- New Canadian members of the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) include Consolidated Converting in Loretto, Ont., Pro Vehicle Outlines in Ottawa, Permaboss.com in Aurora, Ont., Phoenix Professional Labs in Toronto and Build a Birdhouse in Whitby, Ont., whose custom wrapped birdhouses (example pictured) won in the ‘unique applications/digital entries’ category of SGIA’s 2012 Golden Image Awards.
- Panasonic underwent an organizational change in North America, creating a new business-to-business (B2B) technology provider, Panasonic System Communications, specializing in such product lines as digital signage displays and projectors. The company also launched a new authorized reseller program covering these technologies.
- Intel, Kontron and Microsoft partnered to develop a digital signage hardware kit that includes Scala content management software.
- Large-format system distributor Paradigm Imaging introduced new printer/cutter bundles, combining Graphtec cutting plotters with Mutoh America ‘eco-solvent’ inkjet printers. Paradigm also added Caldera raster image processor (RIP) support for SID wide-format printers.
- Toronto-based location-based marketing firm Adcentricity announced several new digital signage network partners, including: iGotcha Media, which manages screens on golf courses; Vif Télé, which reaches consumers at Laurentian Bank machines; Optometry News Network (ONN); and Media Merchants, which specializes in outdoor projections and interactive storefronts.
- Flexible digital signage manufacturer NanoLumens has partnered with James Industries to design new light-emitting diode (LED) displays for gaming machines in casinos.
- Dolby Laboratories, Philips, Océ North America and SoliDDD are collaborating to develop and print ‘glasses-free’ three-dimensional (3-D) images for posters, point-of-purchase (POP) displays and transit ads.
- Canadian marketing agencies SVM and Piranha have partnered to launch Digital Connect, which will specialize in marketing for shoppers, including digital signage, e-commerce systems, mobile apps and text message offers.
- Digital signage content management software developer ComQi partnered with liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturer Sharp and wall mount assembler Peerless-AV to launch ‘turnkey’ digital signage packages.
- Value-Rite Business Products in Markham, Ont., and Sawgrass Industrial are among the members of wide-format printer supplier Mutoh America’s new textile and dye-sublimation extended partner program (EPP).
- Through a new collaboration, AmpliVox Sound Systems’ speakers are now being supplied with AVTeq’s media carts for digital signage deployments.
- Digital signage network provider Dynasign entered a technology partnership with Magnetic 3D, which develops autostereoscopic three-dimensional (3-D) displays, to market glasses-free 3-D digital menu boards to quick-service restaurants (QSRs).
- Toronto-based Access Imaging has been appointed as a dealer for GMG’s colour management products in Canada, focusing on the wide-format printing market.
- Matrox Graphics in Dorval, Que., entered a global partnership with embedded computing company Advantech to develop new video wall systems.
- Out-of-home (OOH) advertising firm Vector Media, which manages large-format printed graphics on buses in Vancouver and other cities, has expanded into the digital signage sector and joined the Digital Place-based Advertising Association (DPAA).
- To increase its presence in North America, among other goals, high-end projector manufacturer Barco has acquired a majority share in Projectiondesign, which specializes in more compact digital projectors.
- Pattison Outdoor Advertising has selected QMI Agency—which has offices in Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City and Montreal—as the primary multimedia and news provider for its digital signage networks across Canada.
- Advantage Graphic Supplies in Markham, Ont., has acquired the exclusive rights to distribute Band-N-Go’s stainless steel fastening clamps to the sign and print industry across Canada.
- Wholesale computer distributor Synnex is now providing Flypaper Studio’s digital signage software through its information technology (IT) and audiovisual (AV) integrator and reseller channels.
- Under a five-year agreement, iSign Media Solutions in Richmond Hill, Ont.—which owns and operates 5,600 digital signs in 1,400 locations across Canada—has named GraphicMedia the exclusive distributor of its ‘smart antenna’ hardware and interactive marketing software in North, Central and South America.
