NIPPA recognises innovation

Not long till NIPPA conference and awards night comes to Sydney.

This year's conference, 'The innovator within' runs from 16-19 October at the Menzie Hotel, Sydney. It features presentations and workshops from local and international presenters. Not only a conference, the four-day event also includes the NIPPA awards for the in-house print sector.

President David Harrison said that the event allows in-house print managers to step into the limelight and receive some much-deserved recognition. "It gives this very important and often underrated sector of our industry an opportunity to showcase the talent and expertise within it," he said.

"In-house print managers no longer wear dust coats and stay out of sight frightened to stick their head up less they get outsourced. They no longer only work in the public sector locked away in the basement either. These people are running multi-million dollar operations."

As a NIPPA judge, TAFE teacher and LIA secretary Alan Wetherall noted that high calibre of work produced by NIPPA entrants. "The quality of digitally printed jobs have increased to levels that were though impossible only a few years ago," he said.

"The digital trend seems to have grown into its own market niche as the range of printed work diversifies. Print centres have become business-wise and customer-centres; this is a huge change."

At this year's NIPPA, the gold, silver and bronze awards will be presented in each of the two areas of digital and offset print. There will also be an Outstanding Business Award 2007 and Outstanding Contribution to NIPPA 2007. Best in Category awards will be given for a range of seven different categories for excellence in specific print and finishing types.

The scope of the awards is a reflection of the diverse nature of printing, Harrison says. "When we first announced our intention of developing awards, we were inundated with offers of support from our current group of sponsors," he said.