Ipex 2006 is launching international themed days at the show in Birmingham's NEC in April. There will be Africa, Australasia, China, Eastern Europe, India, Italy, Middle East and Japan days aimed at "key target" territories.

Vitesse Printing in London has notched up the environmental management accreditation ISO 14001.

Biddles recently hosted a book-signing by former BBC1 Tomorrow's World presenter Raymond Baxter. The 83-year-old veteran World War II fighter pilot was described as an "absolute gentleman"by a spokesman for the firm, which is based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Biddles ran 224pp Tales of My Time on a two-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 perfector.

GMG's ColorProof software has won accreditation for the Periodical Publishers Association's Proof4Press. The initiative aims to set a proofing standard to ensure consistent quality with editorial and advertising material.

Neil Farmer Associates managing director Neil Farmer has run his 200th marathon. The former director of marketing and communications at Jarvis Porter, Wace and Ferry Pickering and trustee of the Institute of Packaging crossed the threshold and raised 1,000 for the Stroke Association in Wolverhampton's half-marathon.

HSW Print owners David and Malcolm Hackman stumbled on family history rooting around paperwork revealing the Tonypandy-based firm's first purchase, 57 years ago. The 85 invoice for a 9x6in Swift Treadle Platen included a shopping list scribbled on the back by their mother.

Canon and the National Printing Skills Centre at Leicester College have opened a demo room displaying the latest print and digital-imaging kit. The Canon Suite has a W6400P large-format printer, a smaller W2200 machine and software from EFI and GretagMacbeth. 

St Ives Web has recruited Katy Bonnor as divisional customer service manager. Bonnor switched to the group-wide role from St Ives Web's Caerphilly plant where she was a general manager prior to its closure this summer.