- Through a new co-operative agreement, Paradigm Imaging Group is now distributing Colortrac’s SmartLF large-format scanners (example pictured) throughout North America.
- National telecommunications provider Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) agreed to buy Astral Media, including its out-of-home (OOH) advertising division.
- HP acquired Hiflex Software, which develops information management systems for printing services, including web-to-print software. HP will integrate the software through its Imaging and Printing Group (IPG).
- Samsung Electronics has launched a spinoff corporation specializing in display panel technologies, Samsung Display.
- Printing and imaging product supplier Unisource Canada has rebranded its wide-format division Mondrian-Hall, which it acquired in 2009, as Unisource Wide Format.
- Visual communications software provider Stinova is supporting IAdea’s new HTML-5 web appliances for digital signage.
- The Canadian Out-of-Home Measurement Bureau (COMB) appointed four new directors to its board: Richard Ivey of Media Experts, Kris McVeigh of M2 Universal, Sandy Bourne of BMO Financial Group and Karen Lee of Coca-Cola.
- Visix, which develops software for digital signage, entered a strategic partnership with Visual Electronics, which provides data and messaging integration services.
- Printer manufacturer Canon and laminator vender GBC announced a new partnership to jointly offer systems to the large-format printing market.
- The Canadian Out-of-Home Digital Association (CODACAN) elected its board of directors, including Charles Vachon of Captivate as chair, Gaetano Cardone of Fokus Media as vice-chair, Patrick Galante of Zoom Media as director of membership, Ed Voltan of Canadian Health Media Network (CHMN) as treasurer, Nancy Biglow of Scala Canada as director of marketing and Ted Bradley of Roberts Media as secretary, along with board members Bruno Pupo of LG Electronics, John Brosseau of Consumer Media Solutions, Haroon Mirza of Intel, Joe Cotugno of Ayuda, Michael Girgis of Onestop Media and Michel Cote of Neo-Traffic.
- Signmaking software provider SA International’s Flexi, PhotoPrint and FlexiPrint raster image processors (RIPs) achieved full certification ratings for HP’s Designjet L26500 and L28500 printers.
- Retail signware provider Rose Displays has teamed up with technology developer Kokley to launch a new division, Rose Digital, which will use Apple iPads for in-store digital signage applications.
- Vista System International, known for its curved-frame signs, has acquired GreenSquare, which manufactures and distributes flat sign systems, and has appointed Alon Bar as its U.S. branch manager.
- Telus, a national telecommunications provider, has partnered with interactive signage developer iSign Media, based in Richmond Hill, Ont., to combine their technologies to build a mobile and out-of-home (OOH) advertising network.
- Printer manufacturer Epson acquired a 50 per cent share of ForTex, which sells inks, manufactures treatment agents and provides chemical consulting for digital textile printing.
- Fujifilm North America has become a direct-sales vendor for Visual Magnetics’ changeable graphic systems, which use magnetic-receptive materials.
- Toronto-based Newad is using Vancouver-based Gauge Mobile’s Scanvee platform to enhance its digital signs in restaurants and bars with near-field communications (NFC) technology, allowing customers in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal to interact with the screens using their smart phones.
- The International Sign Association (ISA) has formed an alliance with the National Association of Sign Supply Distributors (NASSD) to deliver additional benefits and services to the latter organization’s members. Though they will remain separate entities, ISA’s vice-president (VP) of trade shows and marketing, Brandon Hensley, is now also NASSD’s executive director.
- Internet Protocol (IP) system developer Meld Technology has partnered with solid-state digital signage controller vendor BrightSign to design devices that can wirelessly broadcast high-definition (HD) content across unused ‘white space’ spectrum to multiple displays across vast distances with low power requirements.
- Nazdar SourceOne announced an agreement to distribute Magna Colours’ water-based screenprinting inks for textiles throughout the North and Central American market.
