The other parents in the playground think I'm strange. When a new banner goes up they  wonder why I'm pressing my nose against the vinyl. I can't help myself, I have to check the quality of print, substrate and finish.

Xaar has extended its approval of Fujifilm Sericol UV-curable inks for use with its piezoelectric drop-on-demand inkjet technology.

Set to enhance availability and service for Avery's Graphics-brand portfolio of substrates for large-format digital print, computer signcutting and screen printing, Jelle Kroes has been appointed as general manager of Avery Graphics and Reflective Products Europe. His responsibilities will also cover the Fasson and Crack-Back Plus self-adhesive products for sheet-fed litho printing.

Production capabilities and turnaround times at HoF Display Solutions have been improved with the installation of two new digital printers for fabric and PVC.

Going the extra mile to ensure its transport strategies are energy-efficient has won the James McNaughton Group a position as runner up in the business mileage category of the Fleet Hero Awards. Hosted by the Energy Saving Trust in partnership with The Observer and Fleet News, the event aims to highlight best practice in fleet management by recognising organisations who have tackled CO2 emissions from business travel.

Established last year as the branding division of Piggotts, Look Digital, has joined forces with Piggotts' flag and flagstaff division, to create a single branding division, named Piggotts Branding.

The UK's trade association for the promotional merchandise industry, Promota, has reached a significant milestone this year. 2008 sees the trade association, which is run by members, hit its 50th birthday.

British manufacturer of SmartLF wide format scanners and image acquisition software, Colortrac, has appointed a new quality assurance manager at its Chinese subsidiary, Colortrac Imaging Systems. Kevin Zheng will be responsible for keeping costs down through lean production and just-in-time purchasing as well as ensuring robust quality control.

To help users get the best out of their printer, Epson has launched The Print Academy training day, designed to provide guidance on image capture, processing and print workflow.

Print on demand technology enabled seven year old, Harry Blay, to enjoy a large format version of his own artwork at the BETT show in London. During the exhibition, Harry's interpretation of Van Gogh's Sunflowers was blown up on a large format canvas and presented to him. Recreating his masterpiece on a grand scale was made possible through the Eduprint resource, which is a collaboration between HP and The Landscape Group. It allows schools to promote children's creativity and to bring outsourced printing requirements in-house.

Maritime Progress chose a ColorSpan 5460uv UV-curable flatbed printer for producing a range of photo luminescent rigid signage for safety displays on cruise and commercial ships. It will also be used by Warnstar Signage, a sister company providing safety signage for land based industrial, commercial and office areas.

Environmental best practice at Breckland Print has been recognised in the 2007 Green Apple Awards. Competing against 500 other entrants, Breckland Print won a silver award for its efforts in reducing water consumption and for its elimination of chemicals in the plate-making process.

Canon reseller, Revolution Transfers, has developed a chemical-free system enabling screen printers to produce screen stencils in-house at a fraction of the cost of traditional film stencils. The solution, which delivers a halftone screen resolution of up to 72 lines per inch, combines a Canon CAD large format printer (LFP), imagePrograf iPF500, imagePrograf iPF600 or imagePrograf iPF700, with a ColorGate RIP and screen film.

Signage is used in every aspect of business from retail to lifestyle and corporate branding, with new products and technologies introduced all the time. That's why Sign and Digital show director, Rudi Blackett, has high hopes for this year's graphics and visual communication exhibition, set to run 22 to 24 April at the NEC Birmingham.

It is my belief that in the UK we often talk ourselves into recession, if we listen to the British press and the various reports on TV then it is probably time for us all to lock the doors and walk away, but as we all know we should probably give most of these reports the same amount of time we give to Page 3 of the tabloids, it was Kipling who said "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs - you will be a man, my son!" (a much abridged version of his poem IF).

For a process that was supposed to be dead and buried in PoS applications, there are an awful lot of machines producing vast amounts of printed materials. One of the reasons has to be that the industry has realised that digital printing technology is simply not up to the mark. With the exception of Inca's Onset machine (which costs a stonking £1.5m), flatbed and many roll fed digital machines are just too slow.

A familiar name which remains synonymous with flatbed printers is Inca, who launched the first flatbed inkjet printer, the Eagle 44, in January 2001. The range evolved rapidly and today includes the top of the range Onset (rated as the world's fastest, fully automated digital UV flatbed printer), high speed Turbo Plus, and larger Columbia Turbo 220. Spyder models include the 150, larger 320 (which includes the low cost Spyder 320-e) a model that prints white, six and eight colour models, plus the  high quality 320Q.

Suitable for use on a variety of coloured rigid substrates, Gandinnovations' new high density UV curable white ink is claimed to achieve a brilliant white in one pass with no shadow effect. This is achieved using a proprietary manufacturing process to disperse more pigment into the formula, while maintaining a stable sub-micron white ink suspension.

Bespoke packaging specialist, Rose Plastic, is offering three products designed for the storage and transport of print, design work, maps or drawings: ScrewPack, VarioPack VPN and VarioPack VP.

Four new banner display systems have been launched by Spandex. The transportable products are designed for use in exhibition and retail environments and comprise the Banner-Fix, stand-up, roll-up and motorised scrolling display systems. All have been tested to ensure compatibility with materials from Spandex's ImagePerfect Digital media range, as well as with other major material suppliers.

Available in cyan, magenta, yellow and black, Megaink has introduced a new range of environmentally friendly BioMG inks for the Mutoh line of ValueJet printers. Developed from renewable resources, using bio-solvent based pigmented digital printing fluid rather than chemical solvents, the inks could help improve safety in smaller shops, where ValueJet printers are typically used. Benefits for users are said to include reduced emissions and clean-air advantages.

Self-adhesive vinyl manufacturer, Hexis, has launched the third generation of its cast vinyl films for cutting plotters. HX10000 carries enhanced 50µm cast vinyl film and now comes with a PE-coated liner with Hex'Press adhesive technology, said to facilitate air egress and make the product repositionable during application.

Gemini C1-S Recycled is a new range of solid bleached sulphate (SBS) board from the James McNaughton Group, manufactured from 50 per cent de-inked post consumer waste and 50 per cent FSC certified pulp. Made in Scotland, the media has a minimal carbon footprint and because it contains 50 per cent post consumer waste recycled fibre, it also ensures that paper waste is being diverted from UK landfill.

Developed to eradicate the problem of edge cracking when stretch mounting fine art digital canvas prints, DCP's new Giclée Varnish features an enhanced formulation with elastomeric polymers. The new varnish can be applied in multiple coats, by roller, with minimal foaming and no need for a final coat applied by brush.

Raster Printers has introduced the Daytona H700UV hybrid flatbed printer with grey scale print heads to produce photographic images with optional white ink support.

Retail Print Solutions is bucking the trend going into 2008 with a number of high value contracts. With its unique flatbed litho presses and a commitment to ‘green' issues, the company states it is continuing to attract clients looking for extra services from traditional print companies.

My style is to take a long hard look at a challenge and continuously review, revise and try new approaches and solutions. First the market, then the challenges, then the solutions: so here goes after a month in the role. Firstly, I would like to thank Peter Kiddell and the teams at The Print House Group, Kolorcraft, GSM Graphic Arts, Instant print and Multigraphics for showing a rookie some of the ‘ropes'.

Welcome to the first issue of Plastics and Board the re-launched PBIF magazine. I hope that you like it, because it is the first of many.

Plaspro is moving to a new 60,000ft2 purpose built facility in Letchworth, managed by its storage and logistics partner, Aztek. With everything under one roof, the company can manage its business more efficiently. The move will also let the company put its Misomax CAD plotter to use offering a sampling service.

Bensons has announced new products for 2008. The company has teamed up with Protect-All, a laminating specialist, to provide Europe with a digital printing laminating solution for fuser oils or other toner additives.

Hull-based Oriel Printing Company celebrates 30-years in 2008, adding a commemorative logo to its stationery and website to convey its excitement at this milestone. The company would like to thank its clients and suppliers whose continued support means Oriel remains a modern, progressive company.

EskoArtwork's new ArtiosCAD 7.3 includes a rubber design module for ejection rubber profiles. This feature is an automatic, one-click solution for creating ejection rubber profiles for a cutting die using a set of configurable rules. The system even recognises nicks and bolt holes. Parameter sets can be stored for different customers and die types.

Kan-do-it has produced a guide to help suppliers and clients understand paper, cotton and even plastic bags. Welcome to the World of Bags demonstrates the most important information anyone choosing a promotional bag should know.

Arrow Medical has provided product development, production engineering, assembly and distribution support to Medical Devices Technology International for the new Physio-Master, a self-inflating precision foot cushion designed to reduce the risks of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Following recent growth, Mannanco has moved into 11,500ft2 Leeds-based premises, not far from where the company started its business in the ‘70s.

When the existing factory suffered serious fire damage in January 2006, the company had a decision to make. Rebuild the factory on the old site in the picturesque town of Estella, Northern Spain or make a commitment to a new future with a state-of-the-art factory outside the town. Time was of the essence, so within only six-months not only had the decision been made, but the first stone of the brand new factory had been laid.

RH Plastics Technology has completed the move to its new workshops, showrooms and offices in Bradford. The new facility has over 3,000m2 of ground floor space encompassing a main workshop/showroom with a reception area and offices. The workshop/showroom also has a mezzanine floor which will eventually feature light engineering workshops alongside demonstration areas for smaller machines such as foot welders and shuttle machines.

RH Plastics Technology has announced the availability in the UK of the latest horizontal film-wrapping machine from Hamer Packaging Technology of Spain.

Viewers of Discovery channel's hit TV show, American Chopper, will be aware of the amazing bikes they build, in particular the incredible wheels CNC milled from solid aluminium billets. All its CNC work is done on Haas machining centres and it was this quality of work that inspired PRB Tools to choose Haas for its new CMC machine.