The winners of the Inca Digital Excellence Awards (IDEAs) 2014 were announced last night in Munich during FESPA, at a reception hosted by Inca and Fujifilm.
The IDEAs celebrate the creative and remarkable products and effects that can be achieved by companies using Inca printers. The judges – Vince Cahill, President of VCE Solutions; John Charnock, PR-INT director; Barney Cox, consultant; and Marco Boer, senior analyst and consultant to the digital printing industry – were tasked to select outstanding efforts from an exceptional group of entries submitted from around the world. Entries in each of the categories were selected on the basis of originality of the job, complexity of the substrate, ability to overcome design and concept challenges, success of producing something special, benefits to the client, and overall visual and structural impression.
The standard of entries was extremely high from Inca printer users producing innovative products that incorporated different materials to meet customers’ demanding specifications. The flexibility of Inca’s technology was evident with the winning companies producing eye-catching window display schemes, large exhibition booth graphics, unique interactive display units, and decorative children’s play storage.
Each category winner received an Inca IDEAs trophy and a VIP trip to Munich to attend FESPA and celebrate their Award. The winner of the Interactive Display category also received a VariableDisplay Solution supplied by Caldera.
“This is the third Inca Digital Excellence Awards and once again we are delighted by the number of entries that demonstrate the considerable potential for digital print,” says Heather Kendle, Director Marketing & Product Management. “The sheer range of applications shows the ingenuity and creativity of our customers using Inca printers, ranging from a Columbia Turbo to the latest Onset. All the entrants should be proud of the work they have done.”
The IDEA 2014 winners are:
3D POS
Kolorcraft, UK: for the New Look Spring 2013 Window Scheme. Created to complement the press and in-store advertising campaign, this window display had to include decorative elements with changeable graphics to match seasonal trends. Made from a combination of 10mm and 18mm honeycomb board, display board, boxboard and polypropylene, and printed on an Inca Onset S40, all units were supplied flat packed to store with easily-assembled slot-together pieces.
Judges’ comments: “This is a beautiful looking and executed job. Top marks.” And: “Shows what clever print can do.”
Display Graphics
Electroprint, Morocco: for a large, quality exhibition booth built in the style of a small medieval fortified city with typical Moroccan architecture. Printed on 16mm Re-board on an Inca Columbia Turbo, all parts were produced in less than two days and designed to be installed in less than one day with minimum fixings.
Judge’s comment: “Wow, truly impressive amount of print. Full marks for effort and ambition.”
Interactive Display
Smurfit Kappa Display, Ireland: for the innovative Absolut Butik display unit that featured an interactive element with phone/tablet application. The unit was created using 16mm Re-board printed on an Inca Onset S40i, which was then constructed with built-in LED lighting strips.
Judge’s comment: “Good use of print, materials, lighting and a tablet.”
Product Decoration & Unique Designs
Artwork Digital, Brazil: for school costumes and props storage boxes to be used in students’ ecology and environment lessons. Created from 16mm Re-board printed on an Inca Onset S20, the brightly decorated boxes had to be produced at low cost using eco-smart substrates and inks.
Judges’ comments: “Thinking inside and outside the box.” And: “Great use of product decoration showing Inca isn’t just for cardboard and paper.”
Special Award for Creativity
Color Ink, Inc., USA: for its replica bobsled designed for Century 21 Realty, sponsors of the US bobsled team, to be displayed during the 2014 Winter Olympics. Created from lightweight 40mm White Styrene and 1 inch Ultraboard printed on an Inca Onset Q40i, the full-scale realistic looking bobsleds had to be compact for shipping purposes, easy to assemble and lightweight.
Judges’ comments: “Unique design, complicated specs.” And: “Impressive.”
Further information on the Inca Digital Excellence Awards and the winning entries is available online at http://www.incadigital.com/ideas/
[Image shows Electroprint's award-winning exhibition booth]
