Business
![Laide and Tunde Sodipo opened the Northampton franchise last week](/media/lxsbk2h2/laide-tunde-sodipo.jpg?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734ab6970b0)
Fastsigns launches Northampton franchise
Signage and display company Fastsigns opened its 25th UK franchise last month.
![Reynolds with the PFi Blade B2+](/media/2kmivvtq/solent-martin-reynolds-2.jpg?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734b4444930)
Solent Design Studio diversifies with Duplo installs
Investment in Duplo’s PFi Blade B2+ digital cutting table and DC-618 slitter/cutter/creaser has helped Solent Design Studio break into new markets.
![Soaring gas prices have seen firms' electricity bills jump by three to four times](/media/12xjzngy/adobestock_153043968.jpeg?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734c91013d0)
Industry reacts to energy crisis
Soaring energy prices have seen yet another increase in overhead costs for printers, but for those whose contracts are coming to an end, the leap in prices has been enormous.
![The Mailmaster Compact encloses up to 5,000 envelopes per hour](/media/lubbcgmv/everypage1.png?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734ca110910)
EveryPage brings envelope insertion in-house with KAS spend
Digital printer EveryPage has invested in a Mailmaster Compact envelope inserter from KAS Paper Systems to bring the process in-house.
![The London edition has an average print run of 310,000 magazines fortnightly. Image: Time Out Group](/media/izkmy4rx/time-out.png?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734cf2b3010)
Time Out to stop printing London edition
Media and hospitality business Time Out is set to cease printing the London edition of its free magazine at the end of June.
![The Ri 1000 and Ri 2000 can now be used for DTF printing](/media/amjn0jfp/ricoh-dtf.jpg?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734bb42c090)
Ricoh adds DTF capability to DTG machines
Ricoh has made new retrofittable technology available for its Ri 1000 and Ri 2000 direct-to-garment (DTG) printers that will enable them to also output using the direct-to-film (DTF) method.
![Gaucho in Birmingham is the venue for the IPIA Spring Networking lunch](/media/mobbseuk/ipia-networking-lunch-3.jpg?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734bd60e5a0)
IPIA networking lunch set for May
The IPIA will continue to pursue its goal of stimulating the UK print economy through running a series of networking events and special initiatives across 2022.
![The machine can produce booklets up to 10.4mm thick](/media/kijboukg/pelican.jpg?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734a6ee6fe0)
Pelican Print ups capacity with Morgana install
Pelican Print has taken on a new Morgana PowerSquare 224 bookletmaker to increase capacity and speed up production.
![Tweedale: Proud and excited](/media/sjlbeee3/graham-tweedale-coo-xaar-resized.jpg?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734aa81f6e0)
Xaar names Graham Tweedale as chief operating officer
Xaar has appointed Graham Tweedale as its first chief operating officer.
![(L-R) David Derbyshire and Jim Kerr](/media/cprckesi/astra-signs-and-adxba-merger-david-derbyshire-left-jim-kerr-right.jpg?width=525&height=525&bgcolor=White&v=1d9e734b81f8790)
ADXBA and Astra Signs in merger
Manchester-based companies ADXBA and Astra Signs have merged to become a combined entity that provides both traditional and digital signage to customers.