Blue Star Print Group has reported earnings of NZ$20m for the first half of 2009-10, which represents a 163 per cent improvement on the six months ended June 30, 2009. However, this is still down on the pre-global financial crisis performance of NZ$27.6m for the six months ended 31 December 2008.

Printing Industries has launched a study to determine the current and future levels of industry interest in business and personal development through formal training programmes and qualifications.

Sydney-based print and graphic communications exhibition PrintEx is returning to the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour next year. Organisers say spaces for the event, which was last held in 2007, are currently on sale and the event is predicted to be a sell out.

While Amcor’s profits rose three per cent to A$172.5m in the first half of 2009-10, the packaging giant’s sales dropped 15.6 per cent to A$4.08bn. The company claims that although economic conditions in Australia improved during the July to December 2009 period, they remain weaker than the same period last year.

Fujifilm Australia has introduced the new Acuity Advance HS large format UV inkjet printer to market which the company claims is the latest breakthrough in wide format UV digital imaging technology. The Advance HS will sit alongside the Acuity Advance and Advance X2 printers in Fujifilm’s printer line-up.

CPI’s net profit dropped 4.2 per cent to $2.04m for the first half of 2009-10 while earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell 27.6 per cent to $4.2m. The Australian paper giant says trading conditions remain difficult with volumes still below the levels two years ago.

At Ipex, industry supplier technotrans outlines it will be giving visitors the opportunity to consider remote control via the internet in hand with a service agreement. The company says service agreements enable printers to have regular preventative maintenance and repair work done to known and predictable costs.

It appears that the B2 format sheet fed digital press may be the Holy Grail for press manufacturers. In the 1990s Indigo regularly brought a mock up of a future B2 format press to the different trade shows.

Artarmon-based printer The Printing Department, has gone into voluntary administration. Meanwhile, digital printer Rapid Digital also in Artarmon has also gone into voluntary administration, however management told Australian Printer they are still printing as usual.

Fyshwick-based print shop New Millennium Print (NMP) has recently installed a Komfi Delta laminating machine which has enabled the company to keep its latest service, cello glazing, in house.