I've just returned from my first show of 2009, Publishing Expo at Olympia. Given the economic climate, the show was home to a healthy number of exhibitors and an exceptionally strong seminar programme. It's too early to compare visitor figures with last year but from my personal experience I was running product demonstrations around the clock and the seminar theatre to the left of our stand was rammed for two days.

Huge format digital printer, Macro Art has broadened its ISO 14001 credentials by teaming up with ALD Industry for the disposal of its reinforced PVC banner and mesh materials.

Pressure sensitive adhesives from Italian manufacturer, Ichemco, are now available in the UK and Ireland from ATS Adhesives.

Plastics sheet distributor, Amari Plastics, has received positive feedback on the benefits of its recently launched recycling initiative (ARI). One of the first customers to sign up is Luminati Waycon, a manufacturer of bespoke POS items, office furniture, display and retail fittings, cabinets and cake stands using substrates, like acrylic, foam PVC and polycarbonate.

In these challenging times, many companies will seek to reduce expenditure and concentrate on maintaining their core business. Scunthorpe-based, specialist packaging company, Powell Packaging views things differently and has just installed an Apollo UV inkjet printer purchased from Sun Chemical.

Fespa is using a provocative ‘revolution' theme to rally the wide-format printing community to its Fespa Digital 2009 event in Amsterdam, 12 to 14 May.

Published to highlight the potential of self-adhesive vinyl as a format for visual communication, Mactac has once again published its Worldwide Awards Prize Book for 2008. The book presents the winning designers and converters for each of the regions covered in the event, recognising creative and high impact work using Mactac self-adhesive materials.

Image transfer specialist, The Magic Touch, has added to its portfolio with an integrated print and cut solution using the new Mimaki CJV30 printer/cutter range.

Roland DG has announced its 2009 Free Value Up campaign for customers using the company's VersaCAMM VP series printer/cutters and grand-format AdvancedJET AJ series printers. Upgrades include Roland's Intelligent Pass Control software, designed to improve print quality and increase throughput.

Print and design company, Europrint Sign Services claims to have cut costs while maintaining print quality after switching to Sun Chemical's Streamline inks in its HP 9000 series printers.

Activity is intensifying for Sign and Digital UK, with some exhibitors giving a sneak preview of their preparations for the event.

Inkjet consumable specialist, Josero, announces a distribution agreement with Triangle to supply its complete product range in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Kaye-Dee has enhanced its Kimoto Freejet 320 flatbed printer with the new Freejet 320 Plus model featuring an eight channel print head, ink adjustment driver and audible end of print. Thanks to its eight channel print head the printer offers an extended colour space and resolution up to 5760dpi.

DCP Systems has announce that demonstration units of its Epson 24in Stylus Pro 7900 and 44in Stylus Pro 9900 series are available at its Sheffield-based Epson Centre of Excellence.

Tecna believes that demand for printed fabrics will grow significantly in the coming years due to benefits including: low cost, print quality, easy transportation, light weight and washability.

Identify's DirectJet printer uses a unique ink system that does not require surface pre-treatment. Delivering the ink through a high resolution, modified Epson print head, the system is designed to provide detailed, vibrant coloured images.

PRINTING ON fabrics and promotional products encompasses a host of applications and substrates from textiles to titanium. Although this market segment is in fact huge, it can seem almost invisible to outsiders. Not only this, those who do be­come involved often overlook the skills required to produce quality output, thinking that any printing is just printing. This attitude is a double edged sword. The ignorant think it is easy and fail, and the experts pick up the pieces and make money.

THE CURRENT economic climate is having a huge impact on print buying, particularly in the retail environment and, with run lengths reducing and printers needing to be more responsive, digital print is becoming a competitive solution in the marketplace. Companies looking to respond both during and after the recession are turning to digital to provide the flexibility they need.

GOVERMENT GRANTS for training are now more easily available than ever before. Using its Train to Gain program, the shackles have been removed from funding. Previously money was only available for National Vocational Qualifications, yet now virtually any form of training that will increase the performance of the individual and the company will be considered for up to 60 per cent grant aid.

As I write this leader I'm sitting in my car at a motorway service station watching a Robert Horne distribution lorry pass by. This is rather coincidental as I've just finished proofing a story for that company regarding its new substrate recycling service. What makes this feature so interesting is that the global financial crisis appears to have closed the door for foreign importers of our home grown waste. There is only one solution, invest in UK facilities.

Doro Tape has extended its range of selfadhesive bumpers and bumper-tape products suitable for use in applications such as exhibition and point of sale displays.

A joint marketing agreement has been signed by Graphic Printing Technologies (GPT) and Amari Plastics. Together, GPT and selected divisions of Amari Plastics will deliver complete printer and consumables solutions to key customers. Both companies will be at the Sign and Digital UK show, where they will share a stand.

Corrugated polypropylene, or Correx, has been used for packaging for some time, however as Tennant PVC suggests, it is also suitable for boxes, document wallets and signs. It can be die cut to shape and screen printed with promotional logos or lettering. What's more, the sheets are also lightweight, durable, recyclable and available in several colours.

Thermoplastic sheet products supplied by Robert Horne have been used to create a series of design-led tables for a gallery space in Clerkenwell.

LAST YEAR saw Robert Horne Sign & Display launch its ambitious R3 (recover, recycle, re-use) recycling scheme. The learning curve uncovered some interesting truths about the state of commercial recycling in the UK.

CHANCES ARE, most people have heard of the name Perspex and have probably used it both figuratively and literally in reference to many different clear plastic products.

PLASTICS DISTRIBUTOR, Amari Plastics, offers next day delivery across the UK on a range of sheet, roll and film products from leading manufacturers. The company's branded products ensure high performance, quality and value for money, backed by a variety of conversion equipment and specialist knowledge within the company, which means customer requirements can be met efficiently.