This year’s record number of entries (255) was a fitting way to end the SGIA Expo in style. Over 100 companies vied for top honors in 68 categories, including some new additions (e.g., single-pass printers, digital presses) that gear toward the industry convergence serving as the foundation of PRINTING United — SGIA and NAPCO Media’s new trade show debuting in Dallas October 23–25, 2019.
Our awards presentation the Wednesday night prior to the Expo honored the winners, ensuring they kicked off the show with their Product of the Year jewels proudly displayed in their booth.
Our output category winners included:
- Agfa Graphics
- DGI
- Durst Imaging Technology US
- EFI
- Epson America Inc.
- Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division
- Inkcups Now
- Mimaki USA Inc.
- Mutoh America Inc.
- OmniPrint International
- Roland DGA Corporation
- Vanguard Digital Printing Systems
Our non-output winners included:
- A.W.T. World Trade, Inc.
- Barbieri North America Inc.
- Brown Manufacturing Group
- Chemica US Corp.
- Chromaluxe
- Drytac
- Easiway Systems Inc.
- Fisher Textiles
- Floor Signage LLC
- Gans Ink and Supply Co.
- Graphical Systems USA
- HIX Corporation
- HP Inc.
- Image Armor/RTP Apparel
- INX International
- Johnson Plastics Plus
- Lawson Screen & Digital Products
- M&R Companies
- Marabu North America LP
- MEEVO MKF
- Miller Weldmaster Corp
- PrintFactory
- Ryonet + Roq
- Safety Speed Manufacturing
- Sawgrass
- SENFA – DECOPRINT
- Siser North America
- SMA e Document GmbH
- Spirit Displays Ltd.
- Stahls’
- Terry Town
- Top Value Fabrics
- Trotec Laser Inc.
Congratulations again to all of our recipients! Be on the lookout for my articles in the upcoming SGIA Journal Fall Garment and November/December Graphic editions, which highlight some of our winners and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the judging process.
With all of the exceptional entries this year, we are really looking forward to 2019. We’ll work with the supplier community to determine which categories will carry over to 2019 and what categories we should introduce to expand the competition and ensure it continues to represent the best of the best in our industry.
As the competition evolves, we’ll also evaluate our score sheets and recruit industry judges. Ultimately, the goal is simple — to have objective scoring wherever possible, and to have an open and transparent judging system to identify and recognize the best products in the industry.
Watch for the Product of the Year Competition to open in early 2019, and don’t miss the winners at next year’s PRINTING United in Dallas!