News

US printers had a sharp drop in first quarter profits despite a modest rise in sales revenues, the Semper International survey for Q1 2013 has found.

Communications firm Corporate Document Services (CDS) has won the reprographics, digital print and print management contract for the London Borough of Sutton for the third time.

Foster City, CA-based EFI cited strong US sales as well as continued demand for its Fiery controllers as it reported Q1 income of $8.2m (Q1 2012: $6.2m) on a 7% revenue rise to $171.4m.

Xerox cited weakness in its Document Technology business, which includes the iGen commercial press line, as it reported Q1 sales declined by 2.7% over the same period in 2012 to $5.4bn.

Busch Graphic Machinery UK is celebrating a bumper first quarter, selling more machines at the start of 2013 than the two previous years combined.

Leicestershire-based Frip Finishing installed a second Bobst BMA 126 foiler into its Hinkley site recently, as part of a long term investment strategy.

Swiss CTP system manufacturer Luscher has gone bankrupt.

The BPIF is to compile a report on a two-year project, backed by the European Commission which aimed to encourage more SMEs to take up the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

George Osborne is expected to announce an extension to the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS), which is due to expire in January 2014.

Finishing specialist Duplo International has announced a UK-wide productivity assessment programme for SRA3 printers to benchmark their kit against the Ideal 4860-ET guillotine.

Watford-based Lazar Print has invested in a Horizon SPF/FC-200A stitch, fold, trimline to break into trade booklet production work.

Alpha Media Solutions (AMS) has acquired the business and assets of Keighley-based commercial print business Steffprint via a pre-packaged administration.

Chris King, group production director at Haymarket Media UK, has died.

Tributes have been pouring in for print industry pioneer Efi Arazi, founder of Scitex Corporation and Electronics for Imaging (EFI).