Sherwood Technology has launched its latest DigiVU product to combat counterfeiting. OVD, the overt security feature for protecting brands, applies chemicals to metallic substrates, which are then activated by laser from a hologram-type image.

A new tin crusher can help firms slash the cost of waste disposal, said manufacturer Airblast. The Peterborough firm says new environmental and landfill rules have trebled costs for disposing of tins. Its Canpacter can cut annual disposal costs by thousands of pounds, it says.

Orpington's Sun Chemical has made Trevor Pratt its business and marketing director for the screen and circuits division. In the new role he will tackle emerging markets like digital inks, reporting to divisional vice president Richard Martin.

RK Print Coat Instruments is showing its 300mm web-width versatile converting machine at Munich's International Converting Exhibition from 22 to 24 November. The VCM has more than 15 coating and printing heads.

Pageflex Storefront has won an "InterTech" award from trade group GATF. The software helps printers move into variable print by making it easy to set up an online ordering and management site.

Buyers from as far as Botswana and India have snapped up kit from Martin Shelton Group, which went into administration recently. The Kirkstall-based firm, including Martin Press, had four divisions, and 672 lots went under the hammer, said auctioneer Eddisons.

Lea Valley Colour, the maker of exhibition stands and graphics based in Hoddesdon, Herts, has installed its second Colenta Wide Track 140 RA 125 digital processor. Capix also supplied graphics firm Clearview with a 140 RA 95 model.

US Ink has launched the latest addition of its trouble-shooting guide for coldset web printers. Press Doctor 2006 has more than 100 pages of advice and new sections look at temperature control, input for ink systems, updated graphics and hyperlinks. Visit: www.usink.com.

Chris Rogers, managing director of struggling textile print firm Stead McAlpin, has left the company in Carlisle. It said he'd left to "pursue his career outside the partnership". Rogers joined in 2002 but failed to halt a multimillion pound slide in profits.

Northcliffe Electronic Publishing has taken on Wave2's Apollo software for automatic ad generation. Wave2 Media Solutions has also released version 2.2 of the Wave2 publishing platform, which is the "foundation" of all three products: Apollo, Zeus and Artemis.

CPC has launched a "slide-and-glide" case for packaging CDs, mini CDs and DVDs. According to the firm the design offers a bigger print area in order to increase cover impact.

Industry leaders are to second-guess the future of web offset work in a video show at next month's Print 05 event in Chicago. The presentation by Goss International features Arandell Corporation executive vice president James Treis and Time Inc senior vice president Barry Meinerth.

Communisis has signed a deal to be software firm Aprimo's development and services partner. It will use Aprimo Marketing, which has been billed as an "enterprise marketing management" package, for more precision, discipline and control in marketing.

Jobs produced on Windmller & Hlscher central-impression flexo presses has scooped more than half the awards for the wide-web category during a recent American Flexographic Technical Association Excellence awards.

The Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating is holding a conference on new gravure technology research. Speakers will look at scumming in gravure, measuring gravure cylinders and colour tolerance for liquid inks. Price for non-members is 450. Contact: c.a.hammett@swan.ac.uk.

Macfarlane Labels has won accreditation to supply self-adhesive printed labels to the drugs industry. QA International Certification awarded the Scottish firm BS9000:2001 on pharmaceutical packaging materials and Macfarlane has set up a dedicated production unit.

Printoff Graphic Arts in Nelson, Lancashire has made Andrew Houston its sales and marketing consultant. He will market print for the education sector and report to sales and marketing director Jane Schofield.

Freedom of Information laws may force printers to disclose finance details, the BPIF is reiterating after a case involving pictures shown in an exhibition. The case centred on finance data on payments for pictures at the National Maritime Museum. BPIF head of legal Anne Copley warned printers against releasing information to public authorities in tenders because it could be given to anyone.

Pira International hopes to be one of the world's biggest organisers of technical conferences after buying Intertech Corporation's conferences and publications business. Pira aims to run over 60 events a year in the US, Europe and Asia, said managing director
Michael Hancock.