News

A new report from Smithers Pira, ‘The Future of Functional and Industrial Print to 2020’, examines the use of printing-for-profit in areas outside the traditional graphics and packaging arenas, namely in 3D printing, printed electronics and biomedical applications in a collective industry quantified by the organisation as worth $67 billion in 2015 – and reaching more than $107 billion in 2020.

The Signs Express Sign Awards have been presented, recognising the best of the work conducted by its centres in the past year. The winners were as follows:

Working in association with a young designer, the whole of the Epson stand at Heimtextil in Frankfurt in January will feature a customised design implemented across multiple media and products to showcase the potential and opportunity that inkjet technology gives to designers and home textile producers. Included in the display will be curtains and bed linen produced on cotton and linen fabrics using the latest Monna Lisa Vinci and Monna Lisa Evo Tre digital textile printers, designed by F.lli Robustelli and based on Epson technology, in cooperation with For.tex.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has new branding, has overhauled its website and is digitising its library of small business advice as well as streamlining access to its membership services, joining processes, and campaign activity.

Calling climate change “an imminent global threat that demands urgent action from all segments of society,” Avery Dennision has signed the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, a White House initiative to enlist US companies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

All of ArtSystems’ 14-strong field engineering and support team have been recently awarded the City and Guilds certificate in Electrical Maintenance Skills 2572-01.

Callprint is continuing its rapid expansion with the acquisition of Leeds-based Link 88.The move follows its acquisition of Manchester-based PPS Print Communications in June.

HP has introduced an open membership scheme for its Dscoop EMEA, coinciding with the announcement of the programme’s new chairman, Julian Marsh of Harrier LLC.

Tickets for Drupa 2016 (31 May to 10 June 2016) will be available online from 2 January 2016. Provided as e-tickets, they will offer a dual purpose: to save time and money. Visitors can buy the tickets online (at www.drupa.de) and print them or download as a code and then travel to the show free of charge by bus and train.

Quality Print Services (QPS) has agreed its largest ever stand for Sign and Digital UK, taking 72sqm at the show which will run 19 – 21 April 2016.

A new ImagePerfect Materials Guide has been introduced by Spandex UK. It shows all digital and signage products, as well as 30 new ‘speciality’ products designed to open up new and lucrative markets for sign makers and graphics producers.

A new app called the Antalis DocuCloud contains all of the company’s latest product literature. Available to download for free it’s available for iPhone/iPad, Android devices and Windows tablets/phones and PC’s running Windows 10.

EFI has upgraded its Fiery software and Fiery proServer digital front ends for wide- and superwide-format production inkjet printing. The new versions are said to include “major improvements” in processing speeds for EFI Vutek printers - allowing users to achieving average speed improvements of over 60% compared to previous versions.

Agfa Graphics has played a key part in the restoration of The Byodo-in Buddhist temple near Kyoto in Japan. The most famous part of Japanese National Treasure and World Heritage Site, and the only remaining original building, is the Phoenix Hall (Hoo-do) constructed in 1053. It’s the imagery and colours on the west doors to this that Agfa has restored.