Page 43 - Print21 Nov-Dec 2020

Year in Review
April
Paper supply strong say merchants
The country’s two big paper suppliers, Ball
& Doggett and Spicers, both said they had more than enough stock to cover all demand for commercial grades in the coming months. As it turned out they had more than enough, as print production plummeted.
$150,000 instant asset write-off
The government increased the
instant asset write- off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000. This scheme was only available for
the remainder of the financial year, which meant it covers any
assets purchased before 30 June, but was later extended to next year.
Regional newspapers closing
Regional newspapers were dropping like flies as they battled a fall-off in advertising since the coronavirus got serious, with fears also raised over the future of some of the major metro papers. As it turned out hundreds of community papers closed or went online.
Two printers one client
The country’s two big printers, IVE and Ovato, will now be working for the same major client, as the country’s two big magazine publishers joined forces. Ovato has the Bauer contract, while IVE prints for Pacific Magazines. Bauer has around 35 per cent of the local magazine market, while Pac Mags has around 22 per cent.
ACM suspends newspaper printing
Australian Community Media suspended printing at four sites, halting production of the majority of its non-daily local newspapers. ACM publishes around 160 newspapers. Its 14 daily papers continued.
Industry to campaign for govt print
The AMWU, the PVCA, and Marvel Bookbinding and Print Finishing joined forces to launch a campaign to call for all levels of government to immediately shift all the $150m+ printing it is sending overseas back to Australian print businesses.
May
Kiwi printers out of lockdown
The New Zealand print industry was operational again with the Kiwi government easing restrictions from the heavily criticised Level 4, which closed down virtually the entire printing industry,
to a slightly more palatable Level 3.
Skope facing second creditors meeting
Controversial signage operation Skope Group had its second creditors meeting. The tangled business at one point had revenues of more than $40m and operations across the country.
Bauer suspends magazines, cuts jobs
The country’s biggest publisher, Bauer Media, suspended printing of some of its magazines and cut 70 jobs as it deals with a fall in advertising revenue.
News Corp printing under review
Major newspaper publisher News Corp called in management consultants Deloitte to review and cut its costs, with printing, and its smaller and regional newspapers, in the spotlight.
Cimpress sales slump by two thirds
Online print giant Cimpress, which owns Vistaprint in Melbourne, saw its print orders plunge by 65 per cent at the end of March and beginning of April, recovering to 40 per cent down by the end of the month.
Amcor raises outlook on panic buying
Amcor raised its full year earnings per share outlook, as it released robust third quarter profits it said were due to virus-induced supermarket panic buying.
Bright into gap with Twenty 20 Binding
Bright Print Group has started a new trade binding business, Twenty 20 Binding, stepping into the gap left in NSW when Sydney Binders decided to close its doors last week.
End of era as Playboy exits print
Iconic men’s magazine Playboy ceased its US print edition
with immediate effect, bringing to an end a near 70-year odyssey,
that reflected changing society across the decades from the time it was launched.
Virus bites, shows move
Virus was in full swing, with all print exhibitions, conferences and awards either moving to online or postponing to next year. As drupa was sent to next April the local show PacPrint moved to September from its original May date.
Perfection takes US FTA Best in Show
Dandenong-based Perfection Packaging scooped the prestigious (North American) FTA Best in Show wide web category Award for Print Excellence, crediting the use of the Kodak Flexcel NX plates in large part for the award.
PVCA back in the black as targets met
Trade employers association Print & Visual Communication Association has seen its figures move into positive territory for the first time since 2016. The heartening news was welcomed by CEO Andrew Macaulay who said, “We are in the black. This is a great outcome, as we targeted.”
Double dipping blow for casual hire
Casual staff who are paid a 25 per cent loading are also now entitled to receive leave and other benefits associated with full- time staff, and may be entitled to back pay, according to a court ruling, which enables the so-called double dipping status.
Survey reveals April Covid sales collapse
The April horror month for print saw two thirds of commercial printers experience falls in sales of at least 30 per cent, with a quarter experiencing falls of between 50-70 per cent, and 15 per cent seeing sales plummet by more than 70 per cent, according to a new survey by Ascent Partners.
Twin Loop moves to new premises
NSW trade binding house Twin Loop moved into bigger premises, which owner Wayne Rubin says will enable the business to continue with its steady growth trajectory. The new premises are located at Belmore, right in the middle of the Sydney metro area, with the increased floorspace a step up.
News axes regional papers for digital
Publishing giant News Corp is stopping the presses for the majority of its regional and community titles, with 76 moving online, and several dozen folding completely.
CMP brings crowds to NRL with
Fan in the Stand initiative
Clarke Murphy Print is filling NRL grounds with crowds, albeit corflute ones, in the Fan in the Stand, a new and winning initiative for the innovative Sydney print business.
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