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HP says its new strategic plan, “supported by HP’s market leadership across personal systems, print, and 3D printing & digital manufacturing,” will deliver significant earnings growth and a new capital return program of about $US16 billion during 2020 to 2022.  At its first quarter earnings announcement, HP dismissed a new takeover offer from competitor Xerox as irresponsible and overstated but added it was “reaching out to Xerox to explore if there is a combination that creates value for HP shareholders."

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Konica Minolta has recommended that its employees in Japan should work remotely and commute during off-peak hours in response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The company has also cancelled business meetings and seminars.  Fears over the coronavirus wiped $51 billion off the ASX yesterday, as Australia’s chief medical officer said "a strong possibility of a pandemic" had increased in recent days. The global number of cases has now risen to more than 79,000, with outbreaks in Italy, South Korea and Iran. The death toll in China is more than 2,500. 

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Our colleagues at Sign Africa have reported a ‘world first’ in the offering of HP Latex printers on a pay-per-use model by reseller Midcomp, similar to Heidelberg’s ‘subscription’ model and the cut-sheet digital monthly maintenance and click charge. Will it catch on here in Australia and New Zealand?

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Drytac, the global self-adhesive materials manufacturer for large format print and signage markets, has appointed Melbourne-based supplier Shann Digital Print Media (DPM) as exclusive Australian distributor for its range of wide format print media, mounting and protective films.

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Registrations are now open for the inaugural 2020 HP National Sign & Display Conference, and the associated HP Awards for Excellence, presented by ASGA and FESPA Australia, that will take place at Visual Impact Gold Coast. Award entries in 22 categories have been extended to 9 March. 

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Wide format industry consumables supplier Orafol Australia has added no fewer than five new senior team members to its already experienced staff for 2020.

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The European Sign Expo 2020, co-located with FESPA in Madrid next month (24-27 March), will be a platform for sign-makers to see how the non-printed signage sector is evolving, with latest technology developments, application possibilities and trends being highlighted by global market leaders and industry specialists.

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FESPA 2020 organisers are contacting all exhibiting company representatives and pre-registered visitors from China requesting evidence that those attending next month's global print expo have not resided in or visited China at any time after 5th March 2020. Exhibitors and visitors from China not fulfilling this requirement will not be able to participate in the show.

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The ACCC will not oppose the acquisition of Direct Paper by Spicers Limited, finding that alternative suppliers of commercial printing paper and direct supply arrangements between printers and paper mills will continue to provide strong competition and constrain paper prices. Spicers supplies the print industry with a range of media for commercial and digital print, label and packaging, sign and display, and architectural and window films.

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Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific has completed its acquisition of Melbourne-based IT services provider CSG Limited and says: “Through this acquisition, Fuji Xerox aims to further expand business operations in relation to small- and medium-sized businesses in Australia and New Zealand by harnessing the synergies between the two businesses in relation to the supply of office printing equipment and IT services.” 

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 Entries close next week in New Zealand’s revamped printing industry awards event and organisers say sign companies and vehicle wrappers have been slow to enter some of the 11 new categories in this year’s expanded Sign and Display section.  

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Roland DG Australia announced the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane dates for its new training course Profit Through Personalisation, that’s aimed at companies looking to incorporate a personalisation solution into their business. More dates and locations will be announced throughout the year.

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Xerox began hosting dinners for HP shareholders this week as it seeks support for its $35 billion bid to buy its larger printing market rival. HP’s board has yet to respond to Xerox’s latest offer – up from $22 to $24 a share – but says next week it will share “additional information about its plan to drive sustainable long-term value for its shareholders." 

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Canon officially opened a new production facility for UVgel ink at its innovation and development campus in Venlo, The Netherlands, to keep up with growing demand from users of its Colorado roll-to-roll large format printers. Global production volumes of UVgel ink for Colorado printers doubled in the last year.

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Industry supplier makes it easy to work out your actual costs and savings by using the Norwegian-made Rollover applicator/laminator over more manual methods.

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Roland DG has released its new cotodesign on-demand customisation software in Australia. The design and print management software package allows customers to personalise apparel and gift items in-store using photos or artwork from their smartphone or other devices.

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The Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA) has appointed fire ratings expert Glenn Hain of G Hain & H.S Kim Risk and Compliance Consulting as its new Risk and Compliance consultant. “This is a key and much needed appointment,” says ASGA GM Michael Punch.

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A host of international exhibitors are getting ready to showcase their latest technologies in garment production, design and decoration at Sportswear Pro 2020, which is co-located with FESPA 2020 (24 - 27 March 2020, IFEMA - Feria de Madrid, Spain).

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HEXIS CEO Clement Mateu, who’s based at the company’s international headquarters in Frontingnan, France, will visit Queensland this month for the first Open House event at the company’s Australian facility in Yatala.

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Researcher Smithers says a moderate increase in growth in the global printing market over the next five years will be driven by a new generation of higher productivity inkjet machines.

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Konica Minolta has restarted production at its factories in China after closing down earlier this month following a Chinese government-ordered suspension in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The company's primary production facilities in China are located away from Wuhan - where the virus was first identified - in Wuxi, Dongguan, and Dalian. The death toll from the virus in mainland China has now reached 1,770.