When the 2020 NASCAR season started back up after being shut down for a two month-period due to COVID-19, things had changed dramatically. There were no cheering fans in the stands, the typical pre- and post-race festivities were gone, and personnel required to be there such as drivers, pit crews and camera crews now had to wear masks and practice social distancing. The entire 2020 racing schedule was different as well, with NASCAR squeezing in the number of races over a much shorter time period. Those responsible for the design and production of graphics for the race cars and support vehicles, such as the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Graphics Center, have had to deal with significant changes as well. In addition to adapting to new COVID-19 protocols, with the condensed NASCAR schedule, their workload essentially doubled.

Strong visitor numbers and positive activity at the Print, Sign, Display & Graphics Virtual Trade Show bodes well for business sentiment into the new financial year – and reinforces the value of the innovative online expo in these strange and challenging times.

French printing software company Caldera has announced the release of new Ricoh drivers for Version 13.1. These new drivers expand the award-winning software’s long list of supported peripherals, answer its clients’ needs while further enhancing their user experience.

The Print Hive can meet increasing demand in two key areas – sustainable graphics and customised interiors – without sacrificing speed, quality or affordability, following the installation of a Roland EJ-640 DECO, a dedicated printing solution for the thriving interior decoration market.

Drytac has released Polar Street FX, a PVC-free aluminium print media designed for durable floor graphics in outdoor locations without lamination.

CADlink Technology Corporation’s latest release into the digital printing segment of the personalization/customization market features an all-inclusive, professional software solution for dye sublimation producers.

PRINTING United Alliance, the largest and most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in the United States, today announces that the call for entries has opened for the annual Product of the Year Awards competition.The competition includes more than 85 categories spanning the printing industry and judging this year will take place over a new virtual event format. The deadline to submit entries online is September 8, 2020.

The most expensive things you do in your printing plant every day involve talking to clients and physically touching their work. You talk to clients to better understand the work they want you to do, and you touch the work, in prepress or at other points in the process, to ensure that the client’s intent is rendered on to the substrate. But every conversation and every touch has a financial impact. While you rely on workflow tools to aid the process, in most companies there are also spreadsheets, whiteboards, and sticky notes used to gather and communicate information about the jobs-in-progress. It’s only natural! However, the more you talk and touch, the less money you make on the job.

Being part of the FaberExposize European network provided Northern Flags with an early warning system when it came to COVID-19. “It hit Europe before it hit us,” says FaberExposize UK and Northern Flags Managing Director, Iain Clasper-Cotte. “We were in conversation with many of our German and Dutch colleagues, we saw the changes they were making, and they told us what changes their competitors were making, so we got into conversations with CMYUK quite early on, which helped to stand us in good stead.” 

The CEO of a leading online print portal has expressed concern that some schools are not properly equipped to reopen to students later this year.

The 10th annual Power of Print seminar, taking place on Tuesday 3rd November, was always expected to feature an exciting spin to celebrate this special anniversary. A fully virtual seminar was perhaps unexpected, but the possibilities and opportunities for just such an event are no less exciting.

Primera Technology, Inc., (“Primera”), a leading manufacturer of specialty color printers, have announced that it is shipping its new LX610 Color Label Printer/Cutter.

FUJIFILM Canada Inc. has announced the promotion of Stephane Blais to the newly created position of Vice President, Graphic Systems and Technical Services Divisions. With oversight of Graphic Systems and Technical Services in this role, Blais will drive greater efficiency and teamwork across both divisions.

Ultima Displays, one of Europe’s leading one-stop visual communications providers, has unveiled a brightly coloured multi-height sanitising unit specifically designed to be fun, friendly, and durable to help children – aged 3 – 11 – engage proactively with hygiene practices as school life returns to normal.

Essex-based Natural Print Solutions has installed Ricoh's latest direct-to-garment (DTG) printer, the Ricoh Ri 100, to bring the production of branded workwear and personalised merchandise in-house. The company says it is now able to offer its clients a same-day service at ‘exceptional' levels of quality.

Inkjet manufacturer Screen Europe has expanded its Service & Support team with the appointment of Mario Offermann as service manager for its customer base in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where Screen’s print-on-demand (POD) business has quadrupled over the past three years. Offermann has over 20 years’ experience in inkjet technology.