Even in core heatset categories, it was a very good night for Offset Alpine.
But in the NSW PICA awards on Friday, the upmarket IPMG division scored and scored.
Named 2013 ‘printer of the year’ for the fourth successive year, it broke last year’s 18-medal tally with a record 27 including not only ten gold, eight silver and nine bronze, but two business category medals – a silver for education and training initiatives and a bronze for environmental initiatives.
It was, by any measure, a staggeringly successful evening for Offset Alpine, challenged only in any sense by stablemate Hannanprint, which was a runner-up to it in heastset and web-offset (with cover price) categories.
For the record, OAP won gold medals in one, two or three colour printing, pictured; book printing (for Brands and Strands); multi-piece productions and campaigns (including direct mail) for Paspaley (Brands & Strands Classics, New Collections & Virtues); and impact sensory or direct mail for Avon’s 2/2014 campaign.
There were two silvers and a bronze in the commercial posters, showcards, card constructions and mobiles category (for Seafolly strut cards, a two-sided Estée Lauder/ Tommy Hilfiger poster, and the Seafolly care cards; silver in self-promotion for its own Capabilitities leaflet; and more bronze in leaflets for CC High Impact 4PP HOC, and in calendars for the KW Doggett calendar.
Oh, and a ‘First Impression’ insert for Offset Alpine won silver for Avon Graphics in the embellishment category.
In heatset web-offset Offset Alpine won two golds (for RM Williams Spring/Summer 2014 and Peter Alexander Mother's Day) and two silver (for Mercedes Magazine and David Jones Design Edit Winter 2013) and a bronze (for Iconic Men's Magazine), leaving Hannanprint to take bronze for the Coles Baby and Toddler Winter 2013 catalogue.
In web offset publications with a cover price, Offset Alpine took three golds (for Wine Selector Spring 2013, Russh Magazine #50, and Outback Magazine; giving Hannanprint a nibble at the silver (for Delicious March 2013, Cosmopolitan August 2013, and Superfood Ideas October 20130, and bronze (for Gardening July 2013, Australian Good Taste April 2013, and Delicious September 2013). No non-IMPG companies were honoured in either category.
NSW judges chairman Warwick Roden said this year’s entries featured fewer faults and a greater use of high quality stock, “a good sign when cost was often more important than quality”.
The event was also the national presentation of LIA graduate awards, with the national graduate scholarship prize going to Samuel Moss of Sinnott Brothers NSW.