For the last few months contestants all over the United States have been solving production problems on the Sinapse SHOTS Sheetfed simulator that integrates Heidelberg Speedmaster^TM user interface.

Contestants SEE the problems, ANALYSE the possible causes, DECIDE how to solve the problems and see RESULTS and COST of their action (or inaction). 

The contest was open to all International Circle members, Graphic Communication printers and schools of North America and the simulator was supplied by download.

Appalachian State University from North Carolina and Ryerson University from Toronto, Canada were the two finalists. Note that Ryerson was finalist at the SHOTS contest in 2012.

The Final round of the contest co-sponsored by Sinapse, Printing Industries of America, Calpoly, International Circle, GCEA and Print ED, took place at California Polytechnic State University, Ca, USA, July 8th 2015, during the International Circle Conference.

Sunny Turner, from Appalachian State University, Boone NC, USA and Sylvia Xiaoying Ma, from Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, competed over the internet in front of the conference participants who could follow the competition on large screens with Mr. Jim Workman from the Printing Industries of America commenting the event.  

Their task was to solve four sets of print problems (within a 10 minute limit for each) and the winner was chosen on the basis of best quality and optimum productivity (simulated time and waste). Exercises were getting harder and harder to solve and concerned registration, Inking, blankets and various mechanical issues. 

Final score:  USA: 1 point and Canada: 3 points

The winner is Sylvia Xiaoying Ma, Ryerson University, Canada. More details about the finals