We start this week with a thoughtful editorial from Print Business in praise of the inefficiencies of print, which argues that printers would do better to take on complex value-added jobs that require creativity and skill rather than buying the most productive presses just to chase competitors on price.

Meanwhile Printweek writes that a local landmark in Watford, the 1930’s era Art Deco style Sun Clock Tower, has been saved from demolition. The building is all that remains of Sun Printers, at one time a major British magazine printer. The tower was built to extract water from an artesian well.

Also from the UK, Digital Printer reports that LG Davis, which runs a fleet of Xerox printers and supplies print and branded office products, has acquired a local printer, Positive Print - both business being based in Birmingham. This is LG Davis’ seventh acquisition in six years.

There’s an upbeat story from Print21 in Australia that notes both Kodak and Fujifilm are reporting increases in offset plate sales worldwide as the industry bounces back from the pandemic. The story points out that even though Australia is still in the grip of the Covid crisis, some printers have ordered new presses.

However, Print21 also reports that Australia’s 6500 sports clubs have successfully lobbied the government for the right to switch to digital and to remove the legal requirement to communicate AGM and other notices to their 15 million members via print, which threatens a number of regular print jobs.

Still in Australia, Sprinter writes that Quality Press, based in a suburb of Perth, has upgraded its 12-year old HP Indigo 5500 to an Indigo 7K press - the first in Western Australia - both to take advantage of the faster speed and to be able to run thicker and more varied substrates.

ME Printer has a story on the Saudi government having approved a set of technical regulations applying to all paper and cardboard products, including graphic papers, newsprint, tissue and industrial papers but not food-contact papers and wallpapers. These regulations cover the physical, chemical and environmental properties of the products right through to recycling.

Canon India, according to Indian Printer and Publisher, has announced two new series of printers, including the ImagePress C10010VP and C9010VP production printers, and the ImagePrograf TZ5300 and TX5410 wide format CAD printers. The article quotes statements from Canon India that these new products will help customers move beyond the problems from the pandemic.

Indian Printer and Publisher also has a story on Fujifilm India, which marked World Photography Day yesterday by officially opening its first experience centre at the Museo Camera Center for the Photographic Arts in Gurugram in the northern India state of Haryana. The centre will be used to teach consumers new photography skills.

Africa Print has a list of reasons as to why people should visit the upcoming Graphics Print and Sign Live Demo expo to be held in October in Johannesburg, South Africa. The show covers a wide mix of print from commercial and wide format to labels and short run packaging as well as garments.

Finally, and just so that readers can start the weekend on a high, the Canadian title Graphic Arts Media reports that Lexjet, based in Florida, USA, has launched an in-house digital label printer and cutter to allow cannabis brands to print and die-cut labels on-demand, eliminating the risk of labels going to pot due to constantly changing cannabis regulations.