PINE Honors EFI’s Gecht, Celebrates 10 Years of Awards Excellence

Mechanics Hall, built in 1857, provided the backdrop for this year's PINE Industry Awards Gala.

On the evening of April 6, 2017, the Printing Industries of New England (PINE) celebrated a decade of excellence during its annual Industry Awards Gala. This year the event, held at the historic Mechanics Hall in downtown Worcester, Mass., was the perfect backdrop for these distinguished awards.

According to PINE, the Industry Awards Gala started 10 years ago as a way to present the winners of the association’s print competition with their awards, combined with a vendor display showcase and networking opportunity. Over the years, the Awards of Excellence competition has continued to evolve — from the number of submissions, the number of participating companies and the quality of that work.

At this gala event, PINE also bestows the Industry Influencer Award to an individual whose efforts to improve and change the industry have had a profound impact on how the industry does business. Since its inception in 2003, the Industry Influencer Award has been sponsored by Heidelberg. This year, Guy Gecht, CEO of EFI, was presented with the Industry Influencer Award by Marty Moran, east regional vice president of Heidelberg.

Guy Gecht (center), CEO of EFI, was presented with the PINE Industry Influencer Award.

“I am greatly humbled and honored to receive PINE’s Industry Influencer Award,” said Gecht. “I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to PINE’s council for this recognition and to our entire EFI staff for their commitment to the journey of revolutionizing the future of printing through on-demand, breakthrough digital technologies. This trek [or expedition] was not done alone. The wonderful people of this creative industry have been the real force behind this exciting road to reinventing print.”

Previous recipients of the Industry Influencer Award include:

• 2016: Jim Conway
• 2015: Benny Landa
• 2014: Paul Reilly
• 2012/13 Robert Keane
• 2011: Ray Prince
• 2010: Barb Pellow
• 2009: Stuart Margolis
• 2008: Ben Cooper
• 2007: Randy Davidson
• 2006: Roger Ynostroza
• 2005: Warren Loomis and Nick Orem
• 2004: Richard Williams
• 2003: Frank Romano

To view the booklet featuring all of the winners of PINE’s 2017 Awards of Excellence, click on the image.

Following the presentation of the Industry Influencer Award, Michael Makin, president and CEO of Printing Industries of America, presented PINE’s Awards of Excellence. According to Christine A. Hagopian, director of programs, PINE, “The Awards of Excellence competition is judged by members of the print community from outside of New England. They judge by the criteria which I set when designing the competition. Companies enter the categories, knowing that their piece will be judged along other companies of similar sized companies in the same category.”

Best Use of Color, sponsored by On Line

Best Use of Color, TigerPress

TigerPress
Calendar—Div. III
2017 Tiger Press Calendar

From the touch plates, the die cutting and special effects they’ve used to enhance the photography…it’s a practical calendar, promotional piece and handbook. The fruit comes to life – the color has such depth to it.

Best Use of Paper, sponsored by International Paper and Sappi

Best Use of Paper, J.S. McCarthy Printers

J.S. McCarthy Printers
Product, 4 colors or more—Div. IV
63 Greene SOHO

This piece jumped out to the judges — it’s so unique — from the button and string enclosure which invites you to open it up, to going into the piece where the paper lent itself to accentuating the rich earth tones of the photography.

Judge’s Choice Awards, sponsored by Citizens Bank

Judge’s Choice Award, QualPrint

Qualprint
Presentation Folder/Portfolio, 4 Colors or more—Div. II
2017 Collection Catalog & Folder

Incredible piece that was executed very well, crossovers were magnificent – the beautiful use of the paper that is blended in with the linens makes you want to keep turning through the pages.

Judge’s Choice Award, J.S. McCarthy Printers

J.S. McCarthy Printers
Self Promotion—Div. IV
2017 A Symphony in Color!

Not often do we see an interactive piece, with the turn of the first page and the symphony music playing – so too the symphony of color begins! It excites you to see what each month of the calendar will bring.

Best of Show sponsored by Komori
HF Group - ACMEBinding
The American Violin

When art and music collide, the result is a breathtaking volume of first class printing, featuring a harmonious blend of imagery and graphics.

Best of Show, HF Group - ACMEBinding

A special part of the annual PINE Industry Awards Gala is the focus it has on student work. “The Student Awards competition is growing,” said Hagopian. “This is its third year.” The competition is promoted by the schools to its graphic arts department and the instructors assist the students in entering their best work. The categories have a first, second and third place winner. There are high school and college level categories. The students were presented with their awards during a special session starting at 4 pm, which kicked off the evening’s activities.

PINE Student Award Winners