Last week supermarket retailer Co-op announced that it would remove lads mags from its shelves in more than 4,000 outlets unless publishers took measures to cover them up with “modesty bags” by 9 September. Titles affected include Loaded, Front, Zoo and Nuts. The latter three are printed by Polestar. The move followed increasing pressure from lobbyists and consumers groups concerned about the exposure to children of sexually explicit material on supermarket shelves. Paul Williams, managing director of IPC Inspire, the division that publishes Nuts, said that Co-op’s knee-jerk attempt to restrict access to a product that consumers had enjoyed for nearly a decade was wrong. He added: “Nuts takes its obligation to craft products that are right for consumers and retailers alike very seriously, and for a number of weeks now we have had new covers in place, which have a more conservative tone.” Williams said readers had responded positively to its toned down covers, with last week’s issue being the biggest seller since February. “The objection that niche lobby groups have against certain sectors of the media should not mean that the right to purchase a perfectly legal product is be restricted for the over half a million Nuts readers,” he said. “As has been widely reported in the media in recent weeks, this is no longer a question of whether or not you like men’s magazines, it is a question of how far you can restrict the public’s ability to consume free and legal media before it becomes censorship.” Meanwhile Nuts editor Dominic Smith told BBC’s Newsbeat that if Co-op chose to remove the title from its shelves, shoppers would simply be encouraged to go elsewhere. “If we do sell a few less issues, then so be it,” he told the show. Co-op said its position had not changed and titles that were not covered by the September deadline would be removed. Following last week’s announcement, BPIF chief executive Kathy Woodward said the move should come as no surprise and that it was important for printers to maintain good relationships with their clients, so that solutions could be worked out that didn’t result in printers shouldering the cost of extra packaging....

The £6m turnover Birmingham-based company specialises in trade-only security printing for UK and international clients, and employs 56 staff. It produces a wide range of security products, including parking permits, gift vouchers, cheques, and integrated forms. The audit involved a comprehensive range of health and safety-related assessments. Simon Lunken, head of health, safety and environment at the BPIF said the assessment was extremely challenging, and it was “exceptional” achievement to gain a 100% pass. “The BPIF H&S SOE is a precious achievement that demonstrates high level of H&S compliance in specific industry areas,” he said. “Only one other member has ever achieved 100% in their first audit.” A1 managing director Jim Richardson said he was extremely proud of his team’s achievement: “We strive for excellence across all aspects of the business. Looking after our workforce is one of our key measures and full credit should be given to our HR manager Dawn Garton and the rest of the management team for reaching such a high standard.” A1 Trade Print Services is owned by MCAARP Holdings, which also owns Integrity Print and Mooreforms. MCAARP acquired A1 at the end of 2011, and chief executive Mark Cornford said he was delighted at A1’s performance since: “It has proved to be a great acquisition for us. A1 is a fabulous business and I’m enormously proud of what they have achieved.”...

The £6m turnover Birmingham-based company specialises in trade-only security printing for UK and international clients, and employs 56 staff. It produces a wide range of security products, including parking permits, gift vouchers, cheques, and integrated forms. The audit involved a comprehensive range of health and safety-related assessments. Simon Lunken, head of health, safety and environment at the BPIF said the assessment was extremely challenging, and it was “exceptional” achievement to gain a 100% pass. “The BPIF H&S SOE is a precious achievement that demonstrates high level of H&S compliance in specific industry areas,” he said. “Only one other member has ever achieved 100% in their first audit.” A1 managing director Jim Richardson said he was extremely proud of his team’s achievement: “We strive for excellence across all aspects of the business. Looking after our workforce is one of our key measures and full credit should be given to our HR manager Dawn Garton and the rest of the management team for reaching such a high standard.” A1 Trade Print Services is owned by MCAARP Holdings, which also owns Integrity Print and Mooreforms. MCAARP acquired A1 at the end of 2011, and chief executive Mark Cornford said he was delighted at A1’s performance since: “It has proved to be a great acquisition for us. A1 is a fabulous business and I’m enormously proud of what they have achieved.”...

The large-format aqueous ink printer has a “formidable pedigree” and boasted good colour accuracy over previous models and comparable printers, said the print firm in Cookham, Berkshire. The Z6200 will be used to print onto paper, canvas and backlit films using an eight-ink system designed to create uniform gloss and reduce the appearance of bronzing. Managing director Simon Osborne said the Z6200 was one of the fastest printers in its class and joined Oasis’ existing stable of two Canon aqueous ink printers to help the company increase capacity and speed. “Each new investment in printer technology moves our business forward in terms of speed, efficiency and capacity, but they must be underpinned by sound business reasoning,” he said. “One of our newest clients asked us if we could match the output from their previous large-format print supplier, which used a Z6200 for their work. This proved to be the perfect opportunity to respond to a customer need. Osborne’s 16-strong set up offers print and finishing, and digital kit includes an 3.2m-wide EFI Vutek GS3250 flatbed UV printer, two Mimaki JV33 roll-to-roll solvent printers, a 1.6m wide and two 1.5m-wide Canon IPF 9000 12-colour water-based inkjet devices....

The large-format aqueous ink printer has a “formidable pedigree” and boasted good colour accuracy over previous models and comparable printers, said the print firm in Cookham, Berkshire. The Z6200 will be used to print onto paper, canvas and backlit films using an eight-ink system designed to create uniform gloss and reduce the appearance of bronzing. Managing director Simon Osborne said the Z6200 was one of the fastest printers in its class and joined Oasis’ existing stable of two Canon aqueous ink printers to help the company increase capacity and speed. “Each new investment in printer technology moves our business forward in terms of speed, efficiency and capacity, but they must be underpinned by sound business reasoning,” he said. “One of our newest clients asked us if we could match the output from their previous large-format print supplier, which used a Z6200 for their work. This proved to be the perfect opportunity to respond to a customer need. Osborne’s 16-strong set up offers print and finishing, and digital kit includes an 3.2m-wide EFI Vutek GS3250 flatbed UV printer, two Mimaki JV33 roll-to-roll solvent printers, a 1.6m wide and two 1.5m-wide Canon IPF 9000 12-colour water-based inkjet devices....