The Print Files

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from April.

We begin our discussion by assessing the impact of US tariffs on the ANZ print industry, which may impact print for wine and pharmaceuticals being exported to the US, but more significantly for the whole print industry the government has created a five point plan in response, one point of which is a directive for government print to be procured within Australia where possible.

In the latest moves in the local print industry, we explore the Rawson Print & Packaging decision to increase its commercial print business via the acquisition of Megacolour, and we assess the travails, twists and turns over Reacon, whose print and mail businesses are in administration while the company itself has been acquired, but which will have to fight through a court case over its future. And in a b last form the past we assess the possible judgement of $700,000 in damages by against former Express Print & Mail owners Wendy and Matthew Chadwick of to be paid to the landlords of theie former Kunda Park building.

We wrap up by reviewing the recent hacking of print businesses, and the increasing necessity for cyber security controls and education in the print industry, due to its sizable data holdings and the necessity of IT to run their operations operations.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact

Trump Tariffs Hit Supporters’ Print

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/trump-tariffs-hit-supporters-print

Rawson Acquires Megacolour

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/rawson-acquires-megacolour

Court Battle Over Reacon Businesses

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/court-battle-over-reacon-businesses

Chadwicks Front Court Over Damage

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/chadwicks-front-court-over-damage

Print Businesses Attacked By Cyber Crooks

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/print-businesses-attacked-by-cyber-crooks 

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Editor: Chris Visscher

Producer: Steve Visscher

Print21 - © 2025

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from March.

We start this month's episode by reviewing the federal budget and how it will impact the print industry, and especially the proposed ban on non-compete clauses in contracts. The discussion also explores the latest Smithers research report, which says dye sublimation printing will see soaring growth until the end of the decade, and we examine the latest print industry metrics and showing the continued investment in diversification by print businesses with packaging, warehousing and logistics, and finishing seeing the biggest interest from print businesses. We also assess the factors behind the sour taste left in the print trade by Bannershop’s rapid exit from Australia.

We wrap up with an overview of the upcoming first summit of its kind for the nine print trade associations, which has been called by the VMA.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact

Crumbs For Print In Election Budget

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/crumbs-for-print-in-election-budget

Rapid Growth For Dye Sub: Smithers

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/rapid-growth-for-dye-sub-smithers

Packaging Tops Diversification Choices

www.print21.com.au/packaging/packaging-tops-diversification-choices

Bannershop Exit Leaves Trade Angry

www.print21.com.au/sign-and-display/bannershop-exit-leaves-trade-angry

VMA To Host Industry Association Summit

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/vma-to-host-industry-association-summit

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Print21 - © 2025

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from February.

We start off by reviewing the lockout at Opal Paper’s Maryvale Mill in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley due to industrial action which resulted in 308 workers having a month without pay. We assess whether print businesses could face similar conflict. Our discussion also explores the forecasted 20 per cent drop in job opportunities for print, with the increase in AI and automation. We look at what print is doing to recruit more young talent with Visual Connections Career Connections, Fespa Future Leaders, VMA Emerging Leaders, and highlight government initiatives providing training and pathways for existing and emerging young people in the industry.

We wrap up with an assessment of the new investment and growth in digital can printing, and the conversely the put the spotlight competitive and evolving market of sign and display print. We end this episode marking some major milestones.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact 

Lockout Ends As Maryvale Dispute Over

www.print21.com.au/packaging/lockout-ends-as-maryvale-dispute-over

Print's Workforce To Shrink By A Fifth

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/print-s-workforce-to-shrink-by-a-fifth 

Vma Launches Emerging Talent Programme

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/vma-launches-emerging-talent-programme

Fee-Free Tafe For Sign & Graphics

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/fee-free-tafe-for-sign-and-graphics 

Orora’s Digital Can Line Arriving

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/orora-s-digital-can-line-arriving 

Bannershop Pulls Up Stumps

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/bannershop-pulls-up-stumps

National Print Awards Elevate + Celebrate

www.print21.com.au/events/events/national-print-awards-elevate-celebrate

Bowden Celebrates 90 Years

www.print21.com.au/commercial/bowden-celebrates-90-years

Print21 Owner Yaffa Celebrates 100 Years

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/print21-owner-yaffa-celebrates-100-years 

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Print21 - © 2025

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from November.

We start off this month’s edition by reviewing the Canva deal with HP to provide design-to-print for their customers, by facilitating local printing companies with HP Indigo and HP Large Format printers to supply the print. We also assess the Visual Media Association’s launch of the new Labels & Packaging Coalition, which has warned the federal government about regulations surrounding fibre-based packaging solutions. Still on packaging we look at and Amcor’s $13bn acquisition of US-based Berry Group, which means the company will have 400 plants around the world printing a huge amount of flexo. We move on to discuss Officework’s new same-day printing service, which creates a new challenge for commercial printshops, and we look at the latest developments as print and mail looks to keep mail monopoly AusPost in check. The return of the National Print Awards in May next for their 40th iteration, with a refreshed approach to the format, categories and how judging is assessed.

Finally we wrap up with a peak into 2025, and what will be a seriously increased use and reliance on AI, along with the importance of getting acquainted with how AI could be incorporated into your business.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact 

Canva offers design-to-print via HP users

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/canva-offers-design-to-print-via-hp-users

VMA warns on packaging regulation

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/vma-warns-on-packaging-regulation

Amcor in packaging mega merger

www.print21.com.au/packaging/amcor-in-packaging-mega-merger

Officeworks rolls out same day printing

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/officeworks-rolls-out-same-day-printing

VMA says auspost should stick to script

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/vma-says-auspost-should-stick-to-script

National Print Awards to re-launch in 2025

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/national-print-awards-to-re-launch-in-2025

Ricoh opens new CX Centre

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/ricoh-opens-new-cx-centre

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Editor: Chris Visscher

Producer: Steve Visscher

Print21 - © 2024

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from October.

We start off by reviewing the extensive investment into printing presses in Australia and New Zealand purchased from Heidelberg, Komori, and Koenig & Bauer. Next is an update on TMA’s fight against the Philippines government over the $100m joint venture in a thermal printing operation. We also explore the rationale behind social media giant TikTok's decision to start printing books. The significant increase in government costs, that are far in excess of inflation, come under the spotlight, and we look at the continued rise in packaging opportunities, with Bright Print purchasing of Morprint, and assess the new Labels and Packaging Coalition.

We wrap up by discussing the halt of the decline in spending on outdoor print, and mourning the loss of Joan Daniels, aged 93, who was widely thought to be the first woman to own and run a print business in Australia.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact 

IVE orders four Koenig & Bauer Presses

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/ive-orders-four-koenig-and-bauer-presses 

$100M TMA case listed by world back

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/100m-tma-case-listed-by-world-bank 

TikTok partners up to print books

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/tiktok-partners-up-to-print-books

Printers facing soaring govt costs far in excess of inflation

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/printers-facing-soaring-govt-costs-far-in-excess-of-inflation

VMA establishes new labels and packaging industry coalition:

www.print21.com.au/packaging/vma-establishes-new-labels-and-packaging-industry-coalition

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Print21 - © 2024

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from September.

We start off by reviewing a Smithers report which forecasts a 25 per cent of printed packaging and labels over the next five years for Australia and New Zealand, with automated workflows, robotics, and artificial intelligence playing a major role. The discussion also looks at some of the print businesses that are now investing for packaging. As packaging point grows, newspapers decline, we look at the factors behind the Australian Community Media’s decision to begin culling weekday editions of several regional newspapers.

The month saw two huge deals in print: Xsys purchased flexo plate rival MacDermid for $485m, while Epson spent $875m to buy rip developer Fiery. We examine the motives behind the deals, which confound those who say there is no money in print.

And we discuss a major win for the industry, which saw Australia Post reverse its decision to suspend unaddressed mail during the pre-Christmas period.

Finally we look at the changing world of trade exhibitions, specifically drupa’s decision to reduce the next show from 11 days to nine, and the new PacPrint, being held in Sydney for the first time, and with Kirsten Taylor from Taylor’d Press as the new chair of the board.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact 

Blue Star integrates Auckland in $30m spend

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/blue-star-integrates-auckland-in-30m-spend

Regional newspaper cull begins

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/regional-newspaper-cull-begins

Flexo rivals consolidate in $485m deal

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/flexo-rivals-consolidate-in-485m-deal

Epson buys Fiery for $875m to accelerate digital transition

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/epson-buys-fiery-for-875m-to-accelerate-digital-transition

AusPost reverses UAM suspension

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/auspost-reverses-uam-suspension

Next drupa cut from 11 days to 9

www.print21.com.au/events/events/next-drupa-cut-from-11-days-to-9

Taylor to chair PacPrint board

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/taylor-to-chair-pacprint-board

Sponsors locked in for PacPrint 2025

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/sponsors-locked-in-for-pacprint-2025 

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Print21 - © 2024

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from August.

We start off by reviewing Australia Post’s decision to cease the delivery of unaddressed mail by December. We assess how close we are to AI and machine learning technologies achieving fully automated print production.

Following this we discuss IVE’s increasing profits but static revenue, and its progress in its folding carton intentions. We check out the change in VMA's presidency. Online print giant and Vista parent Cimpress released its figures, and a contentious statement, we discuss print's response.

We wrap up by unpacking investigations which include several allegations of unions facilitating an estimated $3m in ghost printing via print brokers.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact 

Auspost stops pre-Xmas unaddressed mail

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/auspost-stops-pre-xmas-unaddressed-mail

Connect points way forward for print

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/connect-points-way-forward-for-print

Horizon to show lights out factory

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/horizon-to-show-lights-out-factory

IVE profits up on static revenue

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/ive-profits-up-on-static-revenue

Pidgeon becomes VMA president

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/pidgeon-becomes-vma-president

Vista achieves record profits

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/vista-achieves-record-results

Allegations unions in $3m rort

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/allegations-unions-in-3m-print-rort

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Editor: Chris Visscher

Print21 - © 2024

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from June.

We start off by reviewing the decline of printed newspapers, with Rupert Murdoch, owner of Australian, UK and US newspapers, predicting that they will all be history in 15 years. We look at the implications of Meta’s withdrawal of $200m in yearly funding from Australian newspaper publishers, on both metro and regional areas. Following this, we assess the impact of the end of printed newspapers on rest of the print industry.

We then look at the Access Print Solutions story, with the three business company going into VA and then being bought by the directors three weeks later. Sustainable printing developments are coming thick and fast, we discuss three of the latest as print bolsters its claim to be the most eco-friendly communication channel.

We wrap up by getting with overview of the Visual Impact trade show, the continued growth and investment into sign and display equipment by ANZ business, and finally, we celebrate the impact of leaders in the trade associations who are now stepping back.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact

Murdoch gives newspapers 15 years max

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/murdoch-gives-newspapers-15-years-max

Regional newspaper cull begins

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/regional-newspaper-cull-begins

Access owners buy business back for $5m

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/access-owners-buy-business-back-for-5m

Visual Impact numbers and sales up

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/visual-impact-numbers-and-sales-up

Pidgeon becomes VMA president

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/pidgeon-becomes-vma-president

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Print21 - © 2024

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from June.

We start this month’s episode by reviewing the return of drupa in Dusseldorf, back for the first time in eight years. It had a 35% drop in attendance compared to the last show, with this in mind we assess the value of trade shows in today’s market. Throughout the discussion we explore the increased representation in software, automation, robotics and digitisation, and the many investments made by ANZ printing businesses in new printing equipment.

We review purchases made at the show with Reacon Group’s order of a Fujifilm JetPress 1160CF, CMYKhub’s Colorado inkjet ix3200, Easy Signs HB Indigo ABG, and Kwik Kopy Norwood’s Elitron to name a few.

Back home we assess the failures of Momento Pro, Access Print Solutions, and Graphic Print who have all called in administrators. We also explore new players in the industry, the increased demand for fast turn around onshore printing, and the unfortunate use of offshore printing by the Australian Government.

The episode wraps up by celebrating Cactus printing’s world sustainability award, and the increased representation of women in the print industry.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact

170,000 Printers went to DRUPA

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/170-000-printers-went-to-drupa

DRUPA video highlights

www.youtube.com/@print2190/videos 

DRUPA: Reacon orders FujiFilm first

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/drupa-reacon-orders-fujifilm-first

DRUPA: CMYKhub to upgrade with Colorado’s

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/drupa-cmykhub-to-upgrade-with-colorados 

Kwik Kopy Norwood orders Elitron

www.print21.com.au/commercial/kwik-kopy-norwood-orders-elitron

Cactus takes world sustainability award

www.print21.com.au/search?filter=all&orderby=date&q=cactus

Momento Pro in liquidation

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/momento-pro-in-liquidation

Access Print & Graphic Print hit the skids

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/access-print-and-graphic-print-hit-the-skids 

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Print21 - © 2024

In the latest episode of print's podcast, It's Been A Big Month in Print, industry insiders Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson analyse, assess, and interpret the major news, trends, issues and developments from April.

We start off by assessing the $15bn Future Made in Australia manufacturing plan, which appears to have nothing in it for print, the country's largest manufacturing industry.

The discussion then moves on to unpacking the factors impacting in outdoor print, and the month's wide-format market movements, which have seen another big collapse.

We also explore the huge investments into folding cartons with International Papers US$9.9bn purchase of DS Smith, and Smurfit Kappa’s US$11bn acquisition of WestRock, and ask what it all means for local printers looking to carton printing.

Finally we assess the continued growth in the representation of women in the print and packaging industries, and ask if things have really changed.

Links:

Sponsored by Currie Group

www.curriegroup.com.au/contact

Back to the future not for print

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/back-to-the-future-not-for-print

Print’s outdoor share falls

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/print-s-outdoor-share-falls

Eaton issues open letter to industry

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/eaton-issues-open-letter-to-industry

Mesh Direct in VA with $1.9m in debts

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/mesh-direct-in-va-with-1-9m-debts

Westrock to become part of Smurfit Kappa

www.print21.com.au/packaging/westrock-to-become-part-of-smurfit-kappa

Strong support for women in packaging

www.print21.com.au/packaging/strong-support-for-women-in-packaging

PKN Women in Packaging Awards launched

www.print21.com.au/industry/latest/pkn-women-in-packaging-awards-launched

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The Print Files Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Print21, owned and published by Yaffa Media (www.print21.com.au).

The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Print21, Yaffa Media, or the guest’s employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media.

If you wish to use any of this podcast’s audio, please contact Print21 via their website www.print21.com.au or send an email to [email protected]

Host: Wayne Robinson

Coordinator: Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Print21 - © 2024