Focal Print has once again scored the top honour at the Diemen Awards, the Apple Isle’s version of the PICAs. The Hobart-based institution has won the Grand Diemen Award, or its previous PICA equivalent, for six out of the past seven years, five of those consecutively.
This year Focal Print received the hand-crafted Tasmanian timber trophy, which is awarded annually to the overall best entry in print, for Australian Tapestry's ‘At the Workshop’ newsletter. The quarterly publication is produced on Focal's Ryobi 740 press. The family firm was the first Tasmanian-owned printer to install a four-colour process offset press back in 1992, and its latest five-colour machine with aqueous coating delivers quality work faster for clients.
Renowned for its high quality work, state-of-the-art technology and commitment to excellence, Focal has worked hard to become established as one of the premier printers in Tasmania. Focal general manager Jacinta Jacobson says winning the awards is rewarding for the investment the company has put into its machinery.
Focal Print was also presented with the Small Printing Business Award and won the Posters and Presentation Folders categories, sharing the prize for Brochures with Flying Colours, which tied with Mercury Walch for the most awards won at nine each.
The PICA Awards have been a feature in the Tasmanian printing industry for many years, however three years ago they were rebranded to make the awards exclusively Tasmanian and named after Van Diemen Island. A record 382 entries across four mediums: print, design, digital and the new category for 2016 TV/film competed for this year’s accolades.
Diemen Awards winners:
Rising Star – Flying Colours
One, two or three colour item – Mercury Walch
Business Cards – Mercury Walch
Letterheads – Flying Colours
Envelopes – Flying Colours
Stationary Sets – Mercury Walch
Invitations – Flying Colours
Brochures – Flying Colours/ Focal
Postcards – Focal
Presentation Folders – Focal
Newsletters – Mercury Walch
Booklets, Catalogues, Magazines – Focal
Book Printing – Mercury Walch
Annual Reports – Mercury Walch
Calendars – Mercury Walch
Packaging – Mercury Walch
Labels (offset printed) – Flying Colours
Labels (other than offset) – Abel Labels
Digital Printing (inkjet or non inkjet) – Mercury Walch
Digital Printing – Flying Colours
Commercial Items – Flying Colours
Multi-Piece Productions and Campaigns – Focal
Embellishment – Abel Labels
Self Promotion – Flying Colours
Wild Card – Mercury Walch
Small Printing Business Award – Focal
Grand Diemen – Focal