Offset Alpine wins gold for 2nd year at Sappi Awards

In the winners circle for the second year in a row, Garth Hackett, Offset Alpine (centre) is congratulated by Hugh Martin, managing director (left) and Tim Schaffer, Australasian manager of Sappi Trading at the awards ceremony in Melbourne last week.

One gold medal, two silver, a bronze and a special Printer’s Award saw Australia and New Zealand well represented in the winner’s circle at this year’s Sappi Printer of the Year awards. The result represents a “significant achievement for the industry when you consider we are competing against half the world, “ said Greg Grace, LIA Fellow and one of the panel of Sappi international judges.

The Sappi Trading competition combines entries from Mexico, Central and South America and Asia as well as Australasia.

“It’s easier to win gold in the Commonwealth Games than in the Olympics. The Sappi Awards represent the highest level of international competition, so everyone who won should be very proud of their achievement,” said Grace.

Topping the list was Offset Alpine for its production of Australian Geographic magazine, the sole gold medal winner for the region. This is the second time the company will represent Australia in the world finals of the Sappi Printer of the Year competition, this year to be held in Cape Town in October.

“We’re very surprised and happy to win gold again,” said Garth Hackett, Sales and Marketing Director Offset Alpine. “Coming on the back of being the biggest gold winner at this year’s National Print Awards it’s beyond our wildest expectations.

“Our staff are thrilled with the win. We’re celebrating at a barbeque this Friday.”

The judges commended the Offset alpine entry for its very high level of printing technique including excellent registration and the good use of stochastic screening. They noted that the intensive colours afforded by this technique gave excellent reproduction of natural scenes and landscapes in the magazine.

Silver for New Zealand and Queensland

Other regional winners included McCollams Print from New Zealand, which won a silver award in the annual report category, while Inprint in Brisbane got one in the brochures and catalogues category. A bronze award in the books category went to Daniels Printing Craftsmen of Perth with another Western Australian company, Scott Print, picking up an inaugural Printer’s Award for its brochure.

The quality and record number of entries in this year’s Sappi Printer of the Year awards underlines the continuing vigour of the printed medium, according to High Martin, Managing Director Sappi Trading. “Despite all predictions that the 21st century would see print swamped by the electronic media, today print continues to play an integral role in our everyday lives and is more powerful than ever before.

“Print is permanent and easy to access. It can combine visual imagery with language. It builds relationships and can be shared or kept confidential. It can be preserved and yet be updated. The entries in this year’s Sappi Trading Printer of the Year competition underscore the power of print.

“At Sappi, we have long been relentlessly committed to excellence and to producing papers that showcase the art and craft of printing at its finest. The finalists in the Sappi Trading Printer of the Year are living up to the same ideal of excellence by enhancing the power of print through their commitment and creativity,” said Hugh Martin.