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Local packaging firm Colorpak has reported half year revenues of $42.6m, a 5.6 per cent jump from the last year’s $40.3m, which the company attributes to a boost in sale as well as strong operational efficiencies.

The previously named Australian Packaging Machinery Association has been re-branded as the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) effective immediately. The Association's board says its membership base covers all areas of packaging and processing equipment including food processing and process engineering equipment and the new name identifies all aspects of the industry.

Japanese press maker Mimaki has launched its new direct-to-textile and dye sublimation inkjet printer. The company says its TX400-1800B features a newly developed adhesive belt carrier system, which stabilises flexible materials that tend to stretch and contract during printing.

Franchise operation Worldwide Online has called in the administrators after 16 years of virtually non-stop growth. The independent franchisees, of which there are more than 80 in Australia, are not directly affected as they run independent operations.

Administrator McGrathNicol is offering for sale the business and assets of ailing print shops The Printing Department and Carbonbook, which went into voluntary administration last month. McGrathNicol is seeking non-binding indicative offers for the businesses.

Konica Minolta and Kodak Australasia will host a number of road shows in capital cities around Australia this month. The road shows will extend the partnership formed by Konica Minolta and Kodak Australasia at PacPrint in 2009.

Hannapak, who recently installed the first Roland 700 HiPrint in Australia, is opening its doors for a manroland hosted open house, which will allow visitors to see the new generation Roland in full operation firsthand.

The world’s largest web offset manufacturer manroland is negotiating the purchase of Swiss newspaper press maker Wifag, with the deal expected to be finalised later this year. No details have been given on the terms, which are likely to be favourable to manroland. Wifag’s turnover in 2008 was around CHF500m, (A$520m) but the 2009 figure is likely to be substantially reduced.

Visual communications franchiser MBE Business Service Centres has awarded outstanding franchisees’ performance across Australia and New Zealand. More than 40 franchises participated in the awards, with four accolades taken out by Konica Minolta clients for their achievements in sales, growth and overall business success.

After purchasing the latest Watkiss booklet maker, along with a Digivac collator, Whitianga-based newspaper The Informer has sped up production of its 5500-run weekly community paper, which it distributes from Mercury Bay to Whangamata.

Salmat’s profits were up 21.9 per cent to $24.3m in the first half of 2009-10 compared with $19.9m during the same period the year before. While the company reported total mail volumes were down four per cent, its Targeted Media Solutions division earnings increased by 40.5 per cent to $20.7m following strong outcomes from efficiency programmes and new business wins.

HP has launched the HP Digital Print Awards 2010 (Asia Pacific & Japan) – HP Scitex. The awards will serve to recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions of Print Service Providers (PSPs) in the signage industry across Asia Pacific and Japan, according to HP.

APN News & Media, the company that publishes the New Zealand Herald, the Listener and other major kiwi newspaper and magazine titles, turned to a full-year profit after impairments pushed its previous year’s results into the red, saying a pickup in trading in the fourth quarter has continued into the current year.

McPherson’s Limited’s book printing division experienced a $2.9m loss in sales revenue to $32.4m in the first half of 2009-10, which the company attributed to “the continuation of subdued market conditions, particularly with respect to professional reference publications”.

Chinese offset equipment supplier Duoyuan Printing has reported a 15.1 per cent revenue increase to US$42.4m for the second quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared with US$36.8 million for the same period last year. The company says the increase was primarily due to the growth in sales of multicolor presses.

Flint Group has launched the nyloprint Combi 96 x 120 ED for the main exposure, drying and post exposure of nyloprint printing plates. Meanwhile the company has also undertaken a major acquisition.

Epson, and its local distributor DES drew a group of Sydney’s packaging printers to DES’s new print centre in Rhodes yesterday for the launch of the new Epson WT7900, which the companies claim is the world’s first water based white ink package proofer.

HP has opened its expanded Scitex Regional Solution Centre in Hong Kong, which the company says has successfully shipped more than 100 HP Designjet L65500 printers since its launch in February 2009.

The first national, industry-wide audience measurement planning tool for outdoor media in Australia was launched this week. Move, (Measurement of Outdoor Visibility and Exposure), covers major formats and environments, including roadside billboards, posters, street furniture, railway stations, transit, shopping centres and airports, according to the Outdoor Media Association (OMA).

Gunns has reported a 98.7 per cent plummet in profits in its half year results to $400,000, compared with $22m in the second half of 2009. The troubled company says its woodfibre business was severely impacted by the strong Australian dollar and declining volumes.