Product of the Year Winners Highlight Innovation

New and innovative technologies and products move the digital imaging industry forward into new markets and capabilities.

SGIA’s annual Product of the Year competition recognizes these technologies that have the most impact on the imaging community. The best consumables and output devices from the submitted entries are lauded for offering faster, more accurate and higher quality output for wide-format digital imaging.

To earn this prestigious honor, SGIA member companies that manufacture the products and devices submit products or samples from devices that have just recently come to the market. These entries are judged on-site at SGIA Expos. A qualified panel of judges awards winners in each of the following categories:

• Software & Related Systems — Any computer, computer program or peripheral device specifically designed for graphic imaging applications.

• Media & Consumables — Any consumable supply item used by an output device.

• Textile Products — Any consumable item specifically intended for digital imaging activities (direct printing or transfer printing) on textile products. This could include textile media, finishing products and other consumables specific to digital textile printing.

• Finishing — Any device, consumable supply item or system used for finishing graphics.

• Output Devices — Entrants for digital output devices must print and submit a text print — created by SGIA — that is designed to challenge the device’s printing capabilities.

Bonus: Look for secondary “partner” awards that are given to companies whose RIP and media products were used in the creation of the winning output device print, recognizing the importance RIP and media have in the production of high-quality digital imaging.

Past Product of the Year Winners: 2009, 2008, 2007

2009 Product of the Year Winners

Category 100: Digital Inks
Roland DGA Corporation, Metallic Silver Ink 

Category 101: RIP software and Proofing software
Caldera Graphics, GrandRIP+ with Adobe PDF Print Engine 

Category 102: Media-Paper
Ultraflex Systems Inc, Limelight 4.8 

Category 103: Media-Vinyl
Dreamscape, DreamScape Bling! 

Category 104: Media-Films
Xcel Products Inc, Visual Magnetics® Write-On™ Chalkboard 

Category 105: Media-Textile
Vapor Apparel/SourceSubstrates, Micro Performance Repreve 

Category 106: Media-Rigid
Röchling Engineering Plastics Ltd, PE2PRINT®-Digital 

Category 107: Business or other Workflow Software
Nazdar SourceOne, CATZper Color Tolerancing Software 

Category 108: Finishing-Display Exhibit Hardware
Xcel Products Inc, VMGS Featuring Write-On™ Chalkboard 

Category 109: Finishing-Laminates, Adhesives, Films, Coatings
FLEXcon, FLEXmark® floor art™ 6600 

Category 110: Finishing-Equipment
Maverick Innovations, Inc dba Extreme Graphics - The Wraptor, The Wraptor 

Category 112: Poster size
Roland DGA Corporation, VersaCAMM VP-300i 

Category 113: Rigid Substrate UV <$200K MSRP
Océ Display Graphics Systems, Arizona 350 GT 

Category 114: Rigid Substrate UV >$200K MSRP
Océ Display Graphics Systems, Arizona 350 XT 

Category 115: Grand Format R to R-Solvent & Latex inks
Roland DGA Corporation, AdvancedJET AJ-1000i 

Category 116: Grand Format R to R-UV cured ink
Durst Image Technology US LLC (Durst US), Rho 500R 

Category 118: Direct to Garment Inkjet Printers
Kornit Digital, Kornit 932NDS   

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2008 Product of the Year Winners

Software & Related Systems: Caldera Graphics, FLOW+

Media & Consumables: EcoMedia, ECOMEDIA

Textile Products: Digifab Systems Inc., Digifab Artist Canvas

Finishing: Xcel Products Inc., Visual Magnetics – “Graphic System”

Output Devices: Winners were awarded in nine categories:

• Poster Size: Roland DGA Corp., VersaUV LEC-300 Printer/Cutter
• Direct Photo Print: Durst Image Technology US LLC, Lambda
• Rigid Substrate (Solvent Ink): Mutoh America Inc., ValueJet 1608-64
• Rigid Substrate (UV-Cured Inkjets up to $150,000 MSRP): Mimaki USA, JF-1631
• Rigid Substrate (UV-Cured Inkjets more than $150,000 MSRP): Screen USA, Truepress Jet2500UV
• Grand Format (UV-Cured Ink): Durst Image Technology US LLC, Rho 320R
• Grand Format (Solvent Ink): Gandinnovations, Jeti 3324 Solvent RTR
• Textile: Gandinnovations, Jeti 3324 AquaJet RTR
• Direct-to-Garment Inkjet Printer: Mimaki USA Inc., GP-604D

Additionally, an Honorable Mention Award was presented for the following categories:

• Media & Consumables: Ultraflex Systems Inc., PolyeLite
• Output Devices/Poster Size: EPSON America Inc., Epson Stylus Pro GS6000
• Output Devices/Rigid Substrate (UV-Cured Inkjets more than $150,000 MSRP): Océ©, Océ© Arizona 350 GT

Entries for the DPI Product of the Year competition were judged on the Expo show floor by a team of digital imaging professionals. In the Output Device category, entrants were required to submit a test print, produced from the nominated device. The image, designed by SGIA, is intended to challenge the output device’s capabilities.

Partner Awards
In addition to Product of the Year winners, Partner Awards were given to the following companies for the RIP software and media products used to create the winning prints:

Output Devices:

• Poster Size: (RIP) Roland DGA Corp., VersaWorks 3.0, (Media) Roland DGA Corp., ESM-MCVP
• Direct Photo Print: (RIP) United Imaging Solutions, Cheetah RIP, (Media) Kodak, Duraflex
• Rigid Substrate (Solvent Ink): (RIP) SAi, SAi RIP, (Media) The Gilman Bros. Co., Gilman Foamboard
• Rigid Substrate (UV-Cured Inkjets up to $150,000 MSRP): (RIP) Mimaki USA, Mimaki RIP, (Media) Alcan Composites USA Inc., Ultra White Gator Foam
• Rigid Substrate (UV-Cured Inkjets more than $150,000 MSRP): (RIP) Wasatch Computer Technology, SoftRIP GOLDEDITION, (Media) Alcan Composites USA Inc., Gatorfoam
• Grand Format (Solvent Ink): (RIP) Gandinnovations, Gandisoft RIP Version, (Media) Cooley Group, Coolflex
• Grand Format (UV-Cured Ink): (RIP) Caldera Graphics, Caldera GrandRIP, (Media) Verseidag Seemee US Inc., Frontlit Standard Easy
• Textile: (RIP) Gandinnovations, GandiSoft RIP Version, (Media) 3P Inkjet Textiles Corp., 3P Value Satin
• Direct-to-Garment Inkjet Printer: (RIP) Mimaki USA Inc., Mimaki RIP, Hanes Imprintables, T-shirt

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2007 Product of the Year Winners

Software & Related Systems
Ergosoft US LLC, Ergosoft PosterPrint 2008

Media & Consumables
3M Graphics Market Center, 3M Scotchcal Graphic Film-IJ8624

Textile Products
US Screen Print & Inkjet Technology, T-Jet AutoTreat

Finishing
Tech View A/S, Lumaline

Output Devices: Presentation Size
Canon, imagePROGRAF iPF 5100

Ouput Devices: Poster Category
Roland DGA Corp., SOLJET PRO III XJ-640

Output Devices: Rigid Substrate (UV)
Océ Display Graphic Systems, Océ Arizona 250 GT

Output Devices: Grand Format (Solvent)
EFI VUTEk, 3360 with BioVu inks

Output Devices: Grand Format (UV)
EFI VUTEk, QS3200r

Output Devices: Textile
Texpress, DSS-1800-II

Output Devices: Direct-to-Inkjet Printer
US Screen Print & Inkjet Technology, T-Jet Blazer

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