Narrowly avoiding hurricane Nate, the sold-out Specialty Graphic Imaging Association’s 2017 SGIA Expo (October 10-12 in New Orleans, Louisiana) will be home to more than 570 of the world’s leading imaging solutions providers – aisle after aisle of the latest innovations in everything from garment decorating to wide-format graphics to package printing. Visitors will discover excellence and inspiration in the Golden Image and Product of the Year Awards Gallery, and connect with peers at networking events focusing on the industry issues of today. There’ll be over 40 educational sessions led by industry leaders in the graphics, garment, printed electronics, signs, industrial, packaging and commercial printing industries. Graphic Arts Magazine publisher Joe Mulcahy and our Editor-In-Chief Filomena Tamburri will be walking the floor – and we’ll provide a full wrap-up in our November issue.
One attraction I’d personally encourage visitors to check out are the 49 winners of SGIA’s 2017 Product of the Year Awards, chosen from 222 exceptional entries. “Wherever we could, we used objective criteria,” said Ray Weiss, Digital Imaging Specialist at SGIA. “That means categories like Roll-to-Roll Dye Sublimation on Textile were objectively evaluated to include industry specifications.” This year’s competition also saw several new categories, including die-cutters, automation equipment, RIP and workflow software, and finished garment blanks. “The uptick in the number of fabrics entered underlines the surge in printing to fabric. In fact, this year we saw the most entries ever in dye sublimation and direct-to-fabric printing,” Weiss added. Entries will be on display in the Golden Image Gallery. The awards were presented in a special ceremony yesterday evening. “Each of the entries is something special,” Weiss said. “I encourage everyone to visit the display in the Golden Image Gallery.” We wish all visitors and exhibitors an excellent show. Here are the winners:
Digital Inks — Textile: Sawgrass (Booth 2975), SubliJet-HD FLEX Sublimation Inks
Digital Inks — UV: Marabu North America LP (Booth 2119), UltraJet DUV-GR
Finishing — Display/Exhibit Hardware: Windigo Signs (Booth 617), Windigo Portable Sidewalk Sign
Finishing — Equipment — Routers/Cutters: Gravograph (Booth 4107), LS900 Energy Laser Engraver
Finishing — Equipment — Die Cutters: Rollem International (Booth 1944), Insignia Die Cutters
Finishing — Equipment — All Others: Leister (Booth 3356), HEMTEK ST Banner Welder
Finishing — Laminates, Adhesives, Films, Coatings: BannerUps E.L. Hatton Sales Co. (Booth 3504), Banner Ups KederTape Adhesive No-Sew Keder for SEG Signs
Automation Equipment (Print/Post): Esko (Booth 1321), Kongsberg Automatic Robotics System
Software — Workflow/RIP or Web-Based Design, Personalization, or Product Bldg: Onyx Graphics, Inc. (Booth 2435), ONYX Hub
Media — Films: Newlife Magnetics LLC (Booth 3049), MIRACLE MAG
Media — Non-PVC: Flexmag Industries Inc. (Booth 2401), Flexcoat-EZ 40 in.
Media — Adhesive Back (Not Vinyl): Floor Signage LLC/AlumiGraphics (Booth 3168), EZGrip Graphics
Media — Rigid/Corrugated: United Visual Products Inc. (Booth 3727), Blank LED Embedded Corrugated Sign
Media — Banner (Non-Textile): Vescom America (Booth 3953), VESCOM Metallic Sand
Media — Heat Transfer Vinyl/PU/Specialty: Chemica US Corp (Booth 3145), HotMark Revolution
Media — Textile — Apparel: Fisher Textiles (Booth 2201), ETP 4310 Uni
Media — Textile — Banner: Pacific Coast Fabrics part of TVF (Booth 2445), Heavy Deko-Stretch 8488GFS
Media — Textile — Framing Systems: SENFA-DECOPRINT (Booth 4141), ALTERRA
Media — Textile — Canvas: Pacific Coast Fabrics part of TVF (Booth 2445), Basketweave Canvas S/565
Media — Textile — Wall Covering: Dreamscape (Booth 3151), DreamScape WallWrap Silver Fusion
Media — Textile — Home Furnishings: PremEx Solutions (Booth 523), DuraVibe Latex Fabric / Leenane
Media — Adhesive Back Vinyl: Mactac — REBEL X-treme, (Booth 3249)
Textile — Finished Garment — Synthetic: Vapor Apparel (Booth 2745), Vapor Apparel — Solar Performance Long Sleeve T
Textile — Finished Garment — Natural Fiber: Image Armor/i-Group Technologies (Booth 1006), RTP Apparel
Textile — Finished Garment — Blends: Terry Town (Booth1652), DP2315 Water Repellent Microfiber Picnic Basket
Screen Printing — Pre-Press (Exposure/Imaging): M&R Companies (Booth 531,621), I-Image S Computer-to-Screen Imaging System
Screen Printing — Manual Garment Press: Lawson Screen & Digital Products (Booth 413, 901), Lawson Proton
Screen Printing — Automatic Garment Press: M&R Companies (Booth 531,621), CHALLENGER III Automatic Screen Printing Press
Screen Printing — Curing & Drying Equipment: Brown Manufacturing Group (Booth 1845, 3301), FireFly and Vega Combined Curing System
Screen Printing — Post-Press (Clean/Reclaim): Lawson Screen & Digital Products (Booth 413, 901), Lawson Ajax In-Line Reclaimer
Direct-to-Garment Printers (White Shirt): OmniPrint International (Booth 2427), 330 TX Plus
Direct-to-Garment Printers (Color Shirt — Not White) : Kornit Digital (Booth 1617) Kornit Vulcan
Flatbed/Hybrid (under $100K): Mutoh America Inc. (Booth 2545), ValueJet 1638UH
UV Hybrid ($100-$500K): EFI (Booth 1501), EFI Pro 16h
UV Flatbed (Under $100K): Canon Solutions America — Océ Display Graphics Systems (Booth 2525), Arizona 365GT
UV Flatbed ($100K-$200K): Vanguard Digital Printing Systems (Booth 1967), VK300D
UV Flatbed ($200K-$500K): Canon Solutions America — Océ Display Graphics Systems (Booth 2525), Arizona 6160 XTS with High Flow Vacuum
UV Flatbed + White ($100K-$200K): Mimaki USA Inc. (Booth 1231, 1345, 1445), JFX200 2531
UV Flatbed + White ($200K-$500K): Canon Solutions America — Océ Display Graphics Systems (Booth 2525), Arizona 6170 XTS with High Flow Vacuum
Small Flatbed (Industrial/Small Item Decoration): Mutoh America Inc (Booth 2545), ValueJet 626UF
Roll-to-Roll Solvent/Latex (Under 80 in.): Mutoh America Inc (Booth 2545), ValueJet 1638X
Roll-to-Roll Solvent/Latex (Over 80 in.): HP Inc. (Booth 1029,1045), HP Latex 3600
Roll-to-Roll UV (Under 80 in.): Mutoh America Inc. (Booth 2545), ValueJet 1638UH
Roll-to-Roll UV (Over 80 in.): Durst Image Technology US, LLC (Booth 1945), Rho 312R Plus
RTR/Hybrid/Flatbed New Technology or Inkset: Canon Solutions America — Océ Display Graphics Systems (Booth 2525), Colorado 1640
Roll-to-Roll Direct Disperse Ink on Textile: Durst Image Technology US, LLC (Booth 1945), Rhotex 325
Roll-to-Roll Dye Sublimation on Textile: EPSON (Booth 1301), Printer Model TBA
Roll-to-Roll Dye Sublimation on Metal: EPSON (Booth 1301), SureColor F6200
UV Hybrid/Flatbed High Volume Production Class: Durst Image Technology U.S., LLC (Booth 1945), Rho P10 250 HS Plus
SGIA Expo ready to rock today in New Orleans
