LFP - Large-Format-Printing
Swedish Printer Takes Two Top Category Awards In FESPA Digital Print Awards 2008
Friday 11. April 2008 - Boras-based textile printer scoops Textile and Fine Art awards
Swedish digital print service provider Tobex AB (www.tobex.se), reaped two of the eight coveted Category prizes in the FESPA Digital Print Awards 2008, supported by HP.
The Boras-based textile printing specialist scooped its first Category Winner prize in the Textiles category for its entry entitled Fireproof Velvet Cushions. The project, for Thomas Eriksson Architekter AB, working on behalf of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) involved digitally printing original water colour artwork on Trevira CS Velvet, which is required by airport fire regulations. Cushions were made from the printed product and are now used on the armchairs in the SAS Scandinavian Lounge, and are going to be used as company giveaways.
In the Fine Art category, Tobex took the top prize for Art Printed Ballet Clothes, producing costumes for a ballet performance according to an exhibition of the late artist Sonia Delaunays work at Skissernas museum in Lund. Scanned reproductions of Delaunays sketches, paintings and photos were digitally printed onto roller blind fabric, screen mesh and polyester lined fabric, a technically challenging brief, which Tobex fulfilled with great success.
“We are absolutely delighted with these awards”, says Torbjörn Johansson of Tobex. “Being a very small company, the FESPA Digital Awards are a great opportunity to show the extent of our print offering, both to our domestic market and throughout the whole of Europe.”
“We also entered this competition last year and it is always a tough contest”, continues Johansson. “Last year we won Gold in the Nordic Region, but its been even more challenging this year, as we were competing in different categories with companies, not only from our own region, but beyond.”
Torbjörn Johansson and his wife and business partner Eva Théen-Johansson celebrated with other Category Winners at an exclusive dinner event in Geneva on 31st March, where they received their prize certificates from FESPA President and fellow Swede Anders Nilsson, and from FESPA board member and chairman of the Awards jury, Michel Caza.
Commenting on Tobex outstanding success in the competition, which invites entries from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Anders Nilsson said:
“Textile applications are really attracting a lot of attention in the FESPA community right across Europe, and the Nordic reputation for early adoption of new technology and processes continues in this niche, as in many other areas of digital production.
“Located in an area of Sweden with a deep textile heritage, the team at Tobex has decades of experience in this area. However, their success comes from the way they have built on this expertise with sustained investments in digital technology, and their adventurous approach to using new techniques and materials makes them a notable player in this sector.”
Anders Nilsson concludes: “Im delighted to see a printer from the Nordic region reap these rewards in the FESPA Digital Print Awards competition, and have no doubt that Tobex can expect more success in the future if they continue to produce such innovative work. I hope their success will inspire other Nordic printers to enter their work for the FESPA Digital Print Awards 2009, and to see many more projects from this region among the winners and commendations next year.