PrintWeek reports that the UPAC packaging group, based in Glasgow in Scotland, is moving its 62 staff to a four-day working week to improve their work/ life balance following a recent trial. The company will still be open five days a week and everyone keeps their current salary and benefits.

Printweek India writes that Umang Singhal has been appointed as the head of ColorJet’s India Signage Business. Until recently, Singhal, who has over 22 years experience, led Ricoh India’s production printing division. He will replace Deborshi Paul Choudhury who will now help expand ColorJet’s international business.

Indian Printer and Publisher reports that the Offset Printers’ Association has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kurukshetra University to establish communication and cooperation between the two in order to promote eduction for the printing and packaging sectors, with the university’s vice chancellor noting that such arrangements help to improve India’s self-reliance.

ME Printer reports that RAK National Printing Press, based in the United Arab Emirates, has installed the world’s first Xerox Baltoro HF to come complete with Xerox’s Color Accelerator as part of a plan to reduce waste and cut costs and to migrate more work from offset to digital.

Inkjet Insight, based in the US, has looked at the effect the pandemic has had on the use of inkjet printing for the book market, noting that printed book volumes grew by roughly 5 percent in Europe and the US. The story covers various factors, from the growth of online ordering to pressure on existing supply chains.

From Australia, Print 21 offers advice to printers on how to cope with the strict guidelines now that the lockdown in some areas is easing, warning that police in New South Wales can now close down businesses that fail to comply with the rules, which vary from one region to the next.

Elsewhere, Print 21 writes that Fred Soar, managing director of Soar Print, has been named as the next president of the 113-year old New Zealand print association PrintNZ, with Jill Cowling, CEO of Blue Star, and Morgan John, GM at Spicers, also joining the board.

Canadian magazine Print Action reports that MPI Print, based in Mississauga in Ontario, Canada, has installed a new KBA 215 dual-line web press to help better serve customers with high volume requirements by offering faster print speeds and reduced costs. The new press replaces an older Mitsubishi web press.

From Italy, Converter and Cartotecnica has a story about Liner Italia International, which produces pizza boxes. The company has just installed a second 4-colour Chroma EVO 1700 press plus a Bobst die cutter at its Ceriano Laghetto facility, near Milan, Italy, to expand its production and consolidate this market.

Ink World reports that 3M is investing in TPG Rise Climate, an investment fund that focusses on projects that will improve sustainability such as clean energy and transport to limit the effects of climate change. This chimes with an earlier statement from 3M that it will invest in its own facilities to improve their environmental footprint.

The Gapp magazine writes that the South African Plastics Recycling Organisation - SAPRO - is inviting entries to the 2021 Best Recycled Plastic Product of the Year Awards. The competition aims to grow the demand for plastic recyclate and to make the idea of locally manufactured recycled plastic products more acceptable.