DIGITAL DOMAIN

HP 2009 Digital Printing Awards

PALO ALTO, Calif.—HP announced the winners of its third annual HP Indigo Digital Labels and Packaging Contest, which recognizes customers from around the world for their commitment to excellence and innovation in digital printing. The contest witnessed significant growth in 2009 with more than 270 entries submitted—a 48 percent jump compared to last year.

"Product brand owners, designers, and label and packaging converters are growing in creative directions based on the outstanding quality and production flexibility HP Indigo offers," says Alon Bar-Shany, vice president and general manager, Indigo division, HP. "The end result is that the industry is seeing more and more top-quality labels and packaging work produced with digital."

Innovative Labeling Solutions, based in Hamilton, Ohio, took home three best-of-category prizes, plus four additional honors. Best-of-category winners are:

• DB TECH, Korea (industrial, pharmaceutical);

• FORLABELS Ltd., Greece (food product labels);

• Gold Coast Graphics, USA (wine labels);

• Innovative Labeling Solutions (ILS), USA (household products, nutraceuticals, self-promotional work);

• Kalfany Süße Werbung GmbH & Co. KG, Germany (flexible packaging);

• Setprint Centro Tecnológico Digital Ltda., Brazil (health and beauty labels);

• Supa Stik Labels & Labeling Systems Pty. Ltd., 
Australia (alcoholic beverage labels); and,

• Traco Manufacturing, USA (shrink sleeve packaging).

PIA Offers Digital 
Accreditation Program

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Printing Industries of America's (PIA) Center for Technology and Research announced the development of the Digital Production Excellence Accreditation (DPEA) auditing program. The program is designed to determine if a digital printer has implemented and maintained an effective management and control system.

The key issues that the DPEA audit is intended to determine are the current state of business operations, methods, and procedures; process performance; and quality control. The program also evaluates whether standard operating procedures and tasks are effectively being completed, and if specified frequencies are being followed using proper equipment calibration and process controls.