Eastern Press has topped the Victorian PICAs tally and also scored its best result with six gold medals.
General manager Cormac Deffely said Eastern had capitalised on a decision it made in 2011 to improve its technology and become more efficient.
The 30-staff Melbourne firm upgraded its MIS and installed a "top-of-the-range digital press" and a top-of-the-range five-colour offset press in the A2 size", he told ProPrint.
[Photos: Who was there?]
"We spent a lot of money in equipment, both in IT and press power, and I think that's starting to pay off. We've always had a commitment to quality through the staff. With the new technology and with that commitment, it seems to be turning up the right result."
Deffely said Eastern had also changed its work practices to enhance efficiency, mainly in the press room.
"We've become a lot leaner around how we line up work to our presses. We've really maximised the output of our presses."
Deffely also Eastern was continuing to look for ways to make the best of a challenging market.
"At the moment we're working very hard to continue to make the gains we've had in the previous years," he said.
[Photos: All the winners]
Six other firms won multiple gold medals at the 8 November awards. Adams Print, Mercedes Waratah and Nulab Group business Picpress each claimed three. AFI Branding, Bambra Press and McKellar Renown Press each won two.
Another 10 companies went home with one gold: Avon Graphics, Fantastick Label Company, IPMG firm Hannanprint, Intelligent Media, Labelhouse, M&M Binders, Marilyn & Sons, Print 2 Metal, RA Printing and Sovereign Press.
Adams Print took out the Judge's Award and Pandora's Boxes won the Currie Group Award, while Danielle Spicer from Blue Star Digital picked up the Media Super Future Leader Award.
Six categories had no winner.
WINNERS LIST
One, two or three colour printing
Adams Print
Commercial posters, showcards, card constructions & mobiles
Eastern Press
Leaflets
Eastern Press
Presentation folders
Eastern Press
Booklets, catalogues & magazines – saddlestitched
RA Printing
Booklets, catalogues & magazines – any method but saddlestitching
Bambra Press
Annual reports & prospectus
Eastern Press
Calendars
Bambra Press
Stationery
McKellar Renown Press
Postcards & greeting cards
Eastern Press
Limited edition
Intelligent Media
Book printing – casebound
Adams Print
Book printing – limpbound
Adams Print
Book printing – digitally printed
Picpress
Multi-piece productions & campaigns, including direct mail
Mercedes Waratah
Impact sensory or direct mail
No winner
Packaging – folding cartons & boxes
Eastern Press
Packaging – all other, including display stands
Mercedes Waratah
Labels – offset
Labelhouse
Labels – other than offset
Fantastick Label Company
Specialty, including security printing
McKellar Renown Press
Flexographic printing
No winner
Screen printing
No winner
Web offset printing – heatset
Hannanprint
Web offset printing – coldset
No winner
Web offset publications with a cover price
No winner
Digital printing – non-inkjet
Picpress
Digital printing – inkjet
AFI Branding
Digital printing – wide-format
AFI Branding
Embellishment
Avon Graphics
Self-promotion
Mercedes Waratah
Innovation
Print 2 Metal
Small printing business award – less than 15 staff
Sovereign Press
Sustainable Green Print environmental award
No winner
Design
Marilyn & Sons
Print finishing – hand-finished
Picpress
Print finishing – machine-finished
M&M Binders
Judge’s Award
Adams Print
Currie Group Award
Pandora’s Boxes
Media Super Future Leader Award
Danielle Spicer, Blue Star Digital
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