An Intec HPP500 heavy stock digital colour printer has found a new home at Quebec's historic University of Montreal. The institution is reportedly "delighted" with the investment, and uses it for printing envelopes as well as literature for course books, brochures and manuals for more than 55,000 students.

Last month, students at Ryerson University's Graphic Communications Management degree program launched a new student group called RyePAC. The group is dedicated to creating opportunities for students to learn about the packaging industry.

Toronto's own Avanti Computer Systems was named Xerox 2011 Print MIS Business Partner of the Year for its continued contribution to Xerox, its customers and the printing industry as a whole. The award was presented to the company at the recent Xerox Partner Summit in Tampa, Florida.

Hewlett-Packard has recently introduced two new HP Designjet printers that it says are capable of handling a broader range of indoor and outdoor signage applications. The printers, featuring HP's Latex Inks, are said to produce work that boasts better durability than eco-solvent inks. Here's a closer look.

The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association recently held its SGIA Expo trade show in New Orleans at the end of October. The organization holds a "Product of the Year" competition at each show, recognizing the latest advancements in equipment and supplies in the the speciality imaging industry. Let's see who won!

xpedx has just announced that it will close its Canadian locations by the end of the year. The facilities supply printing papers and graphic supplies to commercial printers in Toronto as well as in the Western Canadian markets of Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

Contact Image, a Montreal-based large-format digital printing business, installed an HP Scitex LX800 Printer earlier this year. The company said it chose the LX800 for its environmental benefits, as well as its flexibility. This printer produces resolutions of up to 1200 x 1200 dpi and features several print modes.

Gillian Mothersill, Associate Dean of Ryerson's Faculty of Communication & Design, has recently been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council (CPISC).

Beginning next month, Coca-Cola's iconic red cans (more than 1.4 billion of them!) will be printed instead with white ink. The reason behind the packaging change is a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to raise awareness about polar bears and help protect their Arctic homes.

Rumours of an interesting new concept product are circulating around the internet: FruitWash Labels. The brainchild of Amron Experimental Inc., these labels dissolve into organic fruit cleansing produce soap when washed. The labels can even be printed with price look-up codes and barcodes for accurate check-out.