Area printers among Sappi’s North American Printers of the Year
Kirkwood Printing, Meridian Printing, W.E. Andrews & Canfield & Tack chosen from field of 2,000
Three New England printing companies and one New York printer were among eight companies nationally selected as gold award winners in Sappi Fine Paper’s 2007 North American Printers of the Year competition.

Culled from a field of almost 2,000 entries, the eight printing companies who won gold awards were selected from 48 silver and judges’ winners. The eight gold winners will now compete for the distinguished Sappi International Printers of the Year title to be held in Boston, Oct. 11-13.

Kirkwood Printing Company of Wilmington, Mass., won in the Catalog category for its Albright printed piece for the Knox Art Gallery. Meridian Printing of East Greenwich, R.I., won in the General Print category for Moonrise, Hernandez, N.M., by famed photographer Ansel Adams. W.E. Andrews, of Bedford, Mass., an RR Donnelley Company, won the Printer’s Own Promotion category for its annual calendar titled Strength in Shades of Gray, a black and white calendar. Canfield & Tack of Rochester, N.Y., won the Book category for Historic New York: Architectural Journeys in the Empire State.

Other winners were Williamson Printing Corporation of Dallas, in the Annual Report category for Valero Energy Corporation 2005 Annual Report; Graphic Press of City of Commerce, Calif., in the Brochures category for its 2007 Escalade Big Book; DirectConnectGroup of Cleveland, in Calendars category for its 2007 Peterbilt Calendar Models of Innovation; and Nahan Printing, Inc., of St. Cloud, Minn. in the Magazine category for its printing of the Bergdorf Goodman Magazine Fall Collection 2006.

The Sappi Printers of the Year awards competition recognizes print excellence and innovation for work produced on Sappi papers. Printers may submit entries for any of the eight categories listed above. All entries were judged on overall impact of the piece; degree of difficulty in the printing techniques; and technical excellence. A panel of four judges, selected from recognized print institutions and trade professions, insured the highest possible standards and integrity.

“This year’s competition was among the most exciting and competitive we’ve held,” said Sappi Fine Paper North America Interim Chief Executive Officer, Mark Gardner. “We are proud of the outstanding craftsmanship demonstrated by these printers on Sappi papers.”

Gold winners were announced at a gala and awards ceremony hosted last month at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. Widely regarded as one of Washington’s most spectacular structures, the Renaissance-style museum is dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction and urban planning.

The Sappi International Printers of the Year competition, to be held Oct. 11–13 in Boston, is a global competition of the winners from the regional events in North America, Central and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. From this field, judges will select nine individual recipients of the Sappi International Printers of the Year awards — the only global honor of its kind to recognize excellence in printing craftsmanship.

About Sappi Fine Paper N.A.
headquartered in Boston, Sappi Fine Paper North America is the leading North American producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising.