Columbia, MD— WESTLAND PRINTERS, a graphic communications company located in Laurel, MD, has earned the Grand Q in the 10th annual Printing & Graphics Association MidAtlantic’s (PGAMA) Excellence in Print Awards competition. This is the third consecutive year the firm has received the Grand Q, which is the regional printing industry’s highest honor. The award was presented during the Excellence in Print Awards ceremony and reception, which was held March 20th at Martin’s West in Baltimore, MD. 

An independent panel of industry judges reviewed hundreds of submitted entries and chose the Grand Q recipient, along with other award-winning pieces, based on qualities such as precision of color reproduction, use of design, and level of technical difficulty. Earning recognition as an “Excellence in Print Award Winner” is a coveted achievement in the extremely competitive printing industry, and recipients use the recognition to further market their unique services. The contest is open to members of PGAMA as well as non-member commercial printers, engravers, web-developers, embossers, binders/finishers, and graphic design businesses across the Mid Atlantic region. 

In addition to the Grand Q, hundreds of other awards were presented in various printing categories using different processes, including Best Binding & Finishing Q, earned by BINDAGRAPHICS, INC. (Baltimore, MD); and the Digital Q, for best piece printed on a digital press, earned by PRINTING SPECIALIST CORPORATION (Glen Burnie, MD).

Special awards this year were the Judges’ Choice Award, sponsored by Prisco and given to CHROMA GRAPHICS (Upper Marlboro, MD); Best Use of Paper, sponsored by K & W finishing, inc. and presented to WESTLAND ENTERPRISES (Forestville, MD); and Best Use of Color, sponsored by Braden Sutphin Ink Company and earned by GRAPHTEC.  Attendees of the event voted on the People’s Choice Award winner, an honor that also went to WESTLAND ENTERPRISES. The complete list of award-recipients is posted on www.pgama.com.   

PGAMA is a non-profit trade organization trade association for commercial printers, engravers, embossers, binders/finishers, web and graphic design businesses located throughout Maryland, Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The Association headquarters are in Columbia, MD.