Business News
Cape Town applauds Sappi 2008 International Printers of the Year
Tuesday 14. October 2008 - The Sappi International Printers of the Year Awards are the worlds most prestigious accolades of excellence in print.
This year the much anticipated 2008 gala event was held on Friday, 03 October 2008 in Cape Town at Rhodes House (formerly Groote Schuur), residence of adventurer businessman Cecil John Rhodes and a succession of South African Prime Ministers and State Presidents.
Considered as the Oscars of print, the award ceremony recognises, rewards and honours the printers craftsmanship and attention to their work. Each winner receives a coveted cast-bronze elephant trophy created by world-renowned sculptor Donald Greig, symbolising Sappis South African heritage.
Sappi Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Boëttger congratulated the Sappi International Printers of the Year saying, “Tonight we witness the best of the best in print for 2008. You have brought someone elses ideas to life and despite budget and time constraints have turned them superbly into reality. Be assured that your effort is appreciated each and every time someone picks up your work and marvels at the rich colour, the clarity of each image and the feel of paper between their fingers. It is for this reason that people develop emotional bonds to books, magazines, calendars and have their decisions influenced so strongly by annual reports, catalogues, brochures, packaging and labels. Paper connects with human emotion in a way that a computer screen will never do.
“Sappi will always strive to be deserving of your business and respect; to being your paper partner in your pursuit of print excellence. We do not regard ourselves merely as makers of pulp and paper. We are your business partners in the value chain and continue to listen to you and deliver ever more efficient and cost-effective products that will make all of us more successful.
“Congratulations to our 2008 Sappi International Printers of the Year.”
Over 6,000 entries were received from participating countries in this years four qualifying regional Printers of the Year competitions. The categories were:
Annual Reports * Books * Brochures * Calendars * Catalogues * General Print * Magazines (sheet and web) * Packaging and Labels * Printers own Promotion
Regional gold award winners competed against each other in their respective categories and were judged by an international panel of judges, ensuring impartiality and the broadest spectrum of technical expertise in print. Each entry was 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.
The judges, who are from the four participating regions, were Ronald Widdershoven, (Europe), Ken Lantz (North America), Colin Bekker (Africa) and Carlos Alvarado (Trading).
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.