Sappi names nine world printing champions in Shanghai
Following last year’s decision to separate entries into categories for the world’s most famous and prestigious competition, nine companies from around the world can lay claim to being the best printers in their field. Changing from the almost impossible task of trying to compare very different styles of printing, one with the other, Sappi’s organisers adopted a like with like approach that sees producers of annual reports competing against similar products and not against, say, calendars or labels.
Also for the first time there were no entrants from Australia and New Zealand in the finals, the local industry only picking up silver and bronze awards in the regional Sappi Trading run-offs back in June. At the regional level local printers were matched against similar entries from Asia and Central and South America, the ‘trading’ regions.
In fact no entrants from the ‘trading’ regions proved a winner in the final cut, with the judges, including our own Greg Grace from the LIA, awarding four of the famous African Elephant trophies to European companies, three to African firms and two to North American printing enterprises. While there is no gainsaying the quality of the winners, the competition was tight, with Grace maintaining they were some of the most difficult decisions in his experience of the awards.
Sappi Trading managing director, Hugh Martin, (pictured) expressed his disappointment that no one from the ‘regions’ won, although he is firm in his conviction that the general standard of printing in Australasia, China, India and Mexico is every bit as good as anywhere in the world. He urged printers to put in an extra effort next year.
Certainly on the night, the expert audience that packed the glittering hall of Shanghais Grand Theatre had widely differing opinions on who would prove to be the winner in each category. There were few clear favourites and at this level the quality and presentation of the printing on display set benchmarks of which the entire industry can be proud.
Sappi takes the lead for craft
In making the presentations on the night, Jonathan Leslie, CEO Sappi, (pictured) spoke of the company’s motivation in hosting the awards. “Paper is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, and remains as essential component of the advertising and marketing mix. We at Sappi, as custodians of this rich heritage, wish to acknowledge and reward the role played by the printer in making print such a powerful communication medium, he said.
The concept of a world championship in printing is now firmly established under the Sappi banner. With increasing numbers of entrants every year, the competition will only get tougher and the prizes more highly valued. With the use of Sappi paper as the sole entry requirement, the potential is available to everyone.
Hungary for success next year
Tim Schafer, managing director of Sappi Trading Australia, is confident next year’s awards will again see local printers travel to the finals. He reports many printers who entered this year are more determined than ever that Australia and New Zealand will be represented in the world titles. “They have told me they are keen to see Australia among the best of the best printers in the world again. We have a lot more entries coming in even at this early stage and I’m confident we’ll put on a good display in next year’s competition.”
Lured not only by the prospect of being declared the best printer in the world in their speciality, but also by the prospect of an all expenses trip to Budapest, where next year’s finals will be held, the Sappi Printers of the Year competition is drawing entrants from across the board, from label and magazine printers to book and general printers. For an industry that considers itself on a par with the best in the world, the opportunity is too good to be missed.
And the winners are, This year’s winners can claim to be the best printer in the world in one of nine different categories.
Annual Reports - Kirkwood Printing Company, Massachusetts, USA
Books - Leen Offsetdruk, Belgium
Brochures - Ultra Litho, South Africa
Calendars - Masterpack, South Africa
Catalogues - Geers Offset, Belgium
General Print - Hemlock Printers, Canada
Magazines - Medialis Offsetdruk, Germany
Packaging & Labels - Durrant & Viljoen, South Africa
Printer’s Own Promotion - Bruno Viappiani, Italy.
Also for the first time there were no entrants from Australia and New Zealand in the finals, the local industry only picking up silver and bronze awards in the regional Sappi Trading run-offs back in June. At the regional level local printers were matched against similar entries from Asia and Central and South America, the ‘trading’ regions. 
Sappi Trading managing director, Hugh Martin, (pictured) expressed his disappointment that no one from the ‘regions’ won, although he is firm in his conviction that the general standard of printing in Australasia, China, India and Mexico is every bit as good as anywhere in the world. He urged printers to put in an extra effort next year.
In making the presentations on the night, Jonathan Leslie, CEO Sappi, (pictured) spoke of the company’s motivation in hosting the awards. “Paper is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, and remains as essential component of the advertising and marketing mix. We at Sappi, as custodians of this rich heritage, wish to acknowledge and reward the role played by the printer in making print such a powerful communication medium, he said. 