I recently received a press release from a company highlighting the power of the internet compared with the demise of magazine advertising. Interestingly, the company had sent the press release to the editors of printed magazines. How I laughed at the irony.

Screen wash solvents can be recirculated and filtered using a new system from CPS, designed to minimise both the cost and environmental impact of screen printing applications. Two-in-one functionality also means the Green Screen Combeasy SW can clean with either water or solvents, eliminating the need for two stand alone booths.

DPLenticular has been working closely with Bergman Media Group to develop 3Dynamick: a plastic lens material that allows images to be printed in both three-dimensional and ani­mated form. Bergman is using the technique for applications such as packaging, book covers, CD covers and point-of-sale items.

SignUp Auto is a new automatic nesting solution from EskoArtwork, designed to help sign and display companies utilize their raw substrates more efficiently. It is said to eliminate costly operator time in Adobe Illustrator or other desktop publishing packages and provides the mechanism as a dedicated workflow tool to accept files from a digital storefront.

A total of five Mimaki UJV-160 UV-curable roll and flat sheet printers have been sold by Graphic Printing Technologies (GPT), with the first going to Pure Leisure Marketing.

The Practice of Ink Jet Technology is an intensive course aimed at chemists and scientists who want to improve their ink jet practical expertise. Organised by IMI Europe, the course will be hosted at Xennia Technology's Letchworth laboratories, 15 to 18 June.

A new type of coating process has been developed by Neschen to provide better colour properties on digital printed media. The company claims significantly less ink is required to produce the same colour density. Alternatively, when using the same amount of ink, colours will look even more brilliant with more depth and intensity. Suitable for a range of display systems, Neschen Easy Panels are the first to have the new coating.

Total Print has purchased the print trade side of former B&P Lightbrigade, to form a new company, Lightbrigade Graphics. The purchase ensures continuity of trade print and services to existing Lightbrigade customers as well as expanding print capabilities at Total Print's 7,500m2 Chertsey premises.

Large format lamination specialist, Print Finishing Solutions (PFS) has launched a new range of wide format, hot and cold laminators for the signage and graphics markets.

Following last year's inaugural event, exhibitors are signing up fast for The Sign Show 2009, which will run 22 to 24 September at Coventry's Ricoh Arena.

A Strong Alliance

On January 15th Vision Supplies Ltd acquired a substantial shareholding of Registerprint Machinery Ltd, this acquisition of shares has seen the leading supplier of screen printing and ancillary machinery relocate from its Kent base to the newly expanded Vision site in Leeds. A bold move by Vision in difficult market times but one that Managing Director, Paul Waterton thinks is well timed.

What makes screen printing so attractive to production process engineers is the ability to apply a controlled film thickness over large areas relatively quickly and yet with precise positioning. In the graphics industry the material printed is an ink with a coloured pigment or dye that that can be adhered to a range of substrates for visual effect. Being able to control the ink film thickness and the precise position and shape of the image is crucial to the final appearance.

From books and leaflets to large format graphics, there are literally hundreds of applications for finishing equipment. Whatever the requirement, there is a technology to meet that need and because businesses each have their own needs when it comes to finishing, Canon offers a range of in-line and off-line solutions.

Most printers are aware of the issues surrounding global warming. In fact they may well be sick of 'environmental speak.' What they really want to know is how their company can benefit from adopting best practice and what that best practice really entails.