Print buying

Theatre programme specialist John Good is looking to break into new markets after investing £2.9m in three new printing presses and two finishing machines for brochures and programmes.

Total revenue was down 6.8% year-on-year although Johnston’s digital strategy is beginning to pay off, the company said in its interim management statement.

Bradford-based Prospect Mailing Services has been placed in administration six weeks after parent firm Cogent B2B bought rival direct mail business St Ives Direct Bradford for £8m.

Exaprint has added a range of digitally printed, laser-cut labels to its trade web-to-print offering.

Strong revenue growth from Printed.com and sister site Goodprint helped boost parent company Tangent Communications ‘H1 pre-tax profits by almost 50%, the company said.

HP has reshuffled its UK management team, with 12-year veteran Ian Kimber taking the reins from Nancy Janes as UK & Ireland (UK&I) country manager HP Indigo & Inkjet.

German graphic magazine Novum used a range of techniques including laser die-cutting and foil laminating to create a cover that was "a tribute to typography" for its latest issue.

Media Impression, owner of the German paper trading platform Virtual Paper Stock (VPS), is working with the BPIF on a UK version.

An award scheme that aims to give degree-level design students an introduction to handling a commercial brief has praised the calibre of this year's entries and announced the winning briefs.

Global packaging giant Essentra Plc has acquired Dublin-based Dakota Packaging for an undisclosed cash sum.