As the UK member of the EDP, it's great for Image Reports to be able to announce the winners of the association’s annual awards and to applaud all those manufacturers who continue to push the envelope.
The European Digital Press Association, of which Image Reports is the UK member, has announced the winners of its 2012 awards, which were presented at the Annual EDP Association Awards ceremony at Drupa on 8 May.
Now in its sixth year, the European Digital Press Association has 14 member titles representing over 1m readers across Europe. Its annual awards are nominated by a technical committee made up of industry and digital print specialists, journalists and technical consultants and their recommendations are then discussed and voted upon by the EDP General Assembly.
Chris Cooke, Image Reports publisher and president of the EDP Association, says: “The 2012 awards are for products launched between 1 March 2011 - 29 February 2012 and this is probably one of the main reasons why out of 26 award categories, only 18 of them had outright winners, as many manufacturers will have timed product launches to coincide with Drupa.
“The 18 very worthy winners have demonstrated that by listening to their customers and focusing investment in research and development they can continue to innovate. The products they bring to market can then truly make a difference to their customers businesses and the industry as a whole. We’re delighted to be working with our host Drupa in 2012 and congratulate all our winners in the 2012 awards. We would also like to thank all those that have submitted products for this year’s awards.”
The winners are…
Best Wide Format Roll-to-Roll Printer – up to 1.6m wide
Epson SureColor SC-S30600
Judges’ comments: “The price /performance ratio is a breakthrough with such high quality output.”
Best Wide Format Roll-to-Roll Printer – 1.6m+ wide
HP Designjet L28500
Judges’ comments: “A wider large-format roll-to-roll printer with improved speeds and double-sided printing at a good price point.”
Best Wide Format
Textile Printer
Mimaki TS500-1800A
Judges’ comments: “A breakthrough in price/performance for indirect dyesub printing capable of handling prints up to 250m long and a print speed of 150m2/h.”
Best Wide Format
Imaging Printer
Agfa M-Press Leopard
Judges’ comments: “The Tieme inlay system is unique and thanks to this design and the smaller footprint, Agfa has brought this technology to a wider market.”
Best Hybrid Printer
Sub-200k Euro
Durst Omega 1 Plus
Judges’ comments: “This provides fine art printing from an entry level machine. The plus version, with extra white and grey, fits in a category of its own and is the first machine to truly offer a competitor to Lambda.”
Best Hybrid Printer 200k+ Euro
EFI Vutek GS3250LX
Judges’ comments: “The EFI Vutek GS3250LX breaks the mould with the introduction of UV LED in a high production machine.”
Best Environmental Printing Solution
Mimaki JV-400LX Series
Judges’ comments: “With the new piezo head, the viscocity of the ink is higher, meaning less drying time. Combined with the white ink option and lower energy consumption the Mimaki JV-400LX is a worthy winner.”
Best Web-based Software Product
Optimus Cloud
Judges’ comments: “Optimus Cloud offers an automated system for printers, which is less of a drain on staff resources, whilst being a transparent and user-friendly system for customer and allows print buyers to order standard products with one click and order variable data products with full access to the product’s template, regardless of complexity.”
Best Wide-Format Software Solution
SA International Pixel Blaster
Judges’ comments: “PixelBlaster is both modular and scalable, enabling access to this professional software from small to larger companies inclusive. Additionally, PixelBlaster features an easy-to-use variable data printing option.”
Best Wide-Format Finishing Device
Zund S3
Judges’ comments: “Fast, compact and affordable bringing this exceptionally high quality level of finishing to a new market - small to medium sized companies.”
Best Specialist Printing Solution
InkTec Jetrix 2513RQ
Judges’ comments: “The Jetrix with primer and white ink and three suction vacuums means that it can print onto almost any surface and is scratch and wear resistant to the highest level.”
Best Environmental Substrate
Antalis DigiGreen
Judges’ comments: “The first 100% digital, 100% green paper for the digital printing market and complies with all of the most stringent environmental regulations.”
Best Innovative Substrate
Neschen Solvoclear Easy Protect
Judges’ comments: “This anti-graffiti film is low-priced and maintains its glossy appearance even following several surface cleans.”
Best Production Cut-Sheet Printer – Light Production
Xerox DocuColor 8080
Judges’ comments: “The automated colour calibration and the low gloss toner that produces the matte finish were also put forward in the case for this product winning the award.”
Best Production Cut-sheet Printer – High Production
Oce Varioprint DP Line
Judges’ comments: “This machine uses totally new technology with lower temperatures and low power consumption”
Best Web-Fed Printer
Xerox CiPress 500
Judges’ comments: “This four-colour continuous feed printer has a waterless inkjet system that provides consistency, predictablility and reliability and can print on low-cost untreated offset paper.”
Best Labelling Solution
EFI Jetrion 4900UV
Judges’ comments: “This new machine makes short run digital label jobs even more efficient and profitable by elimating set-up time, substrate waste and inventory requirements associated with the label finishing process.
EDP Technical Committee Award
Barbieri Electronic Spectro Pad
Judges’ comments: “This is the world’s first portable spectrophotometer with 6mm measuring aperture for professional digital printing and its independence from a computer means it can also be used directly on the printer.”