News

Pixart.it plans major initiatives for 2010?

Italian-based Web-to-print giant Pixart.it, which expects to end the 2009 financial year showing growth of around 30 percent, has big plans for further growth in 2010.

Go direct-to-textile with Mimaki Tx400-1800D?

The first shipments of the Mimaki Tx400-1800D dye-sublimation and direct-to-textile inkjet printer will start in February 2010.

HP brings versioning to wide-format

1 February 2010 will see the introduction of a variable data print (VDP) workflow option from HP for the wide-format market. SmartStream Designer, which has been available to HP Indigo users for some time and is now being brought to HP's wide-format printer users, is part of HP's strategy to spend more time focusing on workflow tools to help printers develop a better ROI on their investment in wide-format.

Sign and Digital UK 2010

The Sign and Digital UK show website has been redeveloped to give potential visitors better access to information about the event's features, like the new demo/software theatre and details of the free seminar programme. A 'special offers' page has also been added to help show visitors get the best deals, and an improved 'plan your day' section is now up and running. Show entry is free if you preregister online.?www.signanddigitaluk.com?

IpexTV switched on?

In a bid to engage with visitors and exhibitors in a more creative way, the Ipex 2010 organisers have added an IpexTV section on the show's wesbite. The intention is for the Ipex team to upload regular 'video-blogs' to communicate news about Ipex 2010 initiatives, visitor and exhibitor updates as well as broadcast short interviews with prominent industry figures.

Colourgen bullish about drop in sales?

Colourgen is being bullish about an eight percent drop in revenue for the year ending June 2009. Jeff Biggs, managing director of Colourgen, whose revenue fell to ?11m, said: "In a year which has seen the overall large-format print market shrink by more than 20%, our eight percent revenue drop represents a significant achievement. We have retained profitability despite the global recession and the weak pound, while maintaining a healthy balance sheet and strong lines of credit. We also took full ownership of our AmBer Centre premises in Maidenhead, which puts us on an excellent financial footing for the future."

PaperlinX merges two UK arms?

PaperlinX UK is merging Europoint and Robert Horne Sign and Display to form the UK's largest supplier in the sign and display market. The business will operate under the Robert Horne Group banner.?

Demand for a freeze on new small business laws until General Election

The Forum of Private Businesses (FPB) is calling for a freeze in new business legislation to allow the Government to re-assess the burden of red tape. The proposed moratorium would last until the General Election.

Paul French takes over at Robert Horne

The new managing director of Robert Horne is Paul French who has been the divisional director of the Sign & Display division for the last three years. Previous roles within the industry include the managing directorship of Spandex UK.

Durst becomes Innovation Partner for Fespa 2010

Durst has become the first Innovation Partner for the Fespa 2010, the theme of which is 'Catch the New Wave of Innovation'.

B&P Graphics appointed UK/Ireland distributor for DYSS

DYSS (Dae Young Systems), the Korean supplier of UV direct-to-media printers and cutter/router tables has appointed B&P Graphic Supplies as its UK and Ireland distributor. B&P, in association sub-distributor Sun Chemical, will sell the Apollo range of UV combination and flatbed printers and the X7 range of cutter/routers.

Free colour management training

Quark has joined forces with Pantone to deliver a free half-day colour management training programme. The course will cover:?

- How best to set up QuarkXPress 8 for accurate colour management

- How to use Pantone PMS and Goe Libraries with QuarkXPress 8

- How to convert Pantone colours to CMYK

- The setting up and testing of monitors to ISO standards

- How to proof with and without a Rip to international ISO standards.

HumanEyes 3D offer

Positive Focus is offering cut-price Producer 3D software from HumanEyes Technologies to help more printers get into the growing lenticular market. Discounts of around a third apply across a whole range of software, training and installation packages.

Agfa :M-Press Tiger bought by imageData

Yorkshire based imageData Group has bought an Agfa :M-Press Tiger for its Howden site where it will be installed later this year.