The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) announced the winners of its Product of the Year awards for 2018. From a total of 255 entries, 68 rose to the top, across a wide variety of categories.
This year’s competition saw the addition of 19 new categories, including digital inks – industrial and packaging; large-format scanners (flat or roll); and 3D printers. All entries were displayed in October at the Golden Image Gallery at the 2018 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, Nev., with awards presented at a special pre-expo ceremony.
The following are all of the winners in non-garment categories:
Digital inks – textile: Sawgrass Technologies’ Ultra HD Flex.
Digital inks – UV: Roland DGA Corporation’s Roland ECO-UV inks.
Digital inks – industrial and packaging: INX International’s Prodigy EBGA Premium EB curable inks.
Finishing – display/exhibit hardware: Spirit Displays’ Spirit-TEX fabric tension system.
Finishing – lasers/routers/cutters: Trotec Laser’s SP 2000.
Finishing – multi-function (slit/score/perf): Safety Speed Manufacturing’s DFC-H5 panel saw & dust free cutter combo.
Heat press – table-top: STAHLS’ Hotronix Fusion IQ.
Heat press – large format roll or clam: HIX Corporation’s HIX LF-4464.
Laminates, adhesives, films, and coatings: Drytac’s ReTac WipeErase.
Large-format scanners (flat or roll): SMA edocument’s SMA Versascan.
Automation equipment (print/post): OmniPrint International’s Wurk Bridge.
Software – raster image processor (RIP) or web-based design, personalization or product building: Graphical Systems USA’s Graphic Tracer Professional.
Spectrophotometer devices: Barbieri North America’s Spectro LFP qb.
Media – films: Gans Ink and Supply’s BF9.
Media – non-polyvinyl chloride (non-PVC): Floor Signage’s AlumiGraphics Glow Grip.
Media – adhesive backed vinyl: Drytac’s SpotOn Floor 200.
Media – adhesive backed non-vinyl: Gans Ink and Supply’s holographic window film.
Media – rigid/corrugated: Johnson Plastics Plus (div. of Rowmark)’s the Naturals.
Media – banner (non-textile): Gans Ink and Supply’s Jet 550.
Media – heat transfer material (cuttable): Siser North America’s Blackboard.
Media – heat transfer material (printable): Chemica US’ Hotmark RevolutionPrint.
Media – textile (banner): Fisher Textiles’ GF4019 Nirvana B.O.B.
Media – textile (canvas): HP’s HP recycled satin canvas.
Media – textile framing systems: Senfa-Decoprint’s Sublimis.
Media – textile wallcovering: Gans Ink and Supply’s Jettex.
Media – textile home furnishings: Top Value Fabrics’ Sequoia S/577.
Screenprinting – pre-press (exposure/imaging): Lawson Screen & Digital Products’ Lawson Lock-N-Go.
Screenprinting – curing equipment: M&R Companies’ HotHead fabric compression system.
Screenprinting – drying equipment: Brown Manufacturing Group’s FireFly curing system.
Screenprinting – post-press (clean/reclaim): Easiway Systems’s EasiSolv 1028 ink and emulsion remover.
Screenprinting – inks: Marabu North America’s MaraTech MGO.
Dye sublimation – transfer paper: Sawgrass’ True Pix Classic sublimation transfer paper.
Dye sublimation – rigid material for transfer: Chromaluxe’s EXT.
Flatbed/hybrid – under US$100,000: Mutoh America.
Ultraviolet-curing (UV-curing) hybrid printer – US$100,000 to US$500,000: Agfa Graphics.
UV-curing flatbed printer – under US$100,000: Vanguard Digital Printing Systems.
UV-curing flatbed printer – US$100,000 to US$200,000: Vanguard Digital Printing Systems.
UV-curing flatbed printer – US$200,000 to US$500,000: Agfa Graphics.
UV-curing flatbed printer with white ink – US$100,000 to US$200,000: Vanguard Digital Printing Systems.
UV-curing flatbed printer with white ink – US$200,000 to US$500,000: Agfa Graphics.
Small flatbed printer – industrial/small item decoration: Mutoh America.
Roll-to-roll (RTR) solvent/latex– under 2 m (80 in.): Mutoh America.
RTR solvent/latex– over 2 m: Mutoh America.
RTR UV-curing printer – under 2 m: Roland DGA.
RTR UV-curing printer – over 2 m: Agfa Graphics.
RTR/hybrid/flatbed – new technology or inkset: Durst Image Technology.
Digital/screen print hybrid printing system: M&R Companies.
3D printer: Mimaki USA.
RTR – direct disperse ink on textile: Durst Image Technology.
RTR – dye sublimation on textile: DGI.
RTR – dye sublimation on metal: EPSON America.
UV-curing/hybrid/flatbed printer – high-volume production: EFI.
Digital press: Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division.
Printer: single-pass: EFI.
Printer: direct-to-shape: Inkcups Now.
