Issue 46 – 2005
1. Regulation Taskforce
Philip Andersen, our Acting CEO has prepared the attached draft letter for the Federal Government’s Regulation Taskforce. As we mentioned in the last edition of newsPrint, the primary motivation for the review is to assist in reducing the regulatory compliance burden on business, rather than to reduce actual regulations. The Taskforce will focus on Commonwealth based regulations, with State and Territory regulations considered if they overlap. Printing Industries welcomes your input on this issue. Responses / comments / queries please to Philip Andersen.
2. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Program
Printing Industries is involved in a pilot program in Victoria addressing hazardous substances in the workplace. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH Essentials) pilot program is modelled on a program originating in the United Kingdom. Printing Industries in conjunction with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will shortly submit a report to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations seeking approval of the program to operate in Australia. Members will receive more information about COSHH essentials in the new year. Jim Hargrave is involved in the Victorian pilot program and can be contacted for further information.
3. Last call – Christmas Party next Wednesday Night
If you haven’t RSVP’ed yet, Monday is your last chance. Please come along and join us for a fun start to the Christmas season. Please fax through your registration form without delay. There are currently just over 70 people registered, so it should be a good night. Any special dietary requests to Michelle Eeles
4. Progress on new National Packaging Covenant "light years ahead" of the first version: council
Around
half the 640 signatories to the first National Packaging Covenant (NPC) have
signed up to the revamped model. Covenant council CEO Ed Cordner said the
uptake was "light years ahead" of the first covenant. "At this stage in
the first one there was probably 25 signatories," he said. "I'm upbeat. I know
it's taking time but
if everybody rushed at the door this time I would have
been more surprised." Next Wednesday's deadline for companies to submit
action plans is fast approaching and Cordner says plans are "trickling in". Some
companies have requested extensions to better evaluate how to implement the
plans. "The platform for most plans hasn't changed so it's not about
re-inventing the wheel, it's not that complicated,"
The ABS released the latest data on wages growth, showing that wages increased by 4.2 percent in the year to September 2005, which is the highest increase since the wage price index started in 1997. This was made up of a 4.0 percent increase in the private sector and a 4.7 percent increase in the public sector. Government related sectors had the largest increases – Government administration, health, cultural and recreational services. Also leading growth was the mining sector.
6. Innovation Opportunity
Envelopments, a Melbourne based company has developed a new processing system to produce a full colour double-sided DL envelope and a full colour A4 personalised letter that will change the printed letter and envelope concept as we know it. The printing is all done in an A3 format with the DL envelope template on the left side and the A4 letter on the right side of the A3 form. There are four easy steps from print to mailing referred to as the Butterfly Process. This printing system takes full advantage of off set and variable print technologies.
The finishing machine known as the Butterfly DWM (Document Wrapping Machine) has been built for Mail-Ezi, the product-testing arm for Envelopments. Mail-Ezi has been achieving positive results for its clients over the past three years with strong response rates when used as a direct marketing tool. The industry standard response rates are between 2.5% and 5%. This product achieves 10%+ when used with a qualified database and sound direct marketing principles. The product has been tested and approved by Australia Post. The DWM does all the work post print, folding matching and inserting. If you would like to know more about this product, please contact Brad Fry at Mail Ezi on 03 9486 0444.
7. Cooperative Research Centres Programme - Short Information Sessions for Business
Do you have an innovative idea with commercial potential? Could your business benefit from partnering with major research institutions to solve a particular problem? A Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) may be the answer. The Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training, would like to invite you to attend breakfast briefing about the Cooperative Research Centres Programme. By attending the session you'll have a better understanding of how CRCs currently work with industry and how CRCs may improve your business outlook. The CRC Programme is an Australian Government initiative and an integral part of Australia's innovation system. It is internationally recognised as a successful model for linking researchers, industry and other users of research. The event will be held in Melbourne on Tuesday, 29 November at the Melbourne Museum from 7.30 – 9.00 am. If you would like to attend please contact Quay Connections at hall@qcon.com.au or phone (02) 9571 9555. Apologies for the short notice, we have just been made aware of this session.
8. Training Courses
Lean Manufacturing – Continuous Improvement December 14, 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm
OH&S 1 Day Refresher Course for previous 5 day people January 31, 2006
The New Manager February 7, 8 and 9, 2006
Print Production Management April 11, 12, 13
Costing and Estimating for Printers July 10, 11
Go to Printnet or contact Michelle for a complete list of our upcoming training courses.
9. What’s On
To find out What’s on in the world of print go to What’s On.
And Finally
One Day The President was out
jogging without his guards.
All of a sudden a man with a ski mask jumped out
from behind some bushes with a gun.
The masked man said "Give me all your
money!"
Unwilling to do so, the President said, "You can't do this, I'm the
President!" The man then replied,...
"Oh, never mind then. Give me MY
money!"
The Team at Printing Industries Association of Australia
18 - 20 Queens Avenue
Hawthorn Vic 3122
P 61 3 9819 6144
F 61 3 9819 6292
michelle@printnet.com.au
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