The new BlueWave LED adhesive cure system from Intertronics is seen as a major advance toward the “holy grail” of an invariable and long-life process in UV curing.

The world print industry grew by $21billion to $644bn between 2003 and 2009 and is predicted to reach $676bn by 2014, bucking the global downward trend. The steady growth, however, will be characterised by a shift within the industry, with packaging accounting for 31% share of the market by 2014 and the digital print sector rising 6.4% to 19.4% between 2009 and 2014.

Refined papers and films manufacturer Sihl have developed new media for HP latex inks – which both companies claim reduces the adverse health and environmental impact of printing with solvent inks. The new wet-strength poster papers can be used with eco-friendlier latex inks and the HP Design-Jet Latex printer series ( L65500, L25500, LX 600 and LX800).

William Smith is now offering two new latex printer models from HP – the HP Scitex LX600 and HP Scitex LX800. In addition, the new super-output HP Scitex FB500 UV ink printer has also been added to William Smith’s hardware portfolio.

Printers seeking the speed and capabilities of rotary die cutters without the lifetime costs for dies (and also seeking ways to quickly and painlessly switch to short run jobs with the limitless cut configurations now in greater demand), can now use the Spartanics Finecut-Plus-Rotary combination laser die cutting and rotary die cutting system.

Leeds-based large format display company, Digital Plus have been appointed to print and fit internal graphics and signage for npower’s new office in the North East.

The British Printing Industries Federation, Unite the Union and The Printing Charity have announced the five young winners of this year’s Print Futures Awards. The winners impressed the judging panel with their enthusiasm and commitment to train for a career in the UK printing and graphic arts industries. The Print Futures Awards, which are now in their seventh year, offer awards of up to £2,500 each.

D Roper Ltd, which have more than 40 years’ experience in the screen printing machinery business, have moved to a new, purpose built 3,500 square foot industrial unit based in Kidderminster.

When The Old Globe, a Tony Award winning theatre in San Diego, California, received a grant to create an exhibit on its history, the organisation was thrilled. It immediately began creating a visual timeline featuring illustrations by costume designer Anna Oliver of iconic theatrical figures. There was just one challenge: the theatre needed to execute its ambitious vision—involving detailed graphics and a difficult installation – on a set budget. Fortunately, Quantum Digital Imaging had the solution: the HP Designjet L25500 Printer and HP PVC-free Wall Paper. Using the HP technology, Quantum Digital Imaging printed the timeline of detailed illustrations cost-effectively and with remarkable quality.

Colortrac, an important innovator in the field of wide format scanning technology, has achieved record unit sales, revenue and profit in their financial year ending April 30, 2010. Not including new business from OEM agreements, worldwide unit sales of Colortrac brand SmartLF large format scanners increased by 24% over the previous year. Colortrac's consolidated result (unaudited) shows that group revenues increased by 42% to GBP £7.3 million, with a corresponding increase in pre-tax profits of 66%. In comparison, during 2009, revenue from sales of large format scanners at a major competitor is known to have reduced by 33%, resulting in their pre-tax profits being reduced to a break-even level.
Recent independent market research has indicated that Colortrac SmartLF is now the leading brand of stand-alone large format scanner in Western Europe with a 31% share of the market in 2009. This survey indicates a shift in market focus to Colortrac SmartLF large format scanners and software applications as the products of choice in a value conscious world, and has been achieved with the assistance of Colortrac's ever-growing sales channels.
Expanding on the implications of these extraordinary results, Colortrac Managing Director Graham Tinn noted that: "Clearly the worldwide economic downturn has had an impact on the performance of many markets over the past two years.  However, our long term investments, both in competitive manufacturing at our factory at Suzhou, China and in our technology developments, are now providing us with greater capacity to react to our customers' requirements in product quality, performance, functionality and value. These financial results and the growth in market share are a strong validation of our strategic product and business direction. It is providing a profitable base from which to continue our market expansion."
Furthermore, Graham said: "I am also delighted that our customers have seen the long term benefits of the quality, innovation and creative thinking we put into the SmartLF wide format scanners that we produce. Customers understand how these technical initiatives produce features that can increase their business productivity and performance. We have a rapidly increasing order book which, combined with planned new product introductions, should provide us with continuing profitable growth in our business when others are clearly losing market share."
For more information visit www.colortrac.com

City & West End Solutions have scooped yet another HP Award, this time at FESPA 2010. The award took the novel form of a Vespa scooter, which was part of the theme on the HP exhibition stand and CWE Solutions were awarded the title of Top Sales of Designjet Products across the EMEA region for April – May 2010.

Grapo Technologies, a manufacturer of wide format printers based in the Czech Republic has installed the Manta, its large format UV flatbed printer at Georgiadis Colorsign, a leading Greek signage company.

Barbieri Electronic has appointed IGS UK as distributor for its automatic spectrophotometers. Concentrating on the Series 3 and Swing systems for digital imaging, the addition of these essential peripherals simplifies profiling, saves time and costs, and enables wide-format printer users to achieve consistently accurate results.
The Barbieri Electronic Spectro LFP Series 3 and Spectro Swing make it easy and efficient to linearise and profile different types of display materials, including options for reflectives and clear films. In addition, savings are made by enabling users to optimise colour management and reduce ink consumption whilst maintaining accurate, strong colours across all media.
The Barbieri Spectro LFP Series 3 is  designed for today’s wide-format arena and enables users to create ICC profiles on most roll-fed and rigid media, including textiles and traditionally difficult surfaces, from ultra-thin materials up to a maximum substrate thickness of 20 mm. The unit can also be used as a densitometer to determine the relevant values for films and papers.
The cost-effective Barbieri Spectro Swing has been developed as a measuring device for flexible materials and is suitable for papers, banner materials, canvases, back-lits and other products commonly used on roll-fed printers using any ink technology. It is available in three versions, either for transparent or reflective media or for both.
Barbieri is also instrumental in bringing users greater efficiencies with colour management options that save on ink costs, and full details are available by downloading the explanatory white paper from www.igsuk.net