Here’s a question, what do capital equipment companies do during a recession? Well, if the screen and digital imaging industry is any measure, they innovate: and I think I know why.

Having started my own career in product design and then worked in and around the manufacturing sector I have witnessed firsthand the process capital equipment companies operate during the economic cycles. Put simply, original equipment manufacturers are duty bound to listen to their customers’ wants and need and respond by challenging their research and development departments to engineer solutions.

Self-adhesive label numbering systems from Sportstiks will now be available from Bright Promotions in Ireland, following the company's appointment as Sportstiks' main distributor in the region.

Imaging solutions specialist, Canon UK, reveals that its print permanence was rated highly when tested against Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR) standards. Permanence analysis for the Canon imagePrograf iPF6100 large format printer (LFP), Lucia pigment inks and Canon media demonstrated Canon’s durability.

Contra Vision has produced a free guide for anyone keen to design, produce or sell see-through graphics.

With sections on each of the above topics, the guide offers tips on choosing appropriate materials and explains how to produce see-through graphics that can be applied to the inside of a window, or backlit at night. It also explains about levels of transparency and how to produce see-through graphics using non-perforated, non-PVC materials.

Event production specialist, GTMS, and large-scale prop maker, Model-Tec Studio, are combining expertise to offer a new concept and build service accessed via a one-stop-shop website.

Here clients can source everything from one-off bespoke props and themed displays to large European experiential touring kits. Both GTMS and Model-Tec Studio boast experience across a range of industries from fine art and interior, technology and international motorsport to experiential and architectural.

A larger demonstration area and improved facilities for the company's Print Academy courses will be available at Epson's new Westside premises in Apsley, which will be home to over 250 Epson UK and Epson Europe staff.

Conservative MEP, Marina Yannakoudakis, called for EU support to help fund economically viable and more environmentally friendly alternatives to inkjet printing following a visit to MBA Group Printers in London, where she learned that inkjet printed media cannot be properly recycled.

Madico Graphic Films has re-launched the dedicated on-line portal for its environmentally-friendly, UV and eco-solvent inkjet and thermal transfer printable window films.

HP has launched a new on-line service - the PSP Network - designed to help print buyers find local print service providers (PSPs). The directory, which lists 15 different digital applications, is intended to help those who have either not used digital print, or those who have only used it for one type of application.

Dates for Victory Design's 2010 vehicle wrap course have been announced as 3 February and 7 April, to be held at the company's Derbyshire premises.

After instruction on the basics of applying digital media, delegates can get stuck in themselves. They will receive instructions on the latest wrapping techniques and tips to tackle tricky indents and rivets. Victory Design provides all digital media and equipment with instructors available to give one-to-one advice and demonstrations throughout the day.

Ipex 2010 promises an impressive line up of new wide format products with a number of wide format suppliers already committed to launching new technology at the show, running 18 to 25 May at the NEC. Confirmed suppliers include Agfa, Canon, Durst, EFI, Epson, Fotoba, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak, Mimaki Engineering, Océ, Roland, Screen, Vivid Laminating and Xerox.

The market for digital print for textiles is forecast to grow from €114.6m in 2009 to just under €1bn by 2014, according to a new study by Pira International published in association with Fespa.

Two major changes have influenced ink development in recent times: the abolition of heavy metal pigments such as lead, cadmium and chromium and the need to diminish solvent use. Both changes have been driven by the imperative to reduce Health and Safety and Environmental hazards.

Q. What's new for 2010?

A. Printwear & Promotion  (P&P) continues to bring all that's best to the garment decoration market, with fabric and machine technology, in particular, bringing major changes to the visitor. Direct to garment printing has become more affordable and transfer technology offers a low cost, high quality and easy to apply decoration technique. Embroidery machines offer very high speeds and single head machines are probably more popular than ever now that they can be linked together easily to allow a business to expand.

Users of DTG direct to product ink jet printers will have an advantage over their competitors with the launch of One Pass Fast. This new development has achieved what was previously thought impossible -  to print white and CMYK inks during the same pass.

Economy and quality are going to be the buzz-words of 2010. We have endured a financial rollercoaster in 2009 and are now starting to pick ourselves up and look for growth opportunities in a strengthening economy. Product professional, LFP, for Canon UK, Shane Burchett, said: “The impact of the recession has been significant. Print businesses have had to rethink their strategies and to take advantage, they have to keep a tight rein on their overheads and costs.

An EskoArtwork Kongsberg i-XL24 finishing table has been installed at Fujifilm Graphic Systems' UK showroom in Bedford. This complements Fujifilm’s existing wide-format offering, allowing the company to demonstrate a complete wide-format solution, from file delivery and media selection, to the finished print.

In answer to customer demand for environmentally-friendly display systems, Eurostand Display has launched its Planet range. The portfolio includes roll-ups, tension banner and literature display stands built using renewable, high quality bamboo.

Point of sale specialist, Screenprint Doncaster, has moved into new 29,000ft2 premises providing room to expand and to offer additional services including fulfilment. Many of the point of sale units supplied to the product retailer are now filled and store ready.

Neschen has announced five new digital print media certified by HP as suitable for use with its latex inks. Two are self-adhesive vinyl substrates and three are digital wallpapers. Together with the HP Designjet L65500, the new media can produce displays for POP, exhibitions and vehicle graphics, street and building advertising and commercial and domestic interiors.

A new range of speciality heat presses engineered for two and three-dimensional digital decoration, have been released by Octi-Tech.

The Sublideck Surface Decoration System combines infrared heat and vacuum pressure to mould images onto two and three dimensional substrates and surfaces. It is designed for commercial decoration of complex surfaces such as automotive parts, consumer electronics, sporting gear, household appliances, architectural details, fashion products and mobile phones.

Ink and pigment specialist, Sun Chemical, is now offering Dyss Apollo print-and-cut machines throughout the UK and Ireland.

Manufacturer of wide format digital inkjet printers, engravers and 3D equipment, Roland DG, has relaunched its website with new features providing enhanced support for Roland products.

Non-PVC 3M and Ritrama films, now available from William Smith, are designed to offer sign makers a greener alternative to traditional vinyl films.

Increasingly Prism is hearing about members who are doing really well. General manager at G Bopp, Andrew Moss, for example, says the company is going from strength to strength and has had to increase its production capacity. What G Bopp is seeing is a transition in the screen printing industry to a demand for high quality screens produced to very tight tolerances. This is particularly so in the industrial market but also the graphics sector, which has adopted a similar approach.

Using the theme of the classic children’s novel The Secret Garden now showing at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Digital Plus took this opportunity to showcase its specialist abilities in printing supersized graphics.