NPA #1 – PaperlinX takes over NPA sponsorship from subsidiary, Australian Paper

Tom Parks, ceo, making his first appearance at the awards, handed over the certificate and a cheque to the winning third year apprentice, Daniel Campbell, from Lilyfield Printing, NSW, reaffirming his company’s commitment to the industry awards. The winner completed his apprenticeship in 2005 at the Sydney Institute, TAFE Ultimo.

The three sponsors awards came as the highlight of the annual festive occasion that had over 700 industry types join in professional acclamation, much mutual backslapping and many late night revels around Darling Harbour. This year’s 23rd Awards had a new chairman, Scot Telfer, (pictured) marketing manager of Penfold Buscombe, who, in a gracious opening address, paid tribute to the previous chairman, Alf Carrigan, as well as making special mention of long-term NPA organiser, Graeme Luke.

Telfer described the importance of the awards in showcasing the industry’s quality in the face of intensifying competition from overseas suppliers. He emphasized the importance of seeing quality print in the context of an overall business engagement in the graphic arts.

“As we face ever-increasing pressure from overseas suppliers, it is essential for us to promote the very high capabilities of our magnificent local industry,” he said.
“Of course, print excellence is only one aspect of competitiveness. It has to be supported by equally high OH&S standards, business process improvements, workplace standards, environmental practices, commitment to new technology, and involvement with organisations like the Printing Industries Association of Australia.”

Digital print blurs the boundaries

A notable feature of the awards was the movement of digitally produced work into categories where it has not been previously. According to Rod Urquhart, chairman of judges, this raised difficulty for the judges. Judging of the limited edition and art reproduction category was particularly difficult for the judges due to the mix of conventionally and digitally produced entries, he wrote in his report.

This effect also exacerbated the existing divide between books and prints. These anomalies will be addressed before next year’s competition.

Two categories – book printing (one, two or three colours), and web offset uncoated – were deemed not to have produced entries worthy of a gold medal. On the other hand, two categories – books, catalogues and magazines, saddle stitched (four or more colours), and similar booklets bound by any other methods – got two gold medals apiece because the top entries were simply unable to be separated.

Other categories worthy of mention were screen printing and flexographic printing and specifically noted as producing numbers of entries of outstanding levels of quality, and to quote one judge, “best entries ever.”