimed at applications including professional photography, art reproduction and proofing. 

In the latest round of industry consolidation, Aslan, a leading manufacturer of self-adhesive films for sign making and digital printing, has been acquired by competitor Poli-Tape Group, with the deal due to take effect in a couple of weeks. The Aslan brand, distributed on the local market by suppliers including Starleaton and Graphic Art Mart, will continue.

Inkjet ink expert Agfa has teamed up with laminate manufacturer UNILIN to deliver “a breakthrough for digital production printing of laminate flooring and furniture.” The new technology will be presented at the upcoming InPrint 2019 show in Munich.

Last week we published the results of our survey question examining the threat or opportunity posed by large LED and LCD billboard sites. While there is a place for them, a just-installed example of why quality prints work best has appeared at Sydney’s Chatswood Chase shopping mall – and what a superb piece of grand format out-of-home print it is!

It’s no secret that, since the January 2018 stymied takeover offer for Xerox by Fujifilm Holdings,  relations between the two ‘joint venture’ partners for 56 years, have soured.

Roland DG Corporation has expanded its UV-LED print portfolio with the new IU-1000F - 'a powerful solution for sign and display or print production businesses.' The large-format UV-LED flatbed printer is capable of printing on a wide range of substrates and objects at up to 116 sqm per hour. Sales will start in Europe, North America and Japan from the first quarter of 2020, with other regions to follow shortly after.

Agfa’s Jeti Mira 2732 HS LM LED printing system has been named the winner of the 2019 Product of the Year by the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) in the UV/Latex Flatbed ($200k- $500k) category.

An outdoor advertising panel on Sydney’s George Street is using face-tracking technology to assess consumers’ facial reactions before dispensing vouchers for a free yoghurt smoothie in a store nearby.

Xerox has announced its inaugural Colour of the Year for 2020: Clear. “Is clear a colour? We think so. You may not, and that’s fine,” says the US print technology giant.

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell has announced an inquiry into the insolvency system that will look at the “very low success rate in restructuring Australian businesses under external administration.” The move comes amid industry outrage over alleged phoenixing and abuse of insolvency provisions.

Three Roland DG TrueVIS printers and the Ricoh Pro L5160 have won the wide format categories in Keypoint Intelligence Buyers Lab awards for 2020. The industry researcher noted: “New technologies are introduced and new applications for wide format are discovered, both at a faster rate than ever before. Lines are once again blurring, and the growth potential in this product category can be a thing of beauty.”

A total of 693 exhibitors took part in the landmark 40th anniversary edition of Labelexpo Europe 2019 in Brussels, with major press manufacturers signing "multiple sales on a daily basis" at the largest, most international Labelexpo to date. Sydney sign company Next Printing was among the buyers at the event, entering the label sector with the purchase of an HP Indigo 6900 with ABG Digicon finishing line.

ONYX 19 "embodies the kind of speed and performance print shops have come to expect from ONYX software over the last 30 years," says wide format workflow software manufacturer Onyx Graphics. Printing United attendees will also get an exclusive preview of ONYX Hub 2.0 which is about to be launched globally. 

The Queensland branch of the Lithographic Institute of Australia (LIA) has announced a free industry event to be held at Konica Minolta in Brisbane on October 23 to celebrate International Print Day. LIA NSW will host a similar event on the same day in Sydney.

Roland DG has added new SG2 64", 54" and 30" wide format eco-solvent printer cutters to its second generation TrueVIS series. “The new SG2 series will appeal to a large number of digital print business owners, including those entering the sign and display graphics market.”

If we were to believe all the hype behind the digital sign industry – LED and LCD screens containing changeable ads – you’d be justified in thinking the conventional sign industry is on its knees. One digital sign news source even headlined an article ‘The Fall of the Sign Industry.’