By Cassandra Balentine
In our first annual Innovation of the Year Awards, DPS asked subscribers and vendor partners to nominate companies creating innovative solutions in digital printing, packaging, and publishing. We received many examples of creativity—applications produced using digital printing technologies. The votes are in! Here, we present the top three winners as well as an honorable mention.
SIPE, Inc. – 1st Place
Based in Fort Wayne, IN, Sipe Steel Rule Die, Inc. provides specialty services, including steel rule dies, UV coating and laminating, die cutting, foil stamping, embossing, and folding and gluing.
The company was nominated for self-promotional cards that showcase its special effects. The application was designed up in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, printed, foil stamped on MGI’s 1050 press, laminated with soft touch film, 3D varnished with a mask created in Photoshop using JETvarnish 3D, die cut with the MGI 1060 press, and hand assembled.
Crawford Industries – 2nd Place
Based in Crawfordsville, IN, Crawford Industries offers a variety of custom products and creative services. Founded in 1959, the company has focused on the innovative use of plastics in packaging for the binding/loose-leaf industry. Since then, it has expanded facilities, advanced printing equipment, and acquired companies that complement its core offerings.
The company was nominated for recent work created for O’Charley’s Restaurant. The final piece was a menu printed using Crawford’s in-house equipment.
CSW Inc. – 3rd Place
Founded in 1937, CSW provides creative solutions to the demand-driven brand packaging industry. Today the company combines its extensive experience, innovative technologies, and superior process control to enhance its clients’ brand and sales reach. The company operates out of three locations—Ludlow, MA; Rochester, NY; and Sylvania, OH.
CSW was nominated for a creatively constructed package prototype that demonstrated its ability to produce realistic mock-ups with printed white ink and a full range of spot UV colors. The application was created on the company’s Roland VersaUV LEC-330 30-inch UV inkjet printer/cutter with Roland’s ECO-UV Inks.
Hazen Paper Company – Honorable Mention
Based in Holyoke, MA, Hazen Paper is a paper converter specializing in custom holographic originations; film, foil, paper laminations; specialty and gravure coatings; and rotary embossing.
The company was nominated for an application created for the cover of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 Enshrinement Program.
Top of the Line
These companies are among our many subscribers that produce innovative solutions every day. We expect more nominees for the second annual Innovation of the Year awards, be sure to check your inboxes and follow @dps_magazine on Twitter for updates. dps
Jan2014, DPS Magazine
