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Wide Format Online’s editor of the past seven years, and former editor of Labels Plus and Print 21, Andy McCourt, is moving on to new challenges and leaves colleague, Nige Cottingham at the helm.

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With Sydney’s annual Vivid light festival just around the corner, a more humble but equally bright light shone in one corner of the busy Fujifilm Business Innovation Australia (FBAU) Stand B62 on Day Two of PacPrint 2025, when representatives from Officeworks swooped in to purchase 3 new Vivid ‘VeloBlade Volta’ solutions.

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One clear trend percolating through PacPrint 2025 is the explosion of ready-to-press Direct-to-Film (DTF) transfers. In what the company says might be its only investment off the stands of PacPrint 2025, the Nankervis brothers (CEO Dayne and brother Shannon) came to the Kissel + Wolf Australia stand C76 to purchase an AGP DTF-T653, in a first ‘bold’ step to expand its specialty print capabilities by being able to offer ready-to-press Direct-to-Film (DTF) transfer.

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Supplier of a vast range of both print and functional media, Ricky Richards is back at PacPrint after a sabbatical from trade shows and it's great to see Matt Evans return to the fold on stand C80.

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HP has unveiled its latest generation of water-based HP Latex large-format printing solutions at PacPrint; the roll-feed HP Latex 730 and Latex 830 printer series. Following last month’s announcement of the all-in-one flatbed HP Latex R530 and HP PrintOS Production Hub.

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PacPrint 2025 was only 5 minutes old when GJS announced that its customer, The Ministry of Shirts, has secured the first ROQ IMPRESS automatic DTF heat transfer press in Australia, alongside the complementary ROQ FEED module.

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The show we've all been waiting for is now open. At 10am Tuesday 20th May, PacPrint 2025 show Board Chair Kirsten Taylor cut the ribbon to officially declare ANZ's largest printing industry expo and forums live. Crowds flocked in to see what is a visual smorgasbord of graphic arts delights! Here's a few early shots and stands.

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PacPrint 2025 started with a flurry of activity on the Fujifilm Business Innovation Australia Stand B62 with the official signing of a strategic partnership with UK cutter & manufacturer, Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd. as its first authorised distributor for the Asia Pacific region.

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Mysterious posts are being flagged on LinkedIn and other social media concerning the Canon Colorado M-series being at PacPrint, which opens tomorrow, 20th May at Sydney Olympic Park Showgrounds.

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Over the past few weeks, we have been bringing you a series called 'The Power of PacPrint'. Here is a digest of all the ones published to help you navigate stands of interest. Please note, it does not cover every exhibitor,  it all depended on responding to requests for information.

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With Direct-to-Object printing promising to be a hot topic as the doors to PacPrint 2025 open today (Tuesday 20^th May), Inkcups features two strong DTO options on its stand D30, with live demos both of its X5-T high-performance flatbed UV digital printer and its benchtop cylindrical UV inkjet printer the Helix ONE - powered by patented Helix technology.

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There's no doubt that, on the world stage, Australia's creative fashion brilliance shines brightly but, so little gets manufactured here. Short-run digital production is steadily changing the equation but there's still a long way to go. Industry collaborators are seeking a research partner to assess feasibility of a technology innovation hub.

 It is appropriate that the initiative has been announced at the start of 'Made in Australia'  week

 The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and Epson Australia have launched an initiative to evaluate the potential for an AI and digitally powered smart factory to advance Australia's clothing manufacturing capabilities. The organisations are seeking a qualified research partner to conduct a six-month feasibility study that will create a detailed blueprint for a pilot facility combining digital design and print, automation, and AI technologies to revolutionise local production.

The announcement comes just one week after the AFC unveiled its commitment to developing Australia's first-ever National Manufacturing Strategy for the fashion and textile industry. This smart factory feasibility study will evaluate how cutting-edge technology can form a key pillar in rebuilding sovereign manufacturing capabilities.

What is a 'smart factory'?

A clothing smart factory is an automated production facility that enables on-demand, customisable garment manufacturing with minimal waste and fast turnaround times. By bringing together digital design and print and advanced manufacturing technologies with AI-powered systems and analytics, smart factories enable quick, flexible production runs that respond rapidly to market trends without the high minimum order quantities that can result in overproduction.

Jaana Quaintance-James, CEO of the Australian Fashion Council, says: "This smart factory initiative AFC's Jaana Quaintance-Jamesaddresses multiple challenges facing Australian fashion manufacturing, from supply chain disruptions to skills shortages. Our sector is at a critical tipping point. The feasibility study will validate whether a smart factory pilot program can be commercially viable while delivering broader benefits as part of an integrated advanced manufacturing ecosystem."

Research commissioned by the AFC has estimated that for every $1 million invested in returning production to Australia, approximately $1.2 million in economic returns could be generated through job creation, technology adoption, strengthened local supply chains, and reduced import dependencies.

Epson's Craig HeckenbergCraig Heckenberg, Managing Director of Epson Australia, says: "Epson is committed to supporting innovation in Australian manufacturing as we believe Epson’s digital textile printing technology can help build a more sustainable world and improve lives. Our partnership with the AFC and this blueprint and initiative will help local brands, big and small, have access to smart manufacturing capabilities that match their scale and ambition.

"For smaller brands, it means producing high quality garments locally, on demand. For larger companies it offers a blueprint to implement smart factory practices within their operations. As a result, we see a future where Australian-made sustainable fashion will set the global standard, leading not just in design, but also in ethical, high-tech manufacturing.”

Why a Feasibility Study?

Before committing significant resources to establish a smart factory, the AFC and Epson recognise the importance of thoroughly validating the concept and learning from other local and international examples. The comprehensive six-month study will assess market viability, technical requirements, operational models, financial projections, and social and environmental considerations to create a detailed implementation roadmap.

"This isn't just a research exercise, it's the foundation for action," adds Quaintance-James. "Following completion of the study toward the end of 2025, we'll develop a detailed implementation plan to secure investment partnerships, finalise specifications for an initial pilot, develop training programs with educational institutions, and create a governance framework to maximise benefits to the Australian fashion industry."

Epson's Heckenberg notes: "The smart factory concept represents a transformative shift toward 'rapid agile' on-demand manufacturing,”  "Rather than speculative production, this approach enables creating products in response to actual consumer demand, simultaneously addressing profitability challenges and environmental concerns." 

The initiative aims to retain sovereign manufacturing capability, rebuild local supply chains, drive digital innovation, and upskill the workforce through educational partnerships. 

Call for Research Partners

The AFC and Epson Australia are seeking research partners with experience in technology and innovation, fashion and textile industry expertise, stakeholder engagement, comprehensive research and analysis skills, and financial analysis capabilities.

Research partners may be Australian-based or international organisations with the capacity to conduct a thorough feasibility study that delivers actionable recommendations.

Interested parties should submit their expressions of interest by Sunday, 15th June 2025.

For more information, please contact: Sam Delgos, Industry Relations Manager, AFC, sdelgos@ausfashioncouncil.com, or Mobile: 0405 566 313

The complete program page can be found here.

www.epson.com.au

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ASIC records show that a series of seven meetings took place with vested parties in Reacon Australia between March 17th and April 8th, when it entered administration. Reacon Australia is now subject to a liquidation order, following the May 9th Federal Court ruling, but can continue to trade pending any appeal..

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It’s not every day that a company places an order for the installation of 10-20 presses over the next two years…but Vistaprint parent Cimpress has done exactly that, announcing a landmark deal to install 10- 20 new HP Indigo 120K or HP Indigo 18K digital presses globally throughout 2025 and 2026.

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A late flurry of new exhibitors, including ORAFOL, Jetmark, Workflowz, Bottcher, Graffica, Prytec, Canson, Kayell Australia, Canon Photo & Fine Art Printers and Ricoh,  – all signing up for stands in the last few weeks – bodes well for foot traffic as PacPrint rides on the crest of a post-FESPA Global wave.

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Mimaki has formally announced a new strategic partnership with one of Australia’s leading distributors of printable materials and equipment - Ball & Doggett. Also in 'May-Maki' is new hire Troy Craigie in WA.

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Not quite the same stakes as The Hunger Games but bragging rights and a few daily prizes to be won by 3 of the 33 ‘contestants’ deemed eligible to enter into the Wrap Battle on each of the first three days of the show (11 ‘wrappers’ a day over Tuesday 20^th to Thursday 22^nd May) on Stand C18 in The Dome.

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The NSW government is reminding all business within and outside the state to act fast to gain the ATO's $20,000 instant asset write-off. It applies to multiple asset purchases too - $20k per asset! You'll need to apply before EOFY. There's also financial help on offer in hiring apprentices.

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With stand building already underway at the Sydney Showgrounds, this PacPrint could well be the most vibrant ever for Epson as they demonstrate their theme of “Come Alive with Epson” with new products producing the brightest of colours. Epson will have solutions for all categories in displays spanning photo, signage, merchandise and labels,  on stand C48.

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Jo Biggar from Country Mile Signs will represent Women in Print Australia as its Regional Ambassador, in this week’s Northwest Regional Careers Expo on Wednesday 14^th May at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre (TRECC).

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Alongside FESPA’s own industry awards, the European Digital Press Association has been running a highly sought after technical award program since 2007, with hardware and software manufacturers alike seeking validation of their efforts in accord with the voting power of just over half a million readers determining the annual EDP Awards.