The awards for outstanding calendar production were presented during the opening ceremony of the "gregor international calendar award" at the "Haus der Wirtschaft" in Stuttgart on 26 January 2012. A total of 1,213 calendars from around the world were entered in the competition, the most important of its kind for the print and media industry in Europe. No less than 1,088 of these entries came from Germany and just 125 from the eleven other participating countries.

Papierfabrik Scheufelen, Lenningen/Germany, was awarded "Gold", the highest commendation, for its "Perfection" calendar. It also received the Gregor judges award for outstanding achievement from the Graphischer Klub Stuttgart. The panel of judges from the Graphischer Klub Stuttgart (GKS) evaluated all the calendars based on a number of key criteria – overall impression of the calendar; functionality; originality; concept, design, photography, typography and quality of production.

Irmgard Glanz, Head of Marketing at Scheufelen, and Sabrina Regber, also from the Marketing department, accepted the "Gregor award" and the two other certificates together with the creative team from Stuttgart-based agency Strichpunkt and representatives from Essen-based print and media company druckpartner.

The 2012 award-winning calendar from Scheufelen offers a detailed insight into the topic of perfection. The pursuit of perfection invariably boils down to the simple but perfect form, the circle. In an impressive monthly sequence, twelve individual pages, each with the circle as their theme and an array of interesting accompanying details, convey the unmistakable hallmark of Scheufelen. The motifs include a detailed image of an iris, a jet-black grooved shellac disc, the wheel (one of humankind's greatest inventions), the secret of the golden section, and a perfectionist take on humankind's constant companion – time, symbolised by the clock. On closer inspection, keen observers will also spot Scheufelen's trademark phoenix skilfully incorporated in each and every motif. Even the calendar itself has been integrated into the circle form.

In his speech announcing "Perfection" as the winner of the "Gregor 2012", Andreas Langen, a member of the panel of judges from arge lola, Stuttgart, cited some of the reasons why the judges chose Scheufelen. He said that the title "Perfection" should by no means be seen as a sign of megalomania on the part of Scheufelen, but rather as the quality benchmark for the "paper" products that Scheufelen is constantly striving to achieve. The panel of judges believed that the designers had created a playground of twelve pictures based on a strict basic geometrical figure. In short, "The calendar – which gleams, sparkles, twinkles, entertains and makes you smarter all at the same time – will stave off the boredom in the long leap year 2012. It will also set printers' hearts racing with its 30 or so spot colours, films and other finishing techniques."

"Perfection" was printed on Scheufelen phoenixmotion, heaven 42 and bvs coated papers, each in a grammage of 250 g/m2. The production notes in the appendix explain the special finishes that have been used, such as die-cutting, hot and cold foil, dispersion coating and other spot lacquering techniques.

All entries can be viewed at the "Haus der Wirtschaft" in Stuttgart until mid-February 2012. Karlsruhe Regional Council will then host the "gregor international calendar award" exhibition until mid-March. The winning calendars will also be on display at Leipzig Book Fair from 15 to 19 March.