Sappi International Printers of the Year awards

Media releases

Cape Town applauds Sappi 2008 International Printers of the Year

Sappi leverages time and excellence in changes to International Printers of the Year Competition

A new era for the Oscars of the printing industry as Sappi European Awards become biennial


Overview

Commitment to excellence in printed communication

The Sappi International Printers of the Year awards are the world’s most prestigious accolades of excellence in print.

The winner in each category receives a specially cast bronze elephant trophy, created by world renowned sculptor Donald Greig. The elephant symbolises Sappi’s South African heritage as well as the qualities of strength and courage required of printers who strive for excellence.

Nine opportunities to be the world's number one

Truly global, the awards are held in four different regions around the world – Africa, North America, Europe and the Sappi Trading region (Asia, Australasia, Central and South America).

Regional gold finalists then proceed to the international competition where they compete in up to nine categories:

• Annual Reports,
• Books,
• Brochures,
• Calendars,
• Catalogues,
• General Print,
• Magazines,
• Packaging and Labels (not in North America) and
• Printer’s own Promotion.

Judged by an international panel of highly qualified independent judges - to ensure impartiality and the broadest spectrum of technical expertise in print - each entry is judged on overall appearance, quality of finishing and general difficulty of the print job, as well as factors such as dot sharpness, ink density, registration, sheet size, paper weight, screen ruling, stitching and die cutting.

Following an intense judging process, Gold Award winners are then recognised, rewarded and honoured for their excellence in printing at a gala event - considered by those in the industry as the ‘Oscars’ of print.

The Sappi Printers of the Year awards, which originated in Africa 30 years ago, was introduced in Europe 15 years ago, in North America 11 years ago and in the Trading region eight years ago.

Held each year in a different country, spectacular venues in great cities of the world have become synonymous with this annual celebration of print excellence:

2008 Cape Town (South Africa) 2007 Boston (United States of America) 2006 Budapest (Hungary) 2005 Shanghai (People’s Republic of China) 2004 Vergelegen Wine Estate (South Africa) 2003 New York (United States of America) 2002 Berlin (Germany) 2001 Hong Kong (People’s Republic of China) 2000 The Palace of the Lost City (South Africa) 1999 Washington (United States of America) 1998 Monte Carlo (Monaco) 1997 Cape Town (South Africa)