Platypus Graphics continued its dominance of the Queensland PICAs, winning four golds and the overall judges’ award for the second year in a row.
The perennial favourite’s haul was a twice as many as any other individual printer despite stiff competition from 60 other companies as the awards increase their popularity.
Organisers say more than half the companies that entered won at least one medal, making it one of the most even spreads in recent years, and the highest entry numbers in six years.
Platypus grabbed gold for packaging and flexible substrate, and the booklets, catalogues, brochures and magazines for a booklet promotion the Pinnacle apartments on Portside Wharf.
However, it was its production of Justus Magazine that claimed top honours, studded with reflective embellishments which won that award, plus the overall Judges’ Choice.
[Related: Complete list of winners]
Platypus director Tom Lusch says the job took 10 months to complete as both he and the client wanted it to be perfect, and it will be used as promotion tool for the company.
“It is a once in a lifetime job that to a lot of pain and effort to get the right result, but it is high profile and high quality and spectacular to pull off,” he says.
Lusch says he is surprised by how many awards Platypus won this year as the competition is heating up every year and winning is more difficult than ever before.
“I was amazed by the number and quality of entries so I did not think we would do as well this year as in previous years, so to win in that environment is something I am very proud of,” he says.
“The standard is raised every year across the Queensland industry which is great to see.”
Lusch says the victories are particularly sweet as Platypus had a difficult year moving factories.
The company is now a 70 per cent packaging printer but the commercial jobs are often high-quality briefs, with 25 per cent of clients design firms.
Lusch says in-house embellishment capability is another advantage, allowing them more control over the process to ensure quality.
Double golds went to Cornerstone Press, Heaneys Performers in Print, Colour Chiefs and Colorcorp while agency DAIS Brand Strategy won three golds in the design categories.
The PICAs also presented special awards to Mackay firm BB Print for Environmental Management, and Express Print & Mail operations manager Matt Chadwick won the Progressive Trophy presented to future industry leaders.
Some 300 guests attended the awards at Brisbane’s Royal on the Park Hotel, with the winners taking the accolades of their peers and industry figures over a sumptuous meal with entertainment from speed painter Brad Blaze.
The awards were paired with the Print Day Out which saw 120 people check out the winning entries on display and a host of printing demonstrations.
These included a Konica Minolta iphone case 3D desk top printer, an old letterpress from Designworks, The Print Bar printing t-shirts and tote bags on a digital screen printer, and wide format poster printing by G2 Solutions.
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter