Diamonds are a printer's best friend: Victorian PICAs

Bambra Press shines at last week's PICAs in Victoria. Mitchell Jordan spent the night with the state's printing stars.

What a night it was for the Port Melbourne-based company, which took home three Diamond awards along with the Heidelberg award for excellence in craft.

John Wanless, managing director, spent almost as much time on the stage as the night's MC, Gorgi Quill. Just when he sat down, it was time for him to return once more.

Humbled, Wanless told the ebullient crowd that: "Awards don't pay the bills but they are great recognition."

Later he said that with nine entries making the finalists section, he expected the company to win at least a couple of awards but did not imagine taking away four.

"It was a very satisfying feeling," he said. "We just entered jobs that we thought were right; it was pleasing to know that they were as good as what is out there in the industry." Bambra picked up the awards for; booklets, catalogues and magazines saddle-stitched; book printing (also awarded to Finsbury Green); digital printing, electrophotographic.

John Wanless (left) with Phillip Ernst from Brissett Rollers.

Printing companies must use these awards to capitalise on their recognition according to Jim Atkinson, president of Printing Industries.

"I ask all winners to showcase your success to your customers," he said.

"It is important that as an industry we showcase ourselves so that people know about us and we can move forward."

In close pursuit of Bambra Press was Manark Printing (three Diamond awards), Toth Bienk (three Diamond awards) and Finsbury Green (two Diamonds and the Paper Environmental Award). It might have sounded like a cliché, but Trevor Hone's comment that "judging was difficult due to the high level of quality in the industry" may well have been true given how tight the competition was.

Peter Orel, manager of Finsbury Green was pleasantly surprised when his company received the Paper Environmental Award after missing out last year.

"We weren't expecting it at all," he said. "After last year, we weren't sure what the criteria was and if we met it. This [award] was a nice surprise."

Peter Orel (left) receiving the Paper Environmental Award from Doug Smith, CEO of Village Green Environmental Solutions.

The theme may have been deju vu, but compared to last year's PICAs, the crowd's behaviour improved considerably, perhaps due to the no-alcohol policy for the first half of the evening.

Like the recent NSW Print Excellence Awards, the Victorian crowds were also encouraged not to be weighed down by the doom-and-gloom of the economy and enjoy their night of nights.

"Printers are used to running their business under hard times – they are a resilient bunch," Hone said.

"All we can do is the best we can and reshape our businesses as we go. Tonight, we take a break and mix with our peers, competitors and customers."

DIamond Award winners are automatically entered into next year's National Print Awards.