NEWS FLASH

20.03.09 Death of the Print Salesman
"The old stereotype of the print salesman as a savvy rep who knows his customers inside out and guards his contact list on pain of death has supposedly given way to a new era of prospecting dominated by the internet and print management companies..." Read more of this Print21 exclusive article.

12.03.09 Plastic Bags - Degradable and Biodegradable. What's the Difference?
Having managed the printing of plastic bags for big brands such as Caesarstone and Jim Beam, clients have asked - what is the difference between degradable and biodegradable? Degradable bags break down into smaller pieces when chemically treated and exposed to heat, moisture and/or UV rays. Biodegradable bags are capable of being decomposed by biological agents, like bacteria. Both types break down at different rates, from as little as 30 days. Read more about degradable vs biodegradable plastics here.

03.02.09 More Paper Price Rises in March
"Currency pressures propel paper prices upwards as merchants pass price hikes through to printers. Across the board price rises in the range of 5%-8% are bearing down on embattled printers…" Read more of this Print21 exclusive article.

12.01.09 Soy Inks - Soy Good?
Soy inks have been used in offset printing internationally for over a decade. The many benefits over petroleum-based inks are not only environmental. Soybean oil is clearer than petroleum or vegetable oils, giving a richer, more vivid colour that "pops off the page". Because of this, soy inks need less colourant to get the same results - thereby being more cost effective. Removing soy ink from paper during recycling ('de-inking') is much easier than with artificial inks, and the ink itself is easily washable with water-based solvents when it comes to cleanup after printing. The lower rub-off level is important for printing newspapers, and the ink doesn't spread as much as petroleum-based. Soy ink also maintains lithographic stability throughout the job, so the operator needs to make fewer adjustments - meaning less paper wastage.
From an environmental point of view, soybeans are a low-cost, sustainable and renewable crop. Soybean crops require limited irrigation and fixed nutrients and, as the crop grows, it temporarily removes carbon dioxide from the environment. Its cultivation uses only 0.5% of the total energy needed to produce the ink. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which contribute to smog, are reduced from 30%+ in petroleum-based inks to around 3%, and soy inks don't contain heavy metals.
So, overall, soy inks are more cost effective, better for the environment and give better results!

22.12.08 RELIEF Tees
Our valued clients found combed cotton T-Shirts in their RELIEF Christmas hampers this year, along with our embroidered Eco Caps. The T-Shirts are digitally printed with the RELIEF slogan and are based on the American Apparel tee - super comfortable pre-shrunk 150GSM, 100% combed cotton. The lovely Noeleen Lechner from The Works Sydney says "Its an awesome T-shirt. Looks great. Extremely comfortable and I love wearing it. Plus it gets comments every time I wear it." Want to see a sample? Click here to send us your details and t-shirt specs.

15.12.08 RELIEF Eco Caps
RELIEF has added a selection of environmentally-friendly caps to its Merchandising range. The Eco Cap is made from 100% recycled plastic PET bottles, providing customers with a lightweight, comfortable and colourfast product, whilst also contributing to a healthier environment! The caps come with a fabric coated velcro touch strap and pre-curved peak. Our caps have been embroidered in 2 places - send us your cap specs and we'll send you a quote.

18.08.08 RELIEF’S RELAUNCH
This week, RELIEF launches its new website! As part of our rebranding and expansion into the green sector, we have created a website packed full of info on RELIEF and the services we provide. We have added a page showing our latest offers on marketing collateral, and an Info & Specs page to help you prepare print-ready files. Enjoy browsing!