Vivid Laminating Technologies exhibited for the first time at FESPA this year and found it a huge success. The UK-based company took their latest range of Easymount™ wide format laminators and Linea roll fed systems to the show and demonstrated them in action.

A new craze is sweeping across the UK’s classrooms, playgrounds and workplaces, and is fast becoming THE latest trend for Britain’s teenagers. Pen spinning is a form of contact juggling that uses a small writing tool, like a pen or a pencil, to perform different tricks, and is popular with school children wishing to sharpen their skills and amaze their friends in the process.

To serve customers in the south, HSM have recently recruited Derek Mathias (pictured) to their Office Technology Division. The company is continuing to grow their turnover in the UK and Derek will perform a key role in driving sales even further forward in this important part of the country.

Following a lively VIP launch less than a week earlier, RH Chairs latest innovation, RH Ambio, made an award winning debut at London’s Design Prima exhibition, held at Old Billingsgate in May.

With the buzz around RH Ambio having generated plenty of interest in the RH stand over the three-day exhibition, the judges of the Prima FX Awards were keen to see what was wowing the visitors.

After three successful years supplying the Tour of Britain cycle race with elements of their signs and graphics, Bristolbased signage and workplace branding specialist Artworks Solutions has been appointed “official signage suppliers” for the coming three years. The Tour takes place from September 9th to 15th this year.

Scottish independent papermaker Tullis Russell has further boosted the environmental credentials of its offer by the introduction of trucard 1 gloss recycled.

Part of the company’s growing range of SBS coated and uncoated boards, trucard 1 gloss recycled contains a minimum of 50 per cent FSC approved post consumer recycled pulp and a minimum of 20 per cent FSC virgin fibre.

A quarter of all packaging waste, more than one million tonnes per year, could be saved by new online system - Your Packaging Partner. The proposed Retail Packaging Recycling Bill, that was expected to come into force in June 2007, makes it the retailers’ responsibility to recycle packaging.

Ron Laing, Managing Director of Filofax UK, is to retire at the end of July after 11 years at the helm of the UK’s leading personal organiser and leather goods brand.

Ron has overseen significant development and growth of the Filofax brand during his time as Managing Director, including the implementation of major brand development and diversification initiatives following the acquisition of the brand in 2001 by Charles Letts & Company Ltd, and the subsequent creation of the Letts Filofax Group.

Every enterprise with a shred of concern for its impact on the future of our environment now acknowledges the importance of sustainability in the tools and materials it employs in the pursuit of its business.True corporate social responsibility demands no less. And one of the first and simplest boxes for any company to tick on its CSR strategy blueprint is “stationery”.

With 27 distribution centres and a presence close to every major city from Aberdeen to Southampton, Belfast to Ipswich, PaperCo has a logistical framework unmatched by any other distributor of cut-size and pre-print stationery paper to the office supplies sector. At any given time, its half-million square-feet of warehousing stock some 35,000 tonnes of paper and board ready for same-day or next-morning delivery.

Individually, the thin film windows that are used to make business envelopes are only a small part of the refuse disposal chain. But multiply by the millions of window envelopes that are mailed every day, and windows made of biodegradable film could make environmental good sense.

Tullis Russell Papermakers in conjunction with its partner Folex have expanded their range of photo realistic desktop inkjet paper, Fotojet Instant Dry, with the launch of a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited version, making it the first ink jet glossy photo paper to hold the FSC certificate.

Businesses are making a concerted effort to reduce their carbon footprint and increase efficiency. Mike Dinsdale, Communications Director at Brother UK, offers some advice on office technology for businesses trying to go green:

Sharp has launched the MX-1800N to join its range of digital, full colour multifunctional printers (MFPs) delivering environmental performance, professional finishing and high productivity for the small and mid-sized businesses (SMB) market.

The new model has an output speed of 18ppm for both colour and black and white and delivers high quality imaging and networking printing and scanning functions for documents up to A3 in size.

With businesses currently responsible for approximately half of the UK’s carbon emissions, even a small office can emit three to five tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum. However, there are steps that users can take to reduce energy consumption. Indeed, the latest computers and other electrical equipment often incorporate much more sophisticated energy saving modes.

Pentel has moved forward into a brand new sector of the stationery industry by launching an exciting new full range of planet-friendly filing products under the name Recycology. As the name suggests the products are made from more than 50 per cent recycled materials, they use fewer valuable virgin resources, produce no toxic gases when burned and with superior finish and styling buyers can enhance their environment as well as protect it.

Canon is a world-leading innovator and provider of imaging and information technology solutions for the home and office environments. The company is working to develop advanced technologies that will satisfy the need of its responsible customers for the 21st century. This involves an ongoing commitment to making high performance, functional products while minimising the use of precious resources and reducing waste at every stage.

Fellowes has announced the European launch of Virashield™, a revolutionary range of office cleaning products featuring Byotrol™, a clinically proven anti-microbial technology designed to kill 99.9 per cent of germs and viruses and provide continuous protection for up to seven days following application. This unique range has been clinically proven to kill germs, viruses and bacteria that may cause illness including MRSA, Bird Flu Virus and E-coli as well as the common cold and flu. Fellowes will introduce the range into the US and other markets in the near future.

AF International, manufacturer of ICT cleaning products, launched its “I can make you feel good” campaign in style with a sampling event to end users at some of London’s busiest tube stations.

Combining the style and quality that you would expect from a Swedish made product, with competitive, value for money prices, the new range of SMS mounting systems should make their mark. Launched in the UK by Bjurab at the recent CEDIA exhibition, the new products received a very positive reception from audio-visual and home cinema dealers alike.

Mitsubishi Electric’s Visual Information Systems, a leading manufacturer of high quality display solutions, has introduced the new XD470U projector to complement its comprehensive fully featured range. Using the latest digital light processing technology from Texas Instruments, the XD470U is an ultra portable XGA projector that is tailored to meet the needs of both the IT and corporate sector alike.

As a major manufacturer of projectors, Panasonic’s vast expertise in research and development means we incorporate the latest advancements in technology to meet the ever changing office requirements and individual needs.

Fellowes’ National Identity Fraud Prevention Week campaign has been named Europe’s best Consumer Marketing Campaign at the 2007 SABRE (Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation) awards. At a ceremony held in Barcelona recently, the national awareness campaign was announced as the winner from a shortlist including entries from Pantene, Johnson & Johnson and Dell Computers.

Summer Fair is here to stay. With over 7,700 buyers (subject to ABC Audit) to the show over four days, Summer Fair has proven a success with both exhibitors and buyers. Unique and directional, Summer Fair inspired, excited and created profit for Christmas, Spring 08 and beyond.

Recent years have seen mobile Notebook PCs come into favour, as both the specification and price gap has converged with traditional desktop PCs. For many the promised advantage of mobile computing has been somewhat disappointing. The reason, Notebook operating hours has not kept pace with the dramatic overall upward shift in other specifications. Many existing notebooks still need recharging after just two or three hours.

Geometrix are less than one year away from celebrating 80 years in the industry. Still a family business, it is now run by fourth generation Jon and David Cook.

The key markets remain the education sector, retail and wholesale outlets and promotional/business gift areas.

Bostik, the biggest brand in volume in the adhesives market, has introduced a new range of adhesive products to create the “Sticki” range. The new range follows the success experienced by Sticki Dots, individually formed multipurpose adhesive glue dots, which were launched in 2006. The new product range will seek to enhance Bostik’s market leading position.

Henkel’s two leading stationery superbrands have joined forces for the first time to create a combined Pritt stick and Sellotape pack.

The superb £1.29 rrp value pack twins a 10g Pritt adhesive stick with a 19mm x 15m roll of Sellotape Original, making it the ideal back-to-school offer to meet both gluing and sticking needs.

Océ, a leading digital printing solutions provider, has showcased a number of green technologies to 4,800 public sector procurement professionals at Procurement Solutions 2007 that could dramatically reduce the environmental impact of printing for public sector in-plants and commercial print operations.

Muratec, the multifunction specialist company, has launched the MFX-2200OB and MFX-2700OB multifunctionals which include OfficeBridge, Muratec’s a low cost document management solution for workgroups.

TallyGenicom, a leading provider of focussed business printers, has announced a powerful addition to its fleet of robust, heavy duty mono laser printers – the 9045N.

Equipped with a 533Mhz processor, the 9045N starts up in less than eight seconds and is capable of fast print speeds of 45 pages per minute. It is ideally suited for the heavy workload environment seen in offices today.

As global warming is making a major impact on the world, environmental issues are at the forefront of many business agendas. The British Office Supplies and Services (BOSS) Federation is heavily involved in many aspects of helping companies gain a greater understanding for their obligations.