We now have an opportunity for a proactive and self-driven individual to join our team as Graphic Solutions Commercial Sales Manager based out of our Sydney office. We are a world leader in graphics that identify, promote and inform. We use our extensive experience and creativity to help companies across the world bring brand visions to life in powerful and exciting ways. Our Graphics Solutions provide high-performance, pressure-sensitive materials designed for use on vehicle and building graphics, and are regularly converted for digital inkjet print, sign-cut and screen print technologies across vehicle and architectural branding.

We are constantly innovating to make graphics more exciting, noticeable and easy to install. Decades of know-how and the latest technologies – like Easy Apply Technology and our Supreme Wrapping Films – allow us to help our end users transform ideas into impactful messages.

The role

The Graphic Solutions Commercial Manager position has oversight and accountability for the management, growth and profitability of Distributor Accounts and responsibility for the execution of key commercial strategies and tactics to impact the effectiveness of our Graphics Sales Team.

As a strong communicator and natural leader, you will spend a significant proportion of your time actively in the field addressing customer enquiries and drive key strategies aligned with their key accountabilities, responsibilities in this role will include:

• Coach, drive and manage your direct report/s within their territory to meet commercial objectives aligned with their key accountabilities
• Drive increased customer satisfaction and service, including product sample support, ICS Warranty support, facilitating technical field calls and the prompt support of technical information.
• Responsible for executing growth strategies to enable Master Distributors and Direct Accounts to meet growth and profitability targets.
• Ownership of Sales Excellence and Sales Enablement processes to ensure alignment and execution across your commercial organisation
• Management of pricing guidance and profitability in line with business expectations

What we’re looking for

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Minimum 5 years experience managing National Distribution channels with company headquarter and field sales relationship management experience
• Ability to travel interstate monthly with the potential for overseas travel as required
• Preferred tertiary qualifications (Bachelor’s Degree) in Business, Marketing or Commerce
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in Sales and Marketing related roles, preferably within a B2B Business Environment involving a regional Supply Chain, and Team leadership experience with ambition to progress your career to Business Management into the future.
• Demonstrated Financial Management capabilities with a strong understanding of Throughput, Gross Profit, Forecast Accuracy and Sales Growth Metrics
• Previous experience in roles where cross-functional influence and working relationships is essential.

The successful candidate will be proactive, resourceful, self-driven and comfortable to hold themselves and others to account.  Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels is essential.

There is an attractive remuneration package on offer including motor vehicle allowance and bonus, as well as company provided training and career development opportunities for the successful candidate both locally and abroad.

Head to www.seek.com.au/job-apply/35323592 for more details.

HVG Graphics Media proudly welcomes the return of Adrian Morris, a longstanding graphics industry leader, to the Turrella based Graphics team.

With extensive experience in the visual communications field gained through leadership roles at both Océ and Canon Australia, Adrian joins the HVG Graphics Media team in a national Strategic Growth role.

Adrian’s depth of knowledge, experience and skillset will help to both support and create growth pathways with new, and existing customers alike.

“I was attracted to my new role within HVG because I identify strongly with their vision and growth aspirations, and ultimately, the unique and trusted opportunity I have to lead the company on this path.

HVG is a progressive company with a strong market reputation and national footprint – we will leverage this now more than ever.

As we kick off 2018, I am really looking forward to contributing to this successful 40 plus year-old business as it continues to evolve and prosper,’’ said Morris.

HVG Graphics Media General Manager, Richard Lucas states,

“We are excited to have Adrian re-join our team after having worked in our Melbourne office over 12 years ago.

Adrian returns to HVG with an abundance of both knowledge and experience, to help us build growth across the board. We look forward to his entrepreneurial vision enabling and innovating growth in our business.”

Based in the HVG head office in Turrella, Sydney, Adrian will work with the HVG Graphics Media team across their core consumables markets in digital print, sign and reflective, banner and substrates.

Core brands represented include 3M, Dibond, Dilite, DISPA, Forex, Foamalite, FomeCor, Gatorfoam, KAPA, Reboard, REVolution, SMART-X, and VIEWseries.

Print industry wide format specialist Russell Cavenagh has joined Mutoh Australia in the role of General Manager. Responsible for the Australian and New Zealand business Cavenagh had this to say about his new role. “Mutoh have a very exciting product range and I greatly admire their dedication to developing printers that can deliver high margin business for the users of our products. With Mutoh’s quality production solutions in Eco-Sol, Dye-Sub, Textile and UV printing, I believe, we are well positioned for good growth as these markets are further expanded by our customers. In turn they will be supported by our growing team and dealer network across ANZ.” With his broad background in colour critical print and management Cavenagh brings a wealth of market experience to Mutoh that should position the company well for the future.

Agfa Graphics is expanding its wide-format hybrid Anapurna LED series for sign and display professionals with a new 1.65 m-wide hybrid printer – the Anapurna H1650i LED.

This smaller hybrid printer was designed as an accessible and cost-effective production tool that combines the latest LED technology with Agfa Graphics’ signature high-quality output.

The latest addition to the Anapurna LED series – the Anapurna H1650i LED – is a smaller version of the popular and robust Anapurna H2050i LED printer, with which it shares several features and benefits. Like its bigger brother, the new Anapurna prints on rigid and flexible media by means of LED curing, resulting in a lower cost of ownership. It combines this with Agfa’s award-winning imaging quality, ink-saving thin ink layer technology and perfect white ink printing reliability, yet requires a smaller financial investment than other Anapurna engines.

“The hybrid Anapurna H1650i LED printer was designed as a robust, qualitative and versatile entry-level option for wide-format print service providers,” explains Philip Van der Auwera, Product Manager at Agfa Graphics. “Although smaller, it is equipped with features normally reserved for higher-end printers, such as automatic head height measurement, crash prevention and an anti-static bar, thus offering the very best at a reasonable price. Of course, the Anapurna H1650i LED is driven by Asanti as well, which adds to the resulting high-quality and consistent prints.”

Fujifilm today announces the release of a new machine in its Acuity series, the Acuity LED 1600R. This accessible, dedicated roll-to-roll printer is optimised for four-colour CYMK printing, but otherwise shares all the benefits in quality and performance of the highly successful Acuity LED 1600 II hybrid model.

Exclusive to Fujifilm and featuring Dimatix Q-class industrial print heads, the Acuity LED 1600R offers four channels, with the option of a modular upgrade in the field up to eight channels. It features a high density mode capable of handling heat-sensitive roll media while printing stunning, vibrant displays – making it suitable for backlit and window applications. Like the Acuity LED 1600 II, it offers excellent productivity of up to 33m² per hour.

Producing low levels of heat and requiring lower ink volumes and less power than similar machines on the market, the newest member of the Acuity range has instant start-up, long-life LED UV lamps, no ozone or VOC emissions and only one consumable – the ink.

That ink is the new Uvijet RL ink range which is available in CMYK and CMYK plus light cyan and light magenta. A modular upgrade option to include white is available, with an option for up to eight channels to include clear ink, also being added later in the year. Designed for roll media, Uvijet RL is manufactured by Fujifilm Specialty Ink Systems in the UK, and combined with the 1600R’s Fujifilm patented LED curing system and Dimatix print heads, it delivers near-photographic print quality at an impressive speed.

Says Tudor Morgan, Segment Manager, Sign & Display at Fujifilm Graphic Systems Europe: “Fujifilm has established a strong business with the Acuity LED 1600 and then the Acuity LED 1600 II, with close to 1000 installations globally. To build on this success, we are now offering an equally robust, lower-cost model in the Acuity LED 1600R that can provide a great investment opportunity for printers looking to produce high quality, large format display work – all without compromising on the excellent performance characteristics that have gained the Acuity LED 1600 II such a formidable reputation.”

The Heidelberg subscription model follows the growing pay-per-use trend in mechanical engineering and aims to move away from growth based solely on selling and installing printing capacity.

Under this Heidelberg model, customers only pay for the number of sheets actually printed. Under the conventional business model, they buy the presses and pay separately for consumables or services. With the new digital business model, all the equipment, all consumables required – such as printing plates, inks, coatings, washup solutions, and blankets – and a comprehensive range of services geared to availability are included in the price per sheet to be charged. This differs significantly from the click charge model already introduced by digital press suppliers. Although these suppliers also charge per sheet, they mainly base this on their own costs and not on the customer’s business model.

“Under the Heidelberg subscription model, the economic responsibility for optimum technical availability, increased productivity, and maximum utilization of the installed equipment no longer rests solely with the customer, but for the first time also with the supplier,” explains Professor Ulrich Hermann, member of the Management Board and Chief Digital Officer at Heidelberg. “After all, a customer only enters into a long-term agreement with us if the benefits are permanent. We ensure this will be the case with our operator model. A situation in which customers are looking to make full use of the opportunities of digitization throughout the system also represents a forward-looking solution,” he adds.

Roland DG Australia, a leading provider of wide format inkjet printers and printer cutters for the professional durable graphics market, has released dates for VersaWorks: Beyond the Basics, the Roland DG Academy training course for 2018.

VersaWorks: Beyond the Basics has been developed to improve users’ knowledge of VersaWorks and VersaWorks Dual, increasing the efficiency and productivity of their output. Following on from 2017’s successful training sessions, the course will be held across the country once again in 2018.

Since 2009, Roland DG’s VersaWorks Academy training courses have been responsible for accrediting more than 600 students. Over 95% of those surveyed have said that they would recommend the course to others and many more have given positive feedback on how relevant, informative and easy-to-understand the course is. Vicki Wesley at Grove Wesley Design Art said: “Having used VersaWorks for [8] years, I haven’t used or known the program to its whole potential. This course was well worth doing”. Rakesh Kapadia from Rax Signs and Designs also got a lot out of the training: “There is a lot this program can do. You only know it when you do this course”.

Run by our expert Roland trainers, students will learn on Roland-supplied laptops in classes of 8 or less, with the trainer working closely with students to develop their skills and knowledge of the programs. The main areas covered in VersaWorks: Beyond the Basicsare:

• ICC profile creation demonstration
• Colour management
• Printer calibration, set up and maintenance
• Settings and features including variable data, custom cut, step and repeat, and special colour plate generation
• Advanced production techniques and tips
• Workflow automation
• Latest features of VersaWorks and VersaWorks Dual

Course details have now been finalised and bookings are available online for the following dates and locations:

Sydney, NSW                     Melbourne, VIC                    Brisbane, QLD
Wed 11th April                     Tue 1st May                          Thurs 31st May
Tue 9th October                  Wed 24th October                 Wed 7th November

Adelaide, SA                      Perth, WA
Wed 18th July                     Wed 15th August

There are only 8 places available per class, so get in quick to secure your spot. To find out more or make a booking, go to http://go.rolanddg.com/e/66942/support-roland-academy/c3zlww/334488978, email training@rolanddg.com.au or call 1800 500 119.

The new boat – spotted covered in vibrant camouflage at the BAR testing facilities – will establish a whole new class of yacht. The mid-30ft craft will bring speed, efficiency and new technology while remaining true to Princess’ core with high quality materials, comfort, seakeeping, craftsmanship and design that will stand the test of time.

While specific information on the boat isn’t yet available, it was spotted in Portsmouth in ‘dazzle camouflage’ – an eye-catching pattern designed to confuse the eye and disguise the yacht’s features. The bold camouflage seen in the spy photos of the development test boat was created by Katie Sheppard from the Plymouth College of Art, who was among 20 students on the BA Printed Textile Design and Surface Pattern course that competed to design a new version of Dazzle for Princess on this exciting project as part of their curriculum.

Dazzle was originally conceived of by Norman Wilkinson for early 19th century Naval vessels, featuring a specific geometric pattern that confused rather than concealed. These original dazzle camouflaged Royal Naval vessels were created in Plymouth – at the very same site where Princess creates its award-winning luxury yachts today.

www.wildgroupinternational.com/

Pozitive has serviced the sign, graphics and display industries for over 25 years. We are looking for a passionate, highly organised, hardworking individual to join our dynamic Sales team in an Internal sales and Customer Service role.

 

Your responsibilities will include (but not limited to):

• Answering internal Sales Call enquiries & Providing support our external sales team
• Entry of sales orders into our Jim2 ERP system (training provided)
• Ensuring customers are kept up to date of delivery delays and backorders
• Liaising and ordering from key suppliers
• Making 10 – 20 outbound sales calls per day
• Maintaining and developing relationships with new and key clients
• Serving “walk-in” clients face to face
• Learning of current product range (training provided)
• Adhoc office duties
• Assistant duties to National Sales manager

 

We are looking for someone with the following key attributes:

• Motivated self-starter, who can work independently and as part of a team
• Highly efficient with a friendly and outgoing personality
• Superb communication and attention to detail
• Excellent computer skills – including Word, Excel, Powerpoint
• Demonstrated sales ability and/or customer service experience

 

We are looking for the right applicant to start as soon as possible. If you think this is you, then we want to hear from you!

Send a cover letter and resume to careers@pozitive.com.au

Afinia Label has released the L301 Color Label Printer: a compact, full-color inkjet printer, capable of up to 4800 dpi photo-quality prints. This product expands Afinia Label’s existing line of industrial full-color label printers, and it is designed to address the needs of smaller organizations requiring professional looking labels in lower volumes.

“Bringing professional label printing in-house with the L301 allows brand owners the flexibility they need to grow,” says Mike Atkins, Afinia Label’s national sales manager. “Instead of ordering high minimum quantities of labels from a third party, they can now print the labels they need, when they need them. The L301 also opens the door to seasonal product labeling and private labeling on behalf of their customers.”

The L301 is based upon an HP thermal inkjet printing platform that prints labels up to 6” wide (or up to 8.5” wide, with an optional unwinder). Its small footprint, ease of use and quiet operation make it suitable for any desktop environment. It prints in vivid, optimized color (up to 4800 x 1200 dpi), creating a professional label that catches the eye of potential customers. It’s compatible with a wide range of media.

The L301 is now available worldwide through Afinia Label resellers; along with the Memjet-powered L801 Label Printer, the DLF-1100 Digital Label Finisher, and the DLP-2000 Digital Label Press.

By Peter Nevell, Partner – Tax

Only individuals, and not companies or trusts, can have a hobby or a private recreational pursuit.

The pursuit of a hobby by an individual may be to supplement wages, create income after having lost a job, test the waters for a new commercial venture or simply follow a passion. The pursuit of a hobby is not the same as carrying on a business for taxation purposes, which means that money derived from a hobby is not income and therefore is not assessable. Conversely, hobby expenditure is not tax deductible.

There is a risk for individuals conducting profitable hobbies that the Commissioner of Taxation will regard them as carrying on business operations.

A hobbyist is not entitled to an ABN and cannot register for GST because private recreational activities, pursuits or hobbies are specifically excluded from the definition of an enterprise.

The Queensland Supreme Court in 1985 concluded that an individual was in the business of primary production after he acquired and used one purebred female angora goat for the purposes of breeding and selling the kids. Afterwards, the Commissioner withdrew his long-standing guidelines on what quantity and land areas were considered necessary for the carrying on of a business operation.

These days there is significant economic activity conducted by taxpayers in cyberspace and for those that conduct such an activity there needs to be a word of caution. For instance, on its website, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) states that if a taxpayer ‘sets up a shop on an online trading or auction site, you are likely to be carrying on a business – especially if you paid fees to operate the shop.’

The distinction between a hobby and a business is determined by the ordinary meaning of those words as determined by the Courts, although the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 defines ‘business’ non- exhaustively as ‘including any profession, trade, employment, vocation or calling, but not occupation as an employee.’

Court cases over the years have established the circumstances that generally need to be present before a business is regarded as being operated by a taxpayer. A summary of these business indicators from a primary production perspective is found in the Commissioner’s ruling TR 97/11 which analyses an individual’s activity based on whether:

• They have a significant commercial purpose or character.
• The taxpayer has more than just an intention to engage in business.
• There is a purpose of profit as well as a prospect of profit from the activity.
• There is regularity and repetition.
• The activity is of the same kind and carried out in a manner that is characteristic of the industry.
• The activity is planned, systematic and organised in a businesslike manner.
• They have the necessary size, scale and permanency.
• Whether the activity is better described as a hobby, a form of recreation, or sporting activity.

No one indicator is decisive, and analysis of the indicators must be considered in combination. The conclusion is drawn from the general impression gained during the analysis.An individual can carry on a business of a limited nature which is preparatory to or in preparation for carrying on another business on a larger scale.As losses are frequently encountered by startup businesses, it is recommended that a business plan, incorporating cash flow projections and assumptions, be prepared on a realistic basis.

Because of the difficulty involved in determining whether an individual is carrying on a business or a hobby, and the sheer number of individuals making losses from these activities, parliament introduced Division 35 of ITAA 1997 (non-commercial loss rules) during 2000.

Division 35 outlines that a loss made by an individual (including an individual in a general law partnership) from a business operation will not be deductible in the income year in which it arises unless the following conditions are satisfied;

• An individual’s adjusted taxable income is less than $250,000 (after adding back reportable fringe benefits, super contributions, net investment losses and excess deductions from non-commercial business activities that are caught by Division 35), and;
• The exception rule applies where the loss occurs from a primary production business or a professional arts business activity, and where the individual has other assessable income of less than $40,000 (excluding any capital gain).

And, if the exception rule doesn’t apply, one of the following tests is satisfied:

• There is at least $20,000 of assessable income during the relevant year from the business activity.
• The business activity results in a tax profit during any three of the past five income years (including the current year).
• At least $500,000 worth of land and buildings (excluding any private dwelling) are used on a continuing basis in carrying on the business activity in that year.
• At least $100,000 of certain other assets (excluding cars, motorcycles) are used on a continuing basis in carrying on the business activity in that year.

If one of the preceding four tests is not satisfied, you may apply to the ATO for the Commissioner to exercise his discretion.

For the Commissioner to exercise his discretion favorably, it is important that the individual demonstrates that the business activity will, more than likely, satisfy one of the tests or produce a tax profit and outline the period within which a commercially viable business would do so. A business plan and cash flow forecast are necessary, as well as supporting evidence from an independent source. Appropriate independent sources include industry bodies or relevant professional associations, government agencies, or other taxpayers conducting successful comparable businesses.

Any loss denied as a tax deduction will be deferred to future income years and offset against the assessable income from the “non-commercial” business activity.

As a concluding point, once an individual’s activities move from being a hobby to carrying on business, the small business capital gains tax concessions potentially become available. This concession can exempt from tax some or all of a capital gain from the disposal of a capital asset that is used in the individual’s business operations.

Given the complexity of these rules, we recommend that you discuss your specific circumstances with your Crowe Horwath tax adviser.

Canon Australia has entered a new relationship with Plockmatic Group to bring new solutions to its Australian Production Print customers

Canon Australia is broadening its range of inline finishing solutions for Production Print through a new reseller relationship with Plockmatic Group. Through this new collaboration, Canon Australia can now further support its Production Print customers with a wider range of high quality, fully-finished products.

The relationship covers two Plockmatic devices – the BLM 50 and BLM 35 Production Booklet Makers – allowing Canon customers to now produce stapled or square-fold booklets of up to 200 and 140 pages, at rated engine speeds. Both models can handle coated, uncoated and textured stocks up to 350 gsm.

The Plockmatic BLM50 200 page (50 sheet) booklet maker features numerous performance and durability enhancements, including a number of patented technologies. The Plockmatic BLM35 is a cost effective 140 page (35 sheet) booklet maker that is built on the same engineering platform as the 50 Sheet platform, but offered at a highly competitive price point.

Plockmatic Binder converts a conventional saddle stitched booklet into a flat square spine booklet with a look similar to that of a perfect bound book. With a high level of automation, this printer delivers quality books with minimal effort needed from its operator. The system is engineered to support an average volume of up to 30,000 booklets/manuals per month. Plockmatic offers customers versatility and can be easily upgrade the BLM35 to BLM 50 anytime, onsite. The Manual Feed function allows output from another printer to be finished on the inline Plockmatic BLM50/35, even if the printer is running other jobs to the stacker.

These Plockmatic solutions complement Canon’s existing range of own and third-party finishing options, which include perfect binding, punching, folding, ring binding, booklet making and three-knife trimming.

Both Plockmatic booklet makers will be commercially available to Canon’s Australian customers from February 2018 and will initially be compatible with the Canon imagePRESS C10000VP,C8000VP, C850 and C750 presses.

Gavin Gomes, Director, Canon Business Services, said this new business relationship is an example of Canon’s commitment to continue growing its Production Print capabilities.

“Through our new relationship with Plockmatic, Canon Australia will be able to deliver new capabilities to our Production Print customers. Production Print continues to be a key focus for our Australian business.  We will continue to increase our ability to provide tailored solutions that will empower Production Print businesses to unleash their potential, through increased productivity and by helping them bring new products to their customers.”

Anjana Maikap, Product Marketing Manager, Canon Business Services, said Plockmatic is a global leader in finishing solutions and their expertise will help us deliver the best solutions to fit with Canon’s imagePRESS range.

“We were looking for booklet making solutions that would complement the high quality output of our imagePRESS range and deliver a superbly finished product that would work with a broad range of media. We also needed robust technology that would meet our customers’ needs for reliability, flexibility and productivity. Now our customers can produce beautiful square folded booklets to match the image quality delivered from the imagePRESS series”.

EFI Optitex®, the world’s leading provider of integrated 2D & 3D CAD/CAM apparel platform technology, has launched the Optitex 3D Design Illustrator, a plug-in tool allowing designers the freedom to validate and customize 3D garments in Adobe® Illustrator®. The new 3D Design Illustrator was announced this week at 19th annual EFI Connect users’ conference in Las Vegas.

Through working in the native design environment on a PC or a Mac, designers can visualize 3D garments, with accurate proportion and scaling, and customize the garment’s fabric, texture, print patterns and graphic placement without waiting for a printed sample.

The plug-in works by importing 2D and 3D pattern files or building block libraries into Adobe Illustrator and activating a window with a 3D representation of the pattern side-by-side. Users can export the final file as a picture or 3D file, validate designs among teams, and send directly for digital or sublimation printing.

“3D adoption is already a necessity for nearly every successful fashion company, and in that space, it is important to onboard all teams from design to production,” said Guy Alroy, head of Textile product management, EFI Productivity Software. “Now, entire teams can enable 3D capabilities to streamline the whole design to print workflows, letting them focus on creativity, reduce physical prototypes, and get to market faster than before.”

A video of the new plug-in software is available at: tinyurl.com/y8k3dsm9. For more information, visit www.efi.com/optitex.

EFI also offers Fiery DesignPro textile design plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop on Mac or Windows computer platforms. Fiery DesignPro cost-effectively improves textile design speed and accuracy, lets designers experiment more confidently, and communicates color consistently from design to production.

Visual Solutions is looking for an Experienced Sales Person to join our team.  

Visual Solutions Australia is one of Melbourne’s leading large format digital printing companies located in Moorabbin. We are looking for an experienced sales person within the digital print area to join our team. The successful candidate will be currently working within the digital print market and have excellent communication skills and technical print knowledge. We are looking for someone who has established relationships and can hit the ground running, however you will also be handed some house accounts to manage. You will need to be accustomed to cold calling and be a proven door opener.

If you are motivated and enjoy working in a fun environment then this job could be for you. We are offering an excellent salary package Please send your resume by email to: sales@visualsolutions.com.au

After several weeks of speculation in the general business press about a possible coupling, today Xerox Corp. and Fujifilm Holdings announced a definitive agreement to combine Xerox and their longstanding Fuji Xerox joint venture, creating an $18 billion company. Fujifilm will own a controlling 50.1% of the combined company, marking the end of Xerox as an independent company dating back to its founding (The Haloid Photographic Co.) in Rochester, N.Y., in 1906.

The combined company, which has been approved by both companies’ board of directors, will be named Fuji Xerox and will maintain dual headquarters in Norwalk, Conn., and in Tokyo, with a presence in more than 180 countries. The $6.1 billion acquisition will combine Xerox with the existing, 56-year joint venture (called Fuji Xerox) between the two companies that primarily serves the Asia-Pacific region, of which Fuji owned a majority 75% stake. According to an article in the Financial Times, the deal structure, which is expected to close in the second half of this year, is somewhat unusual in that it “will be carried out in three phases that will effectively allow Fujifilm to retain cash to carry out acquisitions. Using $6.1 billion in bank lending, Fuji Xerox will first buy back the 75% stake in the joint venture from Fujifilm. The Japanese group will then acquire 50.1% of the new shares of Xerox by selling its 75% stake, and Fuji Xerox will ultimately merge with Xerox.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Xerox shareholders will receive a $2.5 billion special cash dividend, or approximately $9.80 per share, funded from the combined company’s balance sheet, and own 49.9% of Fuji Xerox at closing. The combined company will trade on the NYSE under Xerox’s existing ticker symbol, XRX, and the Xerox and Xerox Fujifilm brands will be retained in their respective markets. Upon close of the transaction, current Xerox CEO Jeff Jacobson will serve as CEO of the new Fuji Xerox. Fujifilm Chairman and CEO Shigetaka Komori will serve as chairman of the combined company’s board of directors. The board will include 12 members, seven of whom will be appointed by the Fujifilm board. Five independent directors will be appointed from the Xerox board.

Fujifilm Acquires Xerox: What Really Drove the Deal to Happen?

This consolidation is being driven more by diminished revenue streams and changing market conditions in the office printing sector, more so than in the future outlook for the production printing space.

How much the Fuji/Xerox coupling was also hastened by an activist shareholder group that had been calling for the ouster of Xerox’s “old guard” board and CEO Jacobson may never be fully known. As reported Jan. 22 in Printing Impressions, the first and third largest Xerox shareholders (representing more than 15% of outstanding shares) – Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason, respectively – had announced a partnership to solicit proxies to elect four new individuals to the board of directors at the 2018 annual meeting of Xerox shareholders.

Aside from making several demands, that press release also specifically addressed the rumors of a Fuji/Xerox merger and waged a tirade against Jacobson: “The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Xerox is in talks with Fujifilm regarding an array of potential transactions that may or may not include a change of control of Xerox. We are not predisposed to approve or disapprove of any such transaction, whether with Fuji or any other party. But if Xerox is indeed exploring a transaction with Fuji that may result in a change of control (which to our view would make sense since we, like many others, believe consolidation in this industry is inevitable), then we implore the ‘old guard’ directors – who have historically lacked the intestinal fortitude to challenge and demand accountability from Xerox management – to not do us all the tremendous disservice of allowing Jeff Jacobson to lead the negotiations. He is neither qualified nor capable of successfully running this company, let alone negotiating a major strategic transaction that will do more than save his own job.”

In today’s announcement, Fuji and Xerox pointed out the benefits that they believe the transaction will provide:

• Global leader with combined revenue of approximately $18 billion and nearly $120 billion total addressable opportunity.
• Enhanced scale with presence in over 180 countries and covering key geographies including North America, Japan, Europe, Asia Pacific and China.
• Combined leadership with a strong track record of operational excellence, transformation experience, customer relationships and industry expertise.
• Improved revenue profile and growth trajectory by leveraging the combined expertise, competitive strengths and geographic reach of the two companies.
• World-class innovation capabilities to define the future of innovative print technologies and intelligent work solutions by bringing together two R&D and innovation leaders, along with Fujifilm’s extensive expertise. The new Fuji Xerox will be well-positioned to lead in growing areas such as high-speed inkjet, packaging, industrial print and workplace automation, as well as future development opportunities in artificial intelligence, machine learning, internet of things and augmented reality.
• Strengthened balance sheet and cash flow generation to provide flexibility to support strategic investments in growth and enable increasing capital returns.

10,000 Layoffs Announced at Fuji Xerox Amid Outlook

But, of course, one of the drivers to a consolidation transaction of this magnitude is promise of economies of scale, which results in the elimination of redundancies and, in reality, job layoffs. Just prior to today’s announcement, Fujifilm Holdings revealed it was eliminating 10,000 jobs within Fuji Xerox in conjunction with a lower operating income forecast for fiscal 2018, the bulk of which would likely be in the Asia-Pacific.

According to a press release issued by the two parties, the combination “is expected to deliver at least $1.7 billion in total annual cost savings by 2022, with approximately $1.2 billion of the total cost savings expected to be achieved by 2020. The targeted cost savings represent approximately 10% of the total cost base of the new Fuji Xerox and will drive significant margin expansion over the next four years.

“Of the total $1.7 billion cost savings, $1.25 billion is related to the synergies that will be achieved through the transaction. In addition, the combined company will benefit from a cost reduction program commencing immediately at the existing Fuji Xerox joint venture, which is targeted to generate approximately $450 million of cost savings on an annualized basis. These amounts are incremental to Xerox’s ongoing Strategic Transformation initiatives. The new company expects to incur approximately $1.4 billion in one-time integration and restructuring costs, mainly in the first three years.”

Technology, R&D Advantages of Merger Include Inkjet

From a synergistic standpoint, in today’s press release Fujifilm’s Komori extolled the technology and intellectual property advantages – including inkjet and Artificial Intelligence – that will result.

“Fujifilm and Xerox have fostered an exceptional partnership through our existing Fuji Xerox joint venture, and this transaction is a strategic evolution of our alliance,” said Komori. “The Document Solutions business represents a significant part of Fujifilm’s portfolio, and the creation of the new Fuji Xerox allows us to more directly establish a leadership position in a fast-changing market. We believe Fujifilm’s track record of advancing technology in innovative imaging and information solutions – especially in inkjet, imaging, and AI areas – will be important components of the success of the new Fuji Xerox.”

Xerox’s Jacobson was similarly upbeat: “The proposed combination has compelling industrial logic and will unlock significant growth and productivity opportunities for the combined company … The new Fuji Xerox will be better positioned to compete in today’s environment with truly global scale, increased presence in fast-growing markets, and innovation capabilities to effectively meet our customers’ rapidly-evolving demands. In addition, the combined company’s strong financial profile will enable investments that support continued market leadership, while also providing opportunities for increasing capital returns over time.”

Kodak announced upgrades to the Kodak Proofing Software, making it easier for printers to spend less time planning and more time printing consistent colour results. New with the upgrade, Kodak Proofing Software allows you to proof spot colours with stunning accuracy with new support for violet ink proofers from the EPSON SC-P7000 and SC-P9000 family. The new upgrade also meets print buyer expectations by achieving standard targets based on ISO 12647, GRACoL, and SWOP with Certified Proofing for Colour Confirmation.

While the Kodak Proofing Software gives you better management of colors, it also pairs perfectly with some of the impressive features already in the software including supporting custom media, industry leading color performance and scheduled calibration. This allows printers to calibrate after hours, meeting print buyer specifications and maintaining industry standards. The end result is to achieve top-of-the-line proofing right in the hands of the users to ensure a flawless finished product.

“Kodak Proofing Software is a dependable, easy-to-use solution for inkjet proofing,” said Allan Brown, VP and general manager of Kodak’s Unified Workflow Solutions. “This offering reduces costs by eliminating extensive planning and allows for an overall increase in operations agility by delivering consistent, reliable results time after time. Kodak Proofing Software builds on top of the same best in class colour technology found in Kodak COLORFLOW Software and in the rest of Kodak’s PRINERGY Product Suite.”

Muller Martini has announced that it has taken over the perfect binding and bookline business from Kolbus. This includes the service and spare parts business for all of Kolbus’ bookbinding systems installed worldwide. Kolbus will set its focus on the packaging and casemaking business, parts manufacturing and the foundry business.

“Structural change has changed the graphic arts industry in recent years and our market has become much smaller and versatile at once,” says Bruno Müller, CEO of Muller Martini. “Customers need innovations on a regular basis, which have to be financed with lower sales quantities. Above all, our customers benefit from the efficiency gains bringing together the bookbinding activities.”

The changes in the market are directly affecting Muller Martini’s customers, which are faced with new business models like digitization. By combining the potentials for success like personnel, know-how, technology and infrastructure of the two companies, Muller Martini can provide the market with innovative solutions in the long term.

“This secures the future of the softcover and hardcover business of both the customers and the two machine manufacturers –  and thus also jobs in the graphic arts industry,” Bruno Müller explains.

Continued Production in Rahden

The bookbinding business of Kolbus is transferred to the new business unit Müller Martini Buchbinde-Systeme GmbH, which will be integrated into the Muller Martini group with all dedicated employees as an independent factory with domicile in Rahden. Kolbus will remain under the direction of CEO Kai Büntemeyer.

With 900 employees, Kolbus will set its focus on the packaging and casemaking business, parts manufacturing and the foundry business. Kai Büntemeyer is convinced that with this step, Kolbus will create good opportunities for a successful future.

“In recent years, the packaging market was growing consistently. We see a good potential and will vigorously expand our current activities in this business. There are also very good perspectives in the segment of component manufacturing for sophisticated mechanical engineering companies including Müller Martini Buchbinde-Systeme GmbH and Kolbus Luxury Packaging.”

Machine Portfolio and Know-how Remains

The know-how of the Kolbus machine portfolio is taken over, backed up and further developed by Muller Martini. The approximately 250 Kolbus employees from the bookbinding department will be taken over by Muller Martini in Rahden at the same employment conditions. The staff in the packaging and casemaker segments will continue to work for Kolbus.

Roland DG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and 3D devices worldwide, today announced its Global SE Awards 2018 competition to be held at its Hamamatsu headquarters from April 23 to 25, 2018 for service engineers (SEs) engaged in the repair and maintenance of Roland DG products.

Following its beginning in 1981, Roland DG established a comprehensive customer services and support capability, now called Roland DG Care, to ensure that its products continue to perform well for many years, thereby increasing customers’ peace of mind and ensuring the smooth operation of their businesses. According to Mr. Takaaki Koshita, general manager of Roland DG Global Technical Services, the goal of the Global SE Awards competition is to recognise SE abilities both regionally and globally and motivate them to raise the standard of Roland DG Care even further. “By providing a series of regional competitions leading up to a final global contest, our goal is to increase the personal pride and motivation of the SEs, as well as to challenge the knowledge and technical skills they have cultivated in their daily work and to encourage them to share their best practices and individual know-how with their peers.”

The Global SE Awards 2018 is the third global contest to be held, following the second event in 2015. For the upcoming competition, participants’ maintenance skills will be tested in two categories: inkjet printers, which represents Roland DG’s core product line, and 3D devices, which includes digital dental milling machines that are rapidly growing in popularity. Local competitions are being held throughout the Americas, European/Middle Eastern/African, and Asian regions from November of 2017 to February of 2018, with 778 Roland DG Care Certified Service Engineers* participating, making it the highest participation rate so far. SEs will be selected to represent each region based on their performance in the local competitions which, in addition to knowledge and skill level, also measured the quality of their daily activities and how proactive they were with sharing their know-how with peers. The 28 selected finalists will put their skills and knowledge of maintenance services to the test in both hands-on and written exams to determine the champion in each category.

“SEs work closely in the field with customers around the world,” Koshita said, “and they are the key to achieving Roland DG’s long-held mission of maintaining and enhancing customer confidence by providing high-quality service and support. With business becoming increasingly competitive, customer service and support have never been so important, and we are working to create brand differentiation and provide peace of mind for our customers.”

“For 2018,” Koshita continued, “we increased the product range covered in the upcoming competition because we want to provide the same excellent service to all our customers using our extensive product lineup. We developed an online platform that allows SEs around the world to regularly share their service and support knowledge as members of a global team. The Global SE Awards competition gives SEs selected from each region the opportunity to share their knowledge and know-how with one another. As the leading SEs in their respective regions, we hope that this will serve as a way to raise the level of service quality globally.”

Global SE Awards 2018 Competition Overview

Event dates: April 23 to 25, 2018
Venue: Roland DG Corporation headquarters
Schedule:
Day 1: April 23
Opening ceremony
Mission 1 (written exam)
Day 2: April 24
Mission 2 (hands-on exam)
Day 3: April 25
Award ceremony

UniNet, an OEM of on-demand digital print technology, has launched its newest transfer printer at the Imprinted Sportswear Show, which took place January 19-21, in Long Beach, CA, USA

The iColor 550 is a multi-purpose printing solution for transfer production of garments, labels, stationary, banners, hard surfaces, marketing customisation and more. The versatility of this new printer allows users to create heat transfer prints with white overprint, right side reading with white underprint, and regular CMYK prints without white. The iColor 550’s capabilities can be further enhanced using UniNet’s specialty toner upgrade kits which includes fluorescent, clear, security, and dye sublimation toners.

Also being presented is the new iColor SmartCut software, which allows users to easily print and press oversized images onto apparel and hard surfaces. This ground-breaking application turns any iColor 500, 550 and 600 transfer printer into a tabloid ‘plus’ capable machine, allowing for the splitting and splicing of one graphic across two printed transfer sheets for pressing onto large items.