Printweek – 2024 in review: May

Macfarlane Group marked 75 years of business… Sappi Europe completed phase two of a three-phase modernisation project at its Gratkorn Mill in Austria… Precision Colour Printing was sold to Hypax, an investment firm that has further buys in its sights… Peter Jolly returned to Duplo International, where he began his industry career two decades ago… PFI Group was compulsorily struck off the company register after failing to make the required filings… On-demand apparel printer Inkthreadable was sold in a pre-pack administration to Hyper Merch… The Mailshop filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators… A trio of trade finishers stepped in to acquire the business and assets of Celloglas… King Charles III accepted the role of patron of The Printing Charity, a role previously held by the late Queen… EP Corporate Group returned to the table with a much higher offer for Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services. The group has now sensationally upped its bid to 370p a share… Danny Baker’s entire record collection was up for auction, with obscure pressings, signed sleeves and extremely rare posters among the nearly 600 lots… Vale Press celebrated its upcoming 40th anniversary with its purchase of a brand-new SRA1 press from RMGT… Smurfit Kappa’s security print arm invested £2.58m in a brand-new custom press from Rotatek…… Greenshires Group had less than £5,000 in the bank when it went into administration after plans for a pre-pack sale fell through, leaving a £2m-plus shortfall… Mailbox DM found a buyer after filing a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators… Staffing agency Freelance Print Staff closed after 12 years in business… Royal Mail parent IDS’ board accepted a £3.6bn buyout deal from Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský’s firm, EP Group… Titchfield Group initiated an £8m investment in Durst kit… Stephens & George became the first UK printer to take delivery of the Drupa-spec Heidelberg XL 106… Tech investment firm Software Circle acquired Be The Brand Experience… UPM unveiled plans to close its Hürth newsprint mill, near Cologne…