Over the years I’ve edited business-to-business magazines in a variety of sectors. Irrespective of the industry, case studies are always the most prized editorial possession. Readers naturally find users’ real-world experiences more useful that anonymous claims. Unfortunately, suppliers often want to keep their customer list a closely guarded secret, making case studies difficult to extract.

Counterfeit-proof packaging, based on a combination of ultraviolet visible inks and holographic labelling, is the latest introduction from MacDermid Autotype as it updates its product branding. Introduced from the beginning of 2007, the new difficult-to-reproduce packaging features on all screen print films including Autotype Capillex, Alphastar and Novastar photo-stencil, indirect stencil and knife cut films.

Sun Chemical has combined its Boss Graphic Supplies and WebXtras businesses to create a single UK consumables division, called Sun Chemical Consumables. Created to supply a one-stop-service to the graphic arts industry, the new company will supply a range of tailored product and service packages designed to meet printers’ requirements.

Set to focus on growing the company's consumables business, pre-production packaging specialist, Esko, has appointed Dieter Janout as director of the brand owners and major accounts group for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America (EMEALA).

A major revision of its pricing strategy has seen Canon UK cut the price of its large format printers (LFPs) by up to 33 per cent. This is the latest in a raft of Canon incentives to drive the modernisation of the LFP market.

Squeegee specialist, Fimor, has received two awards in recognition of its export performance. The accolades highlight the French company's record of exporting over 75 per cent of its sales in more than 70 countries while enjoying an annual growth of 10 to 15 per cent per year.

Four new specifications have been released by the Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG) in a bid to address the large format digital printing and screen printing markets as they move to PDF workflows. The new specifications add to the GWG 2005 v3 publications, offering best practice for PDF file exchange in graphic arts and publishing applications. Both are available for free download from the GWG website.

Irish printers, publishers and print buyers are set to benefit from the appointment of Prepress IT as GMG dealer for the region. The agreement follows Prepress IT's relocation from Australia where managing director, Dan Wilson ran a successful pre-press workflow, press room colour management and proofing operation for the past seven years.

An expanded range of Ilford media for inkjet printing and photographic processes will be available from distributor, Omnijet UK, following an exclusive agreement between the two companies. The deal will give UK customers access to the full Ilford Omnijet wide format portfolio, which incorporates a number of new products. These include an instant dry polyester film for use in light boxes and other back-lit applications, plus an instant dry portable display film for use at exhibitions, trade fairs or at point-of-sale.

This month sees the launch of Inca's new Spyder 320-8 series flatbed printer, which will be showcased by distributor Fujifilm Sericol at ISA International Sign Expo '07 in Las Vegas. As the latest edition in the Spyder series, the 320-8 was developed to provide a greater choice of colours, as well as being able to match special colours-along with white.

Ink Technologies has promoted its marketing assistant, Amy Callow, to the position of marketing manager following a period of expansion for the company. Callow joined ITL in July 2006, prior to which she spent four years working as a marketing product manager for Cheshire Building Society.

By attending at least one show a year, you are helping yourself and your business remain effective, while stimulating new ideas. Here are some tips for exhibition visits.

Conventional printing techniques could be used to print electronic circuitry onto product packaging, according to Dr Nick Stone, director of start-up company Novalia. Applications for the technology include anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, pharmaceutical compliance and marketing concepts, all of which have prompted Novalia to file a number of patents on the process with attorneys, Venner Shipley.

Originally established to reward creative visual communication work using self-adhesive materials, MACtac has once again published its awards prize book, presenting the winners from each region. The book is available to all visual communication professionals, providing a host of ideas on how to promote their messages using self-adhesive vinyls.

Print solutions firm, NCS Group, is set to combine its electronic expertise with substrate knowledge from Pyramid Display Materials in a partnership which will see the two companies offer an enhanced service to the screen and digital print market.

Q: What prompted you to look at Digital Expo’s format for 2007?

A: After last year’s show we commissioned a massive piece of independent research to find out what exhibitors and visitors wanted from their event. Over 1,500 people responded, making the findings really meaningful and comprehensive. Coupled with our own research, these findings helped us shape the profile and programme of new features.

Quarmby has expanded its superwide format printing capability, with the addition of a Vutek QS2000 UV-curing, superwide format inkjet printer from EFI. The QS2000 joins Quarmby’s existing Vutek PV200, which has proved a huge success since its installation in July 2005.

The screen mesh is a model of engineering excellence whose purpose is to accurately meter ink onto the substrate. To achieve this, mesh manufacturers use sophisticated weaving machines that produce a woven material to tolerances of plus or minus 2µm. When you consider the threads are an elastic organic material, such tolerances are remarkable.

The wide format graphics market for inkjet inks is incredibly large with the solvent inkjet market currently worth close to US$1bn and the water-based market worth approximately US$2bn.

Epson has launched A3+ and A2 enhanced matte poster board sheets ideal for shop front/exhibition graphics and point of purchase (POP) displays. Photographers, artists, agencies and POP print companies have the benefit of a flat matte surface combined with the rigidity of a mounted print at 1.3mm thick.

AM Micro has announce PowerRIP X for the Epson Stylus Pro 3800, described as the essential tool for getting the best photographic images, fine art prints and colour matched proofs from Epson's latest photo printer.

Fujifilm has announced its latest GreenBox bundles for large-format printers. Combining everything required to set up and operate a large-format inkjet printer, the updated GreenBox bundles are available with Fujifilm’s Epson Stylus Pro and HP Designjet printers.

The largest laminator ever manufactured by UK-based Autobond left its Derbyshire factory in February heading for Texas-based trade laminator The Lamination Center. The new Sheetmaster 105 TP XXL can laminate both sides of sheets up to 1,050 by 1,400mm at speeds up to 120m/min: believed to be the world’s fastest sheet-fed film laminator.

The Magic Touch has introduced new plotters from Graphtec. The new entry-level Craft Robo comes complete with design software for less than £300. The system is described as perfect for those wanting to take advantage of the increasing range of MagiCut applications on textiles, garments and promotional products.

Simplicity is the word used to describe three new patented sign mounting accessories from DTP Supplies. HingeHandle is a low cost ‘A’ frame hinge. It’s high density plastic and steel construction makes it visually appealing and durable. Two widths are offered, 300 and 400mm. A key feature is the ability to swivel the sign through 330deg allowing printing on both sides.

Colortrac has launched the new SmartLF Gx25 series scanners designed to provide fast, quality scans, copies or file distribution of A1 photographs, images, artwork, graphic designs, posters and other fine detail documents requiring colour or monochrome capture.

Augend Technologies has launched new wide-format inkjet printers. The new high-resolution Xtream25s+ and Xtream32s+ offer six-colour prints between 2.5 and 3.2m on flexible materials for indoor and outdoor large-format applications. Speed is up to 34m2/h. Motorised winder and unwinder are standard.

DSPA is pleased to say that the UK Pavilion at Fespa’s June exhibition is now full. Apologies if you were planning to join us, but towards the end there was quite a scramble for available space. When visiting the show you will find us in Hall 3.1, next to the Fespa stand. Potential visitors should visit www.fespa2007.com for further details on the exhibition, flights, hotels etc.

The Digital & Screen Printing Association and Screen Process and Digital Imaging magazine have joined forces to launch the all-new Digital & Screen Printing Awards 2007, designed to celebrate the companies, innovations and people driving this dynamic industry forward.