PICA Announces Sponsored Award Winners 

Charlotte, NC - The Printing Industry of the Carolinas (PICA) celebrated its 50^th PICA Awards Banquet April 16, 2016 at the Embassy Suites & Convention Center in Concord, NC.  Over 270 industry professionals attended the milestone event.   

This year, the PICA Awards attracted more than 630 entries from 47 printing companies, along with more than 125 entries from 5 graphic arts high schools and 7 college graphic arts programs from across the Carolinas.

TCG Legacy of Garner, NC took home the grand prize of Mac Papers “Best of Show” award.  They also won the Heidelberg “Best Printing Division C” (26 to 59 employees) and the Lindenmeyr Munroe “Best Presentation Kit” award.

First-time sponsored award winner Innovative Solutions of Aiken, SC won the Xerox “Best Printing Division A” (1 to 9 employees) award.  Deluxe Printing of Hickory, NC won the Canon Solutions America “Best Printing Division B” (10 to 20 employees) award.  Sun Solutions of West Columbia, SC won the Printers’ Service PRISCO “Best Printing Division D (60 or more employees) award.  Sun also won the HP “Best Digital Printing”award. 

In order for a piece to win its division, it must have won a Best of Category award.  And in order for a piece to win Best of Show, it must have won its division.

The Athens Paper “Most Creative Use of Paper” award went to Arzberger Stationers of Charlotte.  iTek Graphics, also of Charlotte, won the Manchester Industries “Best Process Color Printing” award.  

Salem One of Winston Salem, NC  won the “People’s Choice” award for their Salem One Sales Kit, voted on by the banquet attendees that evening.  Salem One was awarded the Sun Chemical “Best Packaging” award, along with the Domtar “Best Printer’s Self-Advertising” award.  Salem One tied Sheriar Press of Myrtle Beach for winning the Gutenberg Award for “Most Best of Category Winners,”  each company winning 18 Best of Category awards.  Sheriar Press also won the President’s Award. 

This year’s Gwen Doster Judges’ Choice Award went to first-time sponsored award winner Laser Image Printing & Marketing of Durham, NC.  Graphic Visual Solutions of Greensboro, NC won the Case Paper “Best Brochure” award.  The KBA award for “Best Catalog” went to Classic of Charlotte and Raleigh.

Heritage Printing & Graphics of Charlotte won the FujiFilm “Best Wide Format” award.  The “Best Flexography” award was given by Mark Andy to Wright Global Graphics of Thomasville, NC.  NAPCO of Sparta, NC won the Ultimate Print Finishing award for “Best Finishing.”  

The PICA Foundation sponsored the Student Achievement Award for High Schools.  This year’s winner is Garrit Strunga from the Applied Technology Education Campus inCamden, SC.  His instructor is Walker Canada.

NAPCO sponsored the Collegiate Division of the Student Achievement Awards, with Luke Crouch of the Graphic Arts & Imaging Technology (GAIT) program at Appalachian State University winning this year.  Dr. Mandy Wu is his instructor.

A panel of out of state judges with extensive experience in printing and print production was brought in to examine the work. Each entry was judged on its own merit in a category with similar printed pieces. The judging criteria included: registration, crossovers, clarity and neatness, sharpness of halftones and line drawings, richness and tonal qualities of color, paper and ink selection, ink coverage, difficulty of printing, effective contrast or softness, finishing, bindery, and overall visual impact.