NSW Printers shine at PICA

It was awards galore for NSW as Business and Print awards, the Future Leader Award, Membership Longevity awards, LIA Graduate of the Year Awards and NSW Printers of the Year were announced during the NSW Media Super 2013 Printing Industries Craftsmanship Awards at the Sydney Wentworth Sofitel on Friday night.

A total of 51 Gold, 54 Silver and 40 Bronze medals were awarded across the Print and Business Categories. Additionally, the inaugural Judges Choice Award for the NSW Printer of the Year was won by Momento Pro Pty Ltd. Offset Alpine continued its benchmark setting performance by winning the 2013 NSW Printer of the Year award for the fourth successive year.

Offset Alpine extended its 2012 tally of 18 medals to achieve a record setting 27 medals. These comprised ten Gold, eight Silver and nine Bronze. Print entries accounted for 25 medals with the company achieving two Business Category medals - a Silver for education and Training Initiatives and Bronze for Environmental Initiatives.

Chippendale based Momento Pro Pty Ltd’s PICA entry ‘Bhutan: Black Ribbon” was, in the opinion of PICA judges, the most outstanding of all print entries received for the NSW PICA awards.

The judges commented that: “The photography and prepress, and the print and binding were outstanding, while the presentation box protected and displayed the product beautifully. The choice of the printing stock and binding materials was exceptional. A handsome piece and a most suitable winner of The Judges’ Choice Award.”

The Media Super NSW Future Leader Award was won by Brad Partington from BJ Ball Papers. Brad, a Senior Account Executive, has been in the industry for 10 years. He completed a cadet programme at BJ Ball that included: warehouse; samples department; internal sales; junior sales representative; sales executive. He is part of BJ Ball's Future Steering Committee – and proving his all-round leadership abilities – he is also captain of his local football side.

Brad will go on to compete against each state finalist for the National Award to be held during the National Print Awards in Sydney next May.

During a report back on the standard of entries received, NSW Chairman of Judges, Warwick Roden, said this year’s award entries featured fewer faults and a greater use of high quality stock. He said this was a good sign when cost was often more important than quality.

Roden said, “There were many innovative and unusual products submitted, particularly in the Security Printing and Multi-piece categories. New types of products and new finishing processes are continually being developed and entered in the PICAs.

“Digital printing continues to improve and take a larger share of the market, from small labels to wide format. Its growing versatility will impact both the Graphic Arts industry and the PICA Awards, as it provides high quality, economical products with smaller setup cost."

Finalists from around the country were present for the The LIA Graduate of the Year Awards. The GAMAA – LIA National Graduate Scholarship Prize went to Samuel Moss of Sinnott Brother NSW and the LIA – Printing Industries Future Leader Award went to Brett Foran from Land & Property Information, NSW.

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Printing Industries Association of Australia Continuous Membership Awards - 2013

25 Years

Total Print Control

Glenn Warner Printing Pty Ltd

Sunne Printing Services Pty Ltd

Cavalier Printing Pty Ltd

My Tabs Pty Ltd

Hypercet Printing (inc. Woods Printing)

Graphitype Printing Services

Leonhard Kurz (Aust Pty Ltd)

Adstik Labels Pty Ltd

10 Years

Lanier Australia

Pro Print Group Pty Ltd

Sydney Digital & Print Services

Kwik Kopy Castle Hill

Snap Brookvale

Paragon Inks Australia

Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia Pty Ltd

Quote & Print Solutions

Harbord Printing

Cornerstone Graphics (Aust) Pty Ltd

Fitzgerald Graphic Communications Group

Blizzard Publishing Pty Ltd

Print and Business Category Winners for 2013 are listed below: