This year’s third annual Diemen Awards in Tasmania saw old rivals Flying Colours and Focal Printing once again battle it out for gold, with fellow Diemen frontrunner Mercury Walsh also collecting big during the night.
Diemen organiser Craig Pearce took out nine Diemens for his Launceston-based printer Flying Colours, tying first place with Mercury Walch which also scored nine gold.
Diemen chairman Pearce says the award entries and attendance proves the industry in Tasmania is alive and strong, and explains the awards have adapted to the changing nature of the print with the introduction of new categories.
“The evening was a great success and it is quite clear from the attendees that our awards in Tasmania show great promise for the future. We have had a record amount of entries with 382 in total over 4 mediums print, design and digital and our new edition for 2016 TV and film,” says Pearce.
“As chairman I have focused on the diversification of the awards and the participation from the four mediums is simply reflected in the entries we received. The industry has embraced the diversification of the awards and we look forward to a bigger and better event next year.
The support from our sponsors has also increased dramatically. In 2015 we had nine sponsors and 2016 has seen the increase to 19 which includes a television network providing our sponsors with 180 prime time ads.”
Flying Colours scored nine gold awards out of a possible 26 for its work with letterheads, envelope, invitations, brochures and leaflets, labels, digital printing, commercial items, self-promotion, alongside the rising star award.
Hobart’s Focal Printing – which dominated the awards in 2015 with nine Diemens – won five less this time around with only four gold, however won the night after scoring the prestigious grand award for the fifth year running.
“We are pleased with the win over the weekend, it is an industry nod to the large investment we have put into the state’s printing industry. Purchasing a Ryobi 750 was a commitment and getting recognition for the work coming off the press is very encouraging,” says Focal general manager Jacinta Jacobson.
[Related: Diemen Awards 2015 winners]
Jarrod White, operator and son of owner Geoff White, commented on the gold wins by praising the work of the trade printer’s design partners.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank the designers and agencies that allow us to take care of the artwork files they provide to us. Without good files it is impossible to execute good work,” says White.
“This particular job was a Lynda Warner design and we want to acknowledge her contribution to the win.”
ProPrint also spoke to Mercury Walch general manager Gary Nilsson who agrees the third annual Diemens are a testament to the strong industry in Tasmania.
“Winning these awards is a great recognition for the hard work we put in every year. This year the awards were well attended and proves print is very far from being dead,” says Nilsson.
“Mercury Walch is a diverse business and we cater to the larger parts of the market. We employ fifty people so we are the biggest printer in the state.”
Mercury scored nine category awards this year for packaging, newsletters, stationary, business cards, 1,2 and 3 colour items, digital calendars, annual reports and book printing, three more than last year’s six gold.
Tassie label printer Abel Labels also managed to score two gold for the embellishment and non-offset labels categories.
The revitalised PICA Awards took place at the Elizabeth Street Function centre with guest speakers PIAA president Kieran May and membership director Mary-Jo Fisher taking the stand to commend the strength of Tasmania’s print industry.
The complete winners list is as followed:
1. Rising Star Category – Flying Colours for Tasmanian Old Forest
2. One, two or three colour item – Mercury Walch for Workers Comp Handbook
3. Business Cards – Mercury Walch for Marriage Celebrant Business Card
4. Letterheads – Flying Colours for Sharpe & Fowler Eyecare
5. Envelopes – Flying Colours for Clifford Craig
6. Stationary sets – Mercury Walch for Menzies Stationary
7. Invitations – Flying Colours for MyState Limited
8. Brochures/Leaflets – Flying Colours for Ashgroves
9. Postcards and Greeting Cards – Focal for Rural Hopper
10. Presentation folders – Focal for Ray White
11. Newsletters – Mercury Walch for Roberts Making the Right Choices
12. Booklets, Catalogues and Magazines – Focal for The Work Shop
13. Book printing – Mercury Walch for Sarah Island Book
14. Annual reports – Mercury Walch for Tasmanian Heritage Council
15. Calendars – Mercury Walch for Blue Mountains
16. Packaging- Mercury Walch for Resmed
17. Labels (offset) – Flying Colours for Pinot Shop
18. Labels (non-offset) – Abel Labels for Kate Hill Wine
19. Digital printing (inkjet or non-inkjet) – Mercury Walch for Libertas
20. Digital printing (wide format) – Flying Colours for Country Road
21. Commercial items – Flying Colours for Fortunato No. 4
22. Multi-piece productions and campaigns – Focal for At the Workshop
23. Embellishment – Abel Labels for Arthritis & Osteoporosis Tas
24. Self-promotion – Flying Colours for Let’s Share Tasmania
25. Wild card – Mercury Walch for Speeding Shatters Lives
26. Small Printing Business Award – Focal
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