The on-demand, automated bindery system, which scores, folds and presses book blocks up to 1.5 inches thick, eliminates the need for hand-operated equipment to produce book blocks for lay-flat photo books. It has been specifically designed for use with the Mohawk Panoramic line of i-Tone photo papers. The machine, which was demonstrated at Drupa and has a list price of US $75,000(£47,444), can produce up to 100 Panoramic photo book blocks per hour and aims to be user-friendly with no makeready. It will be distributed in the UK by Perfect Bindery Solutions and will be ready for delivery from August. The system can handle open book sizes of 675mm x 362.5mm and closed book sizes 337.5mm x 362.5mm. Tweet Read More...

The ‘White and Recycled' campaign will target printers, designers and corporate audiences with direct mail sent throughout May and June. Three premium mailers will be accompanied by tailored emails, promoting Cocoon's high levels of whiteness, print quality and environmental neutrality. A dedicated website has been created for the campaign with information about the Cocoon range, production process and advantages of paper recycling. It also features an environmental calculator, demonstrating the difference in carbon emissions, water, energy and wood used by Cocoon 100% recycled papers compared to virgin fibres. Cocoon comprises coated and uncoated papers available in weights from 80-400gsm. It is manufactured from FSC- and European Ecolabel-certified recycled de-inked pulp produced at Arjowiggins' Greenfield S.A.S. mill in France. The campaign spans across Europe, with Antalis McNaughton stepping up as the exclusive UK provider of Cocoon papers to distribute 8,000 mailers nationwide. Arjowiggins' operational marketing manager Angela DeVorchik said: "With this new campaign, we hope to showcase the high quality results that Cocoon 100% recycled papers can deliver, as well as the range's commitment to environmental integrity. End-users can make their own environmental commitment without sacrificing on a high-quality, bright-white print finish." Tweet Read More...

Run-off from livestock waste is believed to be polluting the soil around the area, creating build-ups of phosphate, which is a health hazard and has a negative impact on tourism due to its unpleasant appearance and putrid smell. Two years ago, Favini commissioned a third party to collect the algae from the beaches and dry it, making it easier to transport to its Venice factories. Two hundred tonnes of French algae have been collected since the scheme began, of which 5-10% is retained through the drying process to be used as flour for Alga Carta paper. The Shiro Alga Carter paper accounts for approximately 5% of Favini's product portfolio, but is its most significant innovation, according to the company, due to the "fashion of environmental awareness and alternative material sourcing". Alga Carta paper is used globally, the main clients being graphic design and luxury packaging businesses, including large sunglasses and cosmetic brands, and is distributed in the UK exclusively by Kent-based Fenner Paper. Favini began the process in Venice in 1992 in an attempt to recover lagoons from severe pollution resulting from agricultural and industrial waste. Eventually, the government improved sewerage and, although Favini still sources a small amount of algae from the area, the company was forced to look for resources elsewhere. Favini group operations manager Chris Brown said: "The problem on the Brittany and Normandy coast, especially in September, got so bad that horses were dying on the beach. We hope for the French public that the problem is resolved quickly, but in reality, it is going to be many years before that happens." Brown believes that the company has many more opportunities across Europe for resourcing algae should the problem in Brittany subside, but said it was much more widespread than is publicly perceived. He added that China would be a huge market for the company due to the high level of pollution creating algae blooms in the sea near Shanghai, but the lack of infrastructure to transport the patented product back to the Venice mills is not in place to utilise the resource yet. Read More...

Hertfordshire-based Abstract Group created art installations of the pop-up pieces for Antalis McNaughton's exhibition stand at the customer event, Roadshow, on seven A2 spreads based on an accompanying direct mail campaign aimed at designers. The designs were bound in an A3 hard cover and printed on Antalis McNaughton's Creative Papers range and featured as the prize of a draw that ran throughout the company's 11 customer events across the country. "Decades of Design" accompanied a direct mail campaign conceptualised by design group Stocks Taylor Benson, featuring seven individual inserts inspired by buildings, cars, typefaces and fashion from previous decades. The campaign showcased different uses for the Creative Papers - including Conqueror, Keaykolour, Rives, Pop'Set and Curious Collection - featuring various print techniques. Print company Allens was assigned the offset printing for the campaign, and Screentec produced screen printed inserts, which were accompanied by pages that had been treated with foil blocking, spot UV and embossing. Abstract Group created sketches based on those featured in the direct mail campaign to be converted to Kasemake files compatible with the company's CAD system. The art pieces were then cut by hand on a plotting table and produced in individual A2 hard-bound covers for display at the Roadshow. Antalis' operational marketing manager for Creative Papers Peter Harrison said: "The campaign has created an enormous amount of interest from our customers. In particular, customers showed an interest in how creative papers can be used for applications such as luxury packaging. Customers were also interested in seeing how Conqueror can be used for creative pieces, rather than business stationery for which it is well known." Sasha O'Neill, marketing manager at Tyneside printer Elanders, who won the exclusive pop-up book, said: "It was a very interesting concept - it taps into trends of every generation from the 1920s art deco through to the 80s. "Creative is a big part of the marketing communication industry - it needs to be engaging. We need to consider the visual concept and this does; there is the intrigue to turn page after page. It is a highly engaging piece of marketing literature." Read More...

The agreement covers the gas to feed a combined heat and power (CHP) plant on the site, and will help reduce overall CO2 emissions. A spokeswoman for Aylesford Newsprint said Npower Cogen had been supplying steam and electricity through the CHP plant since 1993, and had invested around £60m into the facility. The revised agreement would help Aylesford remain competitive in the production of quality newsprint and support the development and expansion of its product portfolio, a statement from Aylesford said. The spokeswoman added that last July the company had launched a product with a higher brightness that was suitable for supplements and retail flyers. Aylesford Newsprint managing director Mark Lunabba, who was appointed in November 2011, said he was tasked with improving the efficiency and the profitability of Aylesford. "The agreement on the gas price means that we are now on a comparable price basis with Europe," he said. He also said the number of full time employees at the mill had been reduced by 10% to 285. One area that still caused Aylesford problems was the quality of material it received from commingled streams, Lunabba said. "This is something of a catastrophe for the UK and it's a pain for us," he added. Fraser Blunt, head of npower Cogen & Generation Services, said he was pleased to continue to work with Aylesford. "This revised contract gives confidence to all parties for at least the next four years, and shows the benefits of a combined heat and power plant for the UK economy," he said. Read More...

Power 100: The UK's top marketers Marketing unveils the definitive guide to the UK's most powerful marketers. Brooks charged with perverting the course of justice Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, has been charged with perverting the course of justice. Look launches 'Look What I'm Wearing' Look, IPC Media's weekly fashion title, is launching a multiplatform street style franchise driven by user generated content. Kopparberg unveils 'un-established' marketing drive Kopparberg is set to unleash a £10m marketing campaign which aims to link the cider brand to unconventional lifestyles, innovation and music. The Sun on Sunday claims "success" despite tumbling sales News International's commercial chief has hailed the first 10 weeks of The Sun on Sunday as a "success story with both readers and advertisers", despite continued falls in copy sales. Read More...

Trinity Mirror Glasgow and Watford near industrial action Employees at newspaper giant Trinity Mirror's Glasgow and Watford plants are on the verge of taking industrial action, according to Unite. Bell & Bain return to KBA for third Rapida 142 press Bell & Bain has invested in its third KBA Rapida 142 press, a move expected to continue to "successful development" of the Glasgow-based business. Shere in world first Indigo 20000 buy HP has agreed a multi-million pound deal with UK digital start-up Shere Print to be the first worldwide user of its Indigo 20000 digital press. Merchant competition forces paper price increase Paper manufacturer Papierfabrik Scheufelen's imminent price increase will occur due to competition between merchants, says the company. Unite advises members to ask for 3.6% pay increase Unite has advised its members to request an inflation-based pay increase this year, in lieu of a national agreement. Read More...

Sales and marketing director Horst Lamparter said that "fierce competition" between German merchants, a region in which prices are normally higher than in Papierfabrik Scheufelen's other markets, drove market price down to "an uncomfortable level" last year, forcing the company to increase costs of its BVS coated woodfree sheets and BRO reels from June 1. He explained that the recent price dive was "the worst problem Papierfabrik Scheufelen has seen in Germany" and increased competition for market share in the region has led the business to implement the 8% price increase. Prices of Papierfabrik Scheufelen's higher-end papers Heaven42 and Phoenixmotion were not affected by merchant competition due to smaller demand for the papers for specialist jobs. Initially, the premium was attributed to inflation of raw material costs such as pulp, energy and transport. Lamparter said pulp prices increased at the beginning of the year, and the company faced additional charges of £20 per tonne when its pulp supplier raised costs again this month. He said further pressure from transport companies needing to adjust charges due to triple oil price inflation from $800 (£500) to $2000 (£1250) per container in a number of overseas markets was another factor in the cost increase. However, he commented that 65% of Papierfabrik Scheufelen's markets were within a 500km radius of the German-based pulp mill - allowing it to compete on delivery time. Papierfabrik has a strong market share in Austria and also ships to France, Italy, and Switzerland. The company plans to grow its market share in the UK were it benefits from a favourable exchange rate. Read More...

The Bromley-based business helped give the cars a "unique and edgy" appearance by applying a carbon fibre effect roof as well as 'Swift Attitude' branding to the boot.According to Creative FX director Sean Davis, developments within vinyl production have enabled companies like his to offer a greater range of effects to customer vehicles.He added: "As racing fans know, carbon fibre is often used in the hoods and body panels of race cars to reduce weight without sacrificing safety."Since the advent of carbon fibre effect vinyl, we are now able to recreate that racing car look on a grander scale for a fraction of the cost."Despite strict time constraints and a large production run, the 13-staff company managed to fulfil the wrapping project without any disruptions."We've always been able to offer personalization for purchased cars but now, as more and more customers want to individualise their vehicles, we are working alongside manufacturers to produce unique ranges," said Davis.According to Davis, Suzuki was extremely impressed with the job carried out by the team and said the project represents a wider collaboration between car manufacturers and the Kent-based business. Tweet Read More...

Despite the fall, most exhibitors are reporting brisk business and are sealing deals with serious customers who are at the show to buy. Speaking at the mid-point, Drupa 2012 president and Heidelberg chairman and chief executive Bernhard Schreier said: "To be honest, before coming here to Drupa I didn't know what to expect. Yes, it's not such a big crowd, but all the decision-makers are here, which is very important for exhibitors."We are having exciting discussions with customers - exciting and forward-looking. People are not pessimistic and they are not hesitating. They are looking to the future."Schreier said Germany and - surprisingly - China were currently sharing top spot in terms of incoming order volumes. Visitors have journeyed to the show from 115 countries thus far. HP, Goss International, Xerox, Kodak, and Canon have been among the major exhibitors reported strong sales in the first week. And first-time Drupa exhibitor Nikolai Ladanyi, founder and chief executive of publishing app PadPublisher, said he was "overwhelmed" at the authentic interest of visitors. "We are meeting high-quality people and gaining qualified contacts. It's so busy we doubled our team here from two to four to cope - I came with 300 business cards and have had to reprint three times." Tweet Read More...

US internet company Yahoo says it has reached a deal to sell part of its stake in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group. Read More...

Fashion guru Zac Posen, who has created gowns for stars like Gywneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey, has designs on Asia. Read More...

Chinese regulators approve Google's $12.5bn purchase of US phone maker Motorola Mobility, the final hurdle for the deal to go through. Read More...

Samsung and Apple will hold negotiations in the US on Monday, aimed at resolving a lengthy dispute over patents, a row which led to more than 50 lawsuits in 10 countries. Read More...

Traditionally European ex-pats coming to the Gulf have been executives recruited on tax-free salaries, but with rising unemployment levels in Europe a wider range of professionals have changed continent. Read More...