Eco print wins at WA PICA Awards

This year's PICA Awards for the Western Australia attracted an impressive 372 entries across 50 companies with a record breaking 473 people in attendance for the presentation dinner. A total of 36 Gold, 39 Silver and 36 Bronze PICAs were handed out to 33 companies.

Graham Pittaway, president of Printing Industries WA, spoke of the importance of sustainability at the rainforest themed event, encouraging all the printers, designers and sponsors in attendance to participate in environmental programs like Green Stamp and to promote print to their customers as a highly sustainable means of marketing and communicating.

Peter Lane, national president of Printing Industries, spoke on the importance of adapting to changing industry conditions. Chris Ager, Paperlinx, spoke on the importance of FSC accreditation to the industry.

Outstanding performers at this year's PICAs included Scott Print who took home five Gold awards; Prism Graphix, Pilpel Print and Advance Press who each scored three Golds and Fast Finishing Services with two Golds.

First time winners included Shern Nguyen, S & T Graphic Design and Colour Print who was one very happy winner. James Carter, The Fabric Printer, encouraged the screen printing industry to get on board with PICA and present the best of their industry sector to the rest of the industry.

The LIA presented the Apprentice of the Year Award that this year went to William Hammond, an apprentice at Plastafab.

Des Williamson, PICA Chairman, gave a very special lead into the Printing Industry Recognition Award for 2006 and announced Richard Pilpel of Pilpel Print (pictured right) as this year's recipient. He received a standing ovation and was toasted by the crowd.

"It was a well earned and appropriate award for a man who has shown such dedication to the printing industry," Williamson said.

For a full list of the winners at this year's event click here.