29 Mar 2024

Digital Print UK show website goes live

Initial details of the Digital Print UK show have been unveiled by organiser Faversham House as a new website goes live for the inaugural cross-industry event at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, scheduled to take place between 5th and 7th November 2013.

Digital Print UK, the new annual dedicated digital printing exhibition spanning three days at the UK’s premier exhibition venue, will be split into four focused areas – production, applications & output, wide format and digital labels – so visitors can efficiently spend their time navigating the event.

Live demonstrations that include production printing and wide format technologies will be showcased by suppliers who are involved in the print supply chain from substrates, pre-press / media, press, post press, mailing and distribution.

Digital label production is becoming of increasing interest to commercial printers as a new revenue opportunity. Faversham House says that, in addition to its general commercial print audience, it will be working with key media partners to deliver an additional footfall of converters and label printers from a variety of backgrounds such as flexographic or gravure.

Another important area will be a section for “applications and output” driven by digital printing technology. Commercial printers, brand owners and print specifiers keen on finding ways to take their business forward will have the chance to see the latest developments in digital print technology and discover how they can deliver increased return on investment.

Faversham House, one of the UK’s leading independent media companies, will be making a series of other announcements in the run-up to the big event that will follow on from its other show successes. These include Sign and Digital UK, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in March. 

Show director Rudi Blackett comments, “The launch of our dedicated website for Digital Print UK will provide a rich source of vital information for show-goers. And, as a trusted show partner, both exhibitors and visitors in this important digital marketplace know it’s another vehicle to help us deliver another first-class event that’s not just about the latest products and software. This is a real opportunity for visitor to network, experience a mix of advice, demos and working applications of real value to their business.”

Details of the show are now available on the updated website.  Please visit www.digitalprintuk.net for more information.

PaperlinX to sell a number of operations and CEO Toby Marchant to step down

PaperlinX has announced that its CEO, Toby Marchant is to step down at the end of this month and that it has entered into the following agreements:

  • to sell its operations in Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia to the Heinzel Group for €19.6m. The sale price represents a multiple of approximately 10x EBITDA and is A$2m above book value. Net proceeds after debt and transaction costs are expected to be approximately €17.5m (A$21m);
  • to sell its loss-making operations in South Africa to local management. Net proceeds of ZAR50m (A$6m) will include A$3m repayment of parent company funding and A$3m purchase consideration for the shares, representing a loss of approximately A$2m against book value.

Commenting on these transactions, PaperlinX CEO, Toby Marchant says, “After the sale of five smaller European businesses and the consistently loss-making South African business announced today, our remaining businesses all operate in sizable markets with significant market positions. All have growth opportunities in diversified products and are the focus of the previously announced restructuring activities. We can now direct our limited resources to these challenges and opportunities whilst at the same time ensuring that we have sufficient liquidity both regionally and for the Group.”

This announcement will bring to a conclusion the Strategic Review that began some twelve months ago. Together with the announcement on June 26th, the Strategic Review has accomplished several critically important goals:

  1. significantly improved group liquidity through asset sales at good prices given the current economic environment;
  2. reduced organisational complexity to allow focus on those geographies where we hold a significant market share and/or there exists scope to drive growth through diversified products;
  3. developed a comprehensive restructuring program to right size all operations; and
  4. substantially reduced corporate overhead expenses.

Richard Barfield, recently appointed Chief Financial Officer, adds, “The disposals in Eastern Europe and South Africa are expected to close over the next 3 months, subject to competition clearance for both transactions and exchange control clearance for South Africa. The additional liquidity generated will further reinforce our ability to improve financing arrangements and margins in Europe, as well as providing additional funding to support accelerated restructuring and diversification.”

CEO, Toby Marchant concludes, “We have reached a major turning point in the transformation of PaperlinX, and the Board and I have agreed that it is an opportune moment for me to step down as Chief Executive. I will therefore be leaving the Company at the end of July. I am doing so knowing that we have taken major strides towards dealing with our significant legacy issues, in the midst of exceptionally hostile conditions, and that we are now on the right path. This is entirely thanks to the excellent people in PaperlinX who have shown extraordinary courage and determination in overcoming the challenges of the last few years.”

Commenting on today’s announcements, the Chairman of PaperlinX, Harry Boon, says, “I would like to sincerely thank Toby for his tireless dedication over 15 years to PaperlinX and its predecessors. Most recently, Toby successfully led our team through a lengthy and complex Strategic Review during exceptionally difficult circumstances.” “Having secured sufficient near-term liquidity for the group, we are now able to focus on the timely delivery of the previously announced restructuring programme and to seek additional opportunities for cost reduction and growth in diversified products.”

“We are pleased to announce that Dave Allen has accepted the role of Interim Chief Executive. Dave is currently Executive Vice President of PaperlinX with responsibility for the UK, Ireland and Canada. Dave joined PaperlinX in 2004 and was previously Managing Director of the Robert Horne Group in the UK. We have initiated a search for a permanent CEO, and will review both external and internal candidates. We have every confidence that Dave Allen and Richard Barfield will drive the restructuring programme during the search process.”

In accordance with the terms of Mr Marchant’s employment contract and the limits imposed by the Corporations Act, Mr Marchant will receive a termination payment of 12 months total fixed remuneration in lieu of notice, plus statutory entitlements such as outstanding annual leave.

Additional Matters:

  1. In response to the ongoing difficult trading conditions and losses, Directors voluntarily cut their fees by 15% from 1 April 2012. Most senior managers in UK, Europe and Australian Corporate also recently took a temporary pay cut of approximately 7.5% on a voluntary basis.
  2. Due to the technical operation of the Company's constitution relating to director shareholding requirements and its potential conflict with insider trading provisions of the Corporations Act, Mr. McConnell ceased as a director in December 2011 (for purposes of the constitution but not for purposes of the Corporations Act). The Board formally re-appointed him as a director for purposes of the constitution in April 2012 to fill a casual vacancy. Mr. McConnell has continued at all times to act as a director of the Company notwithstanding the conflicting treatment under the constitution and the Corporations Act, and is regarded by the Board (and for purposes of the Corporations Act) as a director of the Company for the entire period since his initial appointment in August 2011.

Graphix Supply World to showcase Mimaki JV400-SUV printer at Sign Africa Expo 2012

Graphix Supply World, Africa’s leading digital solutions supplier to the print, signage, textile, packaging and graphics-related industries, will showcase Mimaki’s latest JV400-SUV solvent UV ink printer at this year’s Sign Africa Expo 2012.  The event is scheduled to take place in the Sandton Convention Centre between 22nd and 24th August.

Mimaki JV400-130/160 SUV

Following on from Mimaki’s highly-publicised new Latex technology launch this year, Mimaki also released new SUV ink technology. The JV400-130/160 SUV printer utilises the same impressive print engine as Mimaki’s JV400-LX Latex printer. Combining the flexibility of solvent with the durability of UV cured inks, the newly developed ink delivers a smooth, glossy result which is incredibly durable and vibrant.

The exceptionally high durability comes from the unique ink recipe – with components of the ink keying to the ink-receiving layer of the media. The surface of the ink is then cured using a UV process which results in a vibrant, durable and flexible finish making it ideal for banner production, pull ups and display materials – or any application where a combination of vibrant colour and a long lasting, scratch resistant print is important. Earlier this year at Japan Shop, one of the biggest sign and graphics shows in Japan, Mimaki demonstrated scrubbing the print surface of a tarpaulin printed by the JV400-160SUV, with a scrubbing brush.

The technology of Mimaki’s JV400-SUV has also won recognition from Dr Nicolas Hellmuth, President and Founder of FLAAR (a world leader and independent information source on digital imaging). “All of the PR, all the Press coverage, and all the hoopla at FESPA was about the “latex ink” printers from Mimaki. But frankly what most impressed me was the solvent-UV printer of Mimaki.”

In Dr Hellmuth’s FESPA report, he goes on to say: “The solvent UV ink chemistry was definitely the most ‘wow’ product at FESPA 2012. If you hold the product in your hand, and look at it, the ink looks [incredibly] bright and looks as if inherently laminated. The folks in the booth are hospitable and clearly Mimaki is riding a crest of popularity for its innovations. No other Japanese printer manufacturer has produced anything innovative yet in 2012”.

For more information, please visit booths K6-K11 and A9-A18 in Hall 1 at the event or visit Graphix Supply World's website at www.gsw.co.za

Alternatively, more details about Mimaki products can be found at www.mimakieurope.com

Its complete range of products and solutions is exclusively distributed in the UK & Ireland by Hybrid Services Ltd - www.hybridservices.co.uk.

Mobile LED advertising from Graphix Supply World to be shown at Sign Africa

Graphix Supply World (GSW) will launch its latest product offering to the outdoor advertising industries at Sign Africa, scheduled to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg between 22nd and 24th August 2012.  On display in Hall 2, booths P1-P12, show attendees will be able to view the new solution for eye-catching and cost-effective outdoor advertising.

According to GSW, the new 'e-movable' outdoor media is 'a sign of the times'.  LED screen vehicles are becoming an economic and effective mode of advertising, combining modern advertising material and new LED technology. Convenient, cost-effective, flexible advertising with maximum visual impact is one of the reasons that these mobile LED advertising screens are replacing billboards and the like, across the globe.

GSW’s mobile LED advertising vehicles and trailers are easily moved, and can be put anywhere you want and transmit any information required at anytime. It spares the process of assembling and disassembling, and can play both dynamic and static pictures through a visually enticing and modern medium. It is equipped with a receiving card for TV signals, which enables it to receive both the cable networks and the wireless set-top box signal. The mobile LED advertising vehicles and trailers have a wide visual range, and excellent audio and visual performance, which makes the information transmission more effective, and a better return on investment when compared to conventional forms of outdoor advertising.

 

Arlon appoints Chad Russell as Director of Business Development

Arlon has promoted Chad Russell to the position of Director of Business Development, based in Santa Ana, California.  In this role he will be responsible for Arlon’s product management team, new product commercialisation, product strategy and pricing for all graphics product lines.

Chad worked in Arlon’s sales organisation for eight years and most recently served as National Account Manager for the US market. Chad holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Business Administration.

“Chad brings a wealth of graphic industry experience to Arlon’s Product Team,” states Ron Hopkins, President of Arlon Graphics, LLC. “His leadership will help Arlon to continuously deliver cutting edge new products and innovative solutions to its customers."

Ipex Digital Latin America launched to cater for needs of commercial printers

BTS, part of Informa Exhibitions, has announced the official launch of Ipex Digital Latin America, scheduled to take place between 2nd and 5th October 2013 at Transamerica Expo Center, São Paulo, Brazil.

Ipex Digital Latin America follows on the success of its well established sister event Ipex, the world's largest English speaking event for all aspects of the print, publishing and media industries, which takes place in the UK every four years. Ipex recently announced its relocation to London’s ExCeL Centre in 2014, which is set to continue attracting an overall audience of 100,000 global industry professionals, with over 1,000 exhibitors coming together in 100,000sqm of floor space.

Trevor Crawford, director, Print Group states, “We are thrilled that we now have a dedicated Digital version of our successful event right here in the heart of São Paulo.  Our team has been researching this attractive and growing market for some time, consulting with manufacturers, suppliers, printers, associations and customers. From this, it has emerged that there is a clear gap in the market and need for a dedicated event that focuses on the opportunities for commercial printers within digital technology, and the whole print production workflow that supports it.”

Catering for the Americas’ growing commercial digital print market, the inaugural Ipex Digital Latin America event will focus on the advantages of digital technology in commercial printing. It will be complimented by a strong content programme with conferences and other learning opportunities on subjects such as trans promo, variable data, applications, direct mail, cross media applications as well as colour management and web to print technologies.

"Our proposal is to bring specifically to the Latin American market an event that focuses on the benefits that exist within digital technology for commercial printing. This includes the ability to deal with local trends and issues, advantages and case studies demonstrating the complementary nature of commercial digital printing to a national and wider Latino audience,” says William Sgai, Sales Manager of Ipex Digital Latin America. “São Paulo is known as the gateway to good business in the Latin American market. And, besides having an international airport with regular direct flights from all over Latin America, this was one of the reasons why the city was strategically chosen to host the event.”

For more information, please visit www.ipexdigital.com.br