The awards, which were first announced at drupa 2008, honour sustainable business practices and innovative standalone solutions with a prize fund of €50,000 (A$96,600).

Vancouver-based Hemlock Printers won the most sustainable business category, receiving a cheque for €30,000 for its social commitments and company-wide approach to ecological issues.

This included an annual “dumpster dive” where key executives go through the company’s waste to ensure it is being disposed of properly.

Yoshida Printing, from Nigata, Japan, took home the most innovative standalone solution for its “fresh print” concept, which offers “demand-based” printing doing work in batches where a given batch is only processed once certain requirements such as volume are met.

The process speeds up production and makes it more efficient, enabling the company to move from a three- to two-shift work pattern without reducing output.

Winners were chosen by a panel of five judges, including representatives from the European printing association Intergraf and others. Heidelberg was not on the panel.

The awards ceremony was held at the Print Media Academy in Heidelberg, Germany.

Read the original article at www.printweek.com.

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