Print Industry News Xerox abandons $34 billion takeover bid of HP
Agfa opens Offset Technical Competence Center
In one of the most controversial (and exhausting) ongoing industry melodramas, Xerox has finally announced that it would be dropping its hostile takeover bid of HP. Xerox, valued at about $8 billion, had offered to finance a $34 billion cash- and-stock acquisition of HP, which was valued at about $31 billion at the time. The war between the two industry giants started in the fall of 2019, and included an attempt to take over the HP board with Xerox’s own nominations that, not surprisingly, was soundly rejected by HP. Speculation was that, with a global recession on the horizon due to COVID-19, HP was in a much better position to weather the expected economic consequences than its much smaller competitor. The decision also means that HP and Canon can continue their current, mutually beneficial relationship. Canon CEO and Chairman Fujio Matarai previously insisted that if the takeover was successful, Canon would “cut its ties with HP.”
Agfa has opened a new state-of-the-art centre for of fset technology in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The OEM’s Offset Technical Competence Center (TCC) is a fully-equipped lab that features Agfa’s integrated prepress and pressroom solutions to demonstrate numerous high-performance commercial, packaging, newspaper and UV printing applications that also offer sustainable benefits. The TCC will showcase innovations that reduce waste, eliminate chemicals and lower ink consumption while saving energy. It was designed to provide a library of application knowledge and customer support for Agfa systems and new product introductions. The investment is open to printers for demonstrations and is aimed at “lowering the total cost of print manufacturing.”
Agfa’s North American Regional President Gunther Mertens (left) and Guido Hauquier, Agfa’s Global Director of Offset Applications cut the ribbon to open Agfa’s new TCC.
Heidelberg layoffs could total 2,000 Heidelberg has begun a wide-ranging “action package” that could see up to 2,000 jobs lost across the globe as well as possible plant closures. The OEM currently has about 11,000 employees w o r l d w i d e. T h e n e w s t r a te g y, characterized by the OEM as “painful changes,” is aimed to refocus on its most profitable business units. CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer said that planned job and operations’ cuts were still in the discussion phase and further details “could not be disclosed at this time.” Heidelberg plans to use the additional liquidity to eliminate nearly all of its net debt and to substantially improve the company's financing structure. Heidelberg has sales of about $2.6 billion globally.
Entries now open for 2020 Premier Print Awards
Global PrintExpo to launch as a virtual tradeshow in June
The Printing Industries of America (PIA) is now accepting submissions for the 2020 Premier Print Awards competition, marking the program’s 72nd year honouring print excellence. The international competition is open to all companies involved in the creation or production of print communications, as well as students and student groups from high school, vocational school, or college print production programs. Because of COVID-19, the entry deadline for this year’s competition has been extended to July 31, 2020, and may be submitted at www.awards.printing.org. An earlybird discount is available for entries received and processed before June 15, 2020. Due to the shifting nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision to hold a live awards gala will be made at a later date. Entries are all competing for the coveted Best of Category
The U.K.-based Global PrintExpo will be the world’s first virtual tradeshow and conference for the printing industry. The Global PrintExpo Virtual Exhibition will open in June of 2020 and will work in the same way that a live tradeshow does, except that anyone can visit the show 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the world (without the cost of transportation and hotels). The 10,000 square metre venue and all the exhibitor stands will be rendered to real physical dimensions online. Visitors will register and be able to navigate through the hall and visit stands – complete with 3D products, HD videos and literature downloads, generating real-time sales enquiries. Exhibitors will be able to update the products in their booths with a range of interactive content that visitors can explore and download. For more information please visit www.GlobalPrintExpo.online.
Renewed anticipation building for drupa 2021
With the new opening dates of April 20 – 30, 2021 in Düsseldorf, Germany, drupa, the world’s largest printing industry tradeshow, is still top of mind with most industry leaders worldwide. “We were already in the final stages of preparing for drupa 2020. However, given the current exceptional situation, we believe the decision to postpone was both right and unavoidable,” said Hiroaki Shimosaka, GM of the Graphic Systems Business Division at Fujifilm. “The announcement in March has minimized the economic damage to exhibitors and we are grateful that the decision was made before the impact could become even more drastic. We are therefore preparing for drupa 2021.” Claus BolzaSchünemann, CEO of Koenig & Bauer, added: “drupa is the leading trade fairand the highlight of an entire industry. We at Koenig & Bauer have already put a lot of energy and passion into drupa. We would like to share this with you – also in 2021 – and of course on the way there. Stay tuned, it's worth it!”
@graphicarts
“Benny” Award, which is only bestowed to print projects that exhibit the highest level of craftsmanship and execution. Full program details and a catalogue of entr y categories is available at www.printing.org/ppa.
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | May 2020 | 15
