May 27, 2005 -- Quad/Graphics isn’t losing any steam in our gravure operations. On the contrary, we continue to be an engine for driving growth and technical achievement in the industry - a fact impressively substantiated by three new awards from the Gravure Association of America (GAA). Quad/Graphics' gravure expertise and execution earned noticeable peer recognition in the GAA’s 2005 Golden Cylinder Awards, specifically the competition’s "Best of the Best" title for top achievement. The honor, which was bestowed for our work on the May 2004 issue of National Geographic, recognizes only those pieces that surpass all others in quality and degree of difficulty. However, before earning "Best of the Best," the issue was originally deemed the finest entry in the "Publication — Lightweight Coated Over 40#" category. Excellent image detail and the superiority of our production were among the primary reasons the piece stood out as a "true winner in the gravure process." It’s not the first time we’ve been recognized for our production of National Geographic. Last year (only one year after we first started printing the distinguished magazine), we took the award in the same category for the magazine’s June 2003 issue. Meanwhile, picking up our third 2005 Golden Cylinder award was the Cabela’s Special Limited Spring Edition hardcover catalog, which won in the "Publication — Lightweight Coated Under 40#" category. Consisting of 1,400 pages, the catalog admirably demonstrates our ability to control the engraving and printing processes for peak results across multiple forms and multiple presses. The GAA has sponsored the Golden Cylinder Awards annually since 1985, inviting a panel of industry experts to its headquarters in Rochester, N.Y., for two days of judging. Awards are given for achievements in all aspects of the industry, including: packaging, publication and product gravure printing; new and innovative gravure equipment and materials; and gravure technical research promoting the advancement of the industry. This year the judges had more than 100 entries to consider from printers throughout North America and Europe. The awards were officially presented at the 2005 Gravure Expo in Philadelphia, on May 25.