The Best Printers in SA Who is doing your printing?

As a strategic marketing professional you realise that in order to have an all-encompassing and successful campaign you have to include a print aspect. How important is print quality when you create your campaigns? Do you even realise that printing is not just a question of ‘File’ ‘Print’. A lot of work, skill, knowledge and dedication goes into achieving the very best quality.

Some printers will go the extra mile to achieve the highest quality, which can make the difference between a good and a great campaign. The marketing industry has a number of awards where campaign efficacy is measured and rewarded. Marketers compete vociferously to see who can create campaigns which attract attention and which has the greatest return on investment. Conversion rates are measured down to the decimal point. However, studies have shown, and continue to show, that campaigns which have a print element have the greatest response and reaction levels. One thing that has not been measured is the impact that quality of print has on these rates. If this were to be measured, it would probably not be surprising to find that well-printed jobs make a better connection with recipients. So, how do you select your printer?

The most common way of choosing a printer is to stick with the same person you have always used. There is nothing wrong with this provided your printer is staying abreast of the latest technological developments. This does not necessarily mean that he has changed his entire company over to digital production but, it does mean that he is aware of what is happening in his industry and what he needs to do to remain at the forefront.

How can you measure print quality? Print is essentially a visual item. Print quality can be measured with scientific equipment such as densitometers for measuring the volume of ink on the sheet, spectrophotometers for measuring the levels of colours or screen rules measuring the number of lines per inch making up the image, but the human eye is the best measure of print quality. You may not be able to tell a high quality print result with the naked eye, but you will definitely see a sub-standard job.

The GAPP Magazine in association with Avery Dennison recently hosted The GAPP Awards, a printing competition aimed at all sectors of the printing, packaging and signage industry to find the best printers in each category.

There are numerous elements that have to come together to make a quality job. These will depend on what is being printed, how it is printed, what substrates are used and how the various stages of production process come together to create an overall top-quality impression and product.

At the recent inaugural GAPP Awards 350 entries from all parts of the printing, packaging and signage sector competed against like entries to find the very best in each category. As far as possible, entries were separated according to the production methods used, allowing like entries to be compared against each other. The judges were discerning and stuck rigidly to their task of finding quality above all else. The winning entries proved that the best technology, equipment and consumables are not all that is required to produce print of the highest quality. While these factors and products are obviously supremely important in contributing to quality of the highest calibre, the human element is still of prime importance.

Attention to detail, dedication and an overriding desire to create the best possible print job are just as important as the physical aspects of the production process. The winners showed that the companies who care the most will achieve the best result. These winning companies have created their own legacy and as such have achieved legend status. Their success will certainly lead to future success, and their success becomes success for the printing industry as a whole. Let their success form the basis of your next campaign.

The Gala Dinner at The Ballroom at Monte Casino was a glittering event designed to recognise and reward the printers for their dedication in the pursuit of excellence. With Darren Whackhead Simpson and Master of Ceremonies and Riana Mooi, Mrs Globe 2015, as trophy lady the evening was the fitting celebration of print quality.

So, who were the winners? What follows is a complete list of winners by category. Your printer may be listed here or you may want to consider looking for an award-winning printer who can help you to take your campaign to the next level.

Commercial Litho Sheetfed – Single Sheet
Gold Award – USS Graphics for the ‘Role Model – Women’s Day’ poster.
Silver Award – Ren-Form for ‘DSSA Fun Brochure’.
Bronze Award – Multiprint Litho for ‘Operation Hydrate Posters’.

Commercial Litho Sheetfed – Annual Reports
Gold Award – House of Print for ‘Bestmed’.
Silver Award – House of Print for ‘Fidelity Annual Report’.
Bronze Award – House of Print for ‘TFG Integrated Annual Report’.
Winning Achiever Award – Matcom Printers for ‘Gauteng Province Annual Report’.
Winning Achiever Award – Multiprint Litho for ‘Interwaste Integrated Report’.

Commercial Litho Sheetfed – Magazines
Gold Award – CTP Printers Cape Town for ‘Africa Geographic Yearbook 2015’.
Silver Award – Business Print for ‘DeKat Magazine’.
Bronze Award – Paarl Media KwaZulu-Natal for ‘Prestige Magazine’.
Winning Achiever Award – Zero Plus Printers for ‘De Lig 2015’.
Winning Achiever Award – DNA Print and Packaging for ‘The Ridge Chronicle’.

Commercial Litho Sheetfed – Books
Gold Award – Multiprint Litho for ‘Reimagining South Africa’.
Silver Award – Mailtronic Direct Marketing for ‘Home Explorer’.
Bronze Award – CTP Printers Cape Town for ‘Empathy’.
Winning Achiever Award – CTP Printers Cape Town for ‘Food & Home Entertaining – A Year of Seasonal Dishes’.
Winning Achiever Award – Shereno Printers for ‘Degrees of Excellence’.

Commercial Litho Sheetfed – Brochures
Gold Award – Multiprint Litho for ‘The New Renegade 2015’.
Silver Award – Templer Industries for ‘Pureflow’.
Bronze Award – UVO Communication for ‘Piet Warren 2015’.
Winning Achiever Award – Business Print for ‘Image 2015’.
Winning Achiever Award – Oranje Print and Packaging for ‘Boran Journal 2016 God’s gift to Cattlemen’.
Winning Achiever Award – UVO Communication for ‘Bloodline Africa’.

Commercial Litho Sheetfed – Stationery
Gold Award – Formeset Print for ‘Namibia Into Infinity – Panorama Edition 2016’.
Silver Award – Business Print for ‘Prince Albert Karoo South Africa’.
Bronze Award – Shereno Printers for ‘Portraits of Wildlife’.
Winning Achiever Award – O.H Frewin Printers for ‘A2 Calendars’.

Heatset Litho Webfed
Gold Award – Paarl Media Cape for ‘Go! – August 2016’.
Silver Award – Paarl Media KwaZulu-Natal for ‘Fitness July-August 2016’.
Bronze Award – Paarl Media Cape for ‘House and Leisure August 2016’.
Winning Achiever Award – Paarl Media KwaZulu-Natal for ‘ML July August 2016’.
Winning Achiever Award – CTP Printers Cape Town for ‘Gay Pages – Winter 2016’.
Paarl Media Cape for ‘Fresh Living (Pick ‘n Pay) – August 2016 Issue 98’.

Coldset Litho Webfed
Gold Award – Caxton Printers for ‘Business Day Thursday July 23 2016’.
Silver Award – Caxton Printers for ‘The Times Monday July 25 2016’.
Bronze Award – Caxton Printers for ‘The Star Tuesday July 26, 2016’.
Winning Achiever Award – Lowveld Media for ‘Lowvelder Friday February 20, 2015’.
Winning Achiever Award – Caxton Printers for ‘Saturday Citizen 23 July 2016’.

Packaging – Corrugated/Flute
Gold Award – CTP Cartons and Labels for ‘Foot of Africa Shiraz Viognier’.
Silver Award – Colourtone Aries for ‘Singleton 12 Year Old and 2 Glasses’.

Packaging – Flexible
Gold Award – New Era Labels for ‘500g Nola Squeeze Original Mayonnaise’.
Silver Award – New Era Labels for ‘400ml Lux Sheer Twilight’.
Bronze Award – New Era Labels for ‘750ml Auto Punch Concentrated Fabric Softener’.
Winning Achiever Award – Ren-Flex for ‘Blossom Epic Spread’.
Winning Achiever Award – Tetra Pak for ‘Pure Joy’.
Winning Achiever Award – New Era Labels for ‘250ml Satiskin Bath Oil’.

Packaging – Paper/Board/Kraft
Gold Award – Printafoil for ‘Scottish Leader A New Perspective’.
Silver Award – DNA Print and Packaging for ‘Inecto Ultra Gloss’.
Bronze Award – Colourtone Aries for ‘Amarula’.
Winning Achiever Award – HP Labelling for ‘Food Lover’s Signature Balsamic Vinegar’.
Winning Achiever Award – SA Labels for ‘Glistening Green Tea & Pine’.
Winning Achiever Award – Ren-Flex for ‘Fairfield Dairy Yoghurt’.

Labels – In-mould
Gold Award – Vitri Designs for ‘Knorr Cup A Soup’.
Silver Award – Vitri Designs for ‘Lip Ice’.

Flexo Printing – Labels
Gold Award – Flexible Packages Convertors for ‘McCain Crisp Sweet Potato Fries’.
Silver Award – Flexible Packages Convertors for ‘McCain Skinny Fries’.
Bronze Award – Uniprint Labels Division for ‘Republic Rum Infusion’.

Flexo Printing – Corrugated
Gold Award – Golden Era Printers (Flexo Division) for ‘3 Litres Drostdy Hof Natural Sweet Red’.
Silver Award – Golden Era Printer (Flexo Division) for 3 Litres Drostdy Hof Claret Select’.
Bronze Award – Mpact Corrugated for ‘Creative Colours’.

Flexo Printing – General
Gold Award – Golden Era Printers (Flexo Division) for ‘150g Smarties’.
Silver Award – Amcor Flexibles (Durban) for ‘Kellogs Corn Flakes’.
Winning Achiever Award – Merpak Envelopes for ‘The Hub Club’.

Gravure Printing
Gold Award – Amcor Flexibles for ‘Amajoya’.
Silver Award – Amcor Flexibles for ‘Sunlight Tropical’.
Bronze Award – Amcor Flexibles for ‘Omo Hand + Comfort’.
Winning Achiever Award – Amcor Flexibles for ‘Woolworths Easy to Cook Potato Bake’.
Winning Achiever Award – Amcor Flexibles for ‘Knorr Sauce’.

Signage – Rigid
Gold Award – Clear Design for ‘Sony Acrylic Artwork’.
Silver Award – Clear Design for ‘Pure Hemp’.
Bronze Award – 2Spec Print Solutions for ‘Kellogs Boards’.

Signage – Flexible
Gold Award – Kaytie Identity Promotions for ‘SASSA Scarf’.
Silver Award – Bidvest Digital for ‘The Media Shack Fabric Banner’.
Bronze Award – 2Spec Print Solutions for ‘Discovery Awards Fabric on Frame’.
Winning Achiever Award – Dpi Concepts for ‘Hugo Boss Backlit Fabric’.
Winning Achiever Award – Cloud 9 – Dros Food Restaurant for ‘Vineyard’.

Signage – Poster/Billboards
Gold Award – Ad Outpost for ‘Obaku Denmark – Feel the Moment’.
Silver Award – Ad Outpost for ‘Clemen Gold’.
Bronze Award – Cloud 9 – Dros Food Restaurant for ‘50% Off Burger Special’.

Signage – Non-paper Substrates
Silver Award – Harrogate for ‘Intel-Powered Laptops’.
Bronze Award – Sharpline Signs and Graphics for ‘My Bikini’.
Winning Achiever Award – Harrogate for ‘Samsung S7 Standee’.

Signage – Vehicle Wraps
Winning Achiever Award – Sharpline Signs and Graphics for ‘Memba Boat Wrap’.

Digital Printing – Full-Colour
Gold Award – New Era Labels for ‘750ml Arendsig Sauvignon Blok A9’.
Silver Award – Salty Print for ‘Let’s Make Excellent Happen’.
Bronze Award – Multiprint Litho for ‘Dolce and Gabanna backlit cards’.

Full-colour Digital Printing – Publications
Gold Award – Multiprint Litho for ‘It’s Not Blood’.
Silver Award – Multiprint Litho for ‘The Landy & I’.
Bronze Award – Orms Printroom for ‘Oceans of Life’.
Winning Achiever Award – 24Hour Photobooks for ‘Moments in Africa’.

Full-colour Digital Printing – Stationery
Winning Achiever Award – 24Hour Photobooks for ‘Promotion 24Hour Photobooks’.

Variable Data Printing
Gold Award – Bowens for ‘Nex Media Vol 3 Issue 2’.
Silver Award – Blue Avenue Partners for ‘Coca-Cola Personalised Packaging’.
Bronze Award – Color in Mail for ‘We Love The Season of Gold’.

Special Techniques and Finishes
Gold Award – Murtan for specific pages in ‘Barclays L’Atelier’.
Silver Award – Colourtone Aries for ‘Don Julio’.
Bronze Award – RapidStudio for ‘Photo Album’.
Winning Achiever Award – ProTouch for ‘Investec Folder’.
Winning Achiever Award – Pivot Press for ‘There are Still Mysteries’.
Winning Achiever Award – ProTouch for ‘Frozen Ice Shattering’.

Screen Printing
Gold Award – USS Graphics for ‘Role Model – Women’s Day’ posters.

Folding and Finishing
Gold Award – RapidStudio for ‘Photo Album’.
Silver Award – Ren-Form for ‘Vega Quack Quack’.

Cutting Processes
Gold Award – aSignup Corporation for ‘Cell-C Fabricated’.
Silver Award – Vixtrix Signs for ‘Castle Lite’.
Bronze Award – Bidvest Digital for Rocket Restaurant Menu Holders.’

Self-promotion
Gold Award – 24Hour Photobooks for ‘Promotion 24Hour Photobooks’.
Silver Award – Shumani Mills Communications for ‘Advance Beyond Print’.
Bronze Award – SA Reserve Bank for ‘SA Reserve Bank 2016 Desk Planner and Tent Calendars’.
Winning Achiever Award – Monty Print for ‘Spirit of Africa 2016’.
Winning Achiever Award – Murtan for ‘Multi-colour Foiling’.

Innovation
Gold Award – Blue Avenue Partners for ‘Paper Wallets’.
Silver Award – Monty Print for ‘Standard Bank Creating a Class of Our Own’.
Bronze Award – Gordons Productions for ‘Deeper Paper Plates’.
Winning Achiever Award – Uniprint Forms Division for ‘Ebola Clinical Specimen Laboratory Forms’.
Winning Achiever Award – Bowens for ‘Glenmark Synalar Human Anatomy’.
Winning Achiever Award – Printafoil for ‘Scottish Leader A New Perspective’.

Environmentally Sound
Gold Award – Multiprint Litho for ‘Come Play – The Story of 012 Central’.

Graphic Design on Print
Gold Award – Mullen Louw Johannesburg for ‘It’s Not Blood’.
Winning Achiever Award – Lowveld Media Graphic Department for the design by Delene van Straten for ‘Autodealer – Automotive Supplement inserted into Lowvelder Tuesday and Mpumalanga News 23 February 2016’.

These are the winners. They will go down in the annals of history as the first winners of The GAPP Awards. They have set the benchmark of quality and their work will be the yardstick by which all future entries are judged.