News
PRINTING United Alliance Names 2020 Product of the Year Awards
Alliance members submitted over 200 entries across 85 categories
PRINTING United Alliance, a member-based printing and graphic arts association, announces the winners of its annual Product of the Year competition. Over 200 entries were submitted across 85 categories.
Product of the Year judging was conducted for both output devices and non-output devices. For output devices, a printed target produced a scorecard that determined winners where some categories were determined by just tenths of a point. Non-output categories were scored by a panel of judges, all experts within their respective realm of the printing industry.
Ray Weiss, director of digital print programs, PRINTING United Alliance, says, “The competition was tight in many categories with multiple entries and having the new judging format allowed the cream to rise to the top. Congratulations to all winners!”
The winning companies are outlined by category:
| Category Title | Winning Company | Entry Title |
| Digital Press | Printware | iJetColor by Printware – Pigment Based Digital Inkjet Press |
| Direct-to-Garment Printers (black shirt) | OmniPrint International Inc | Cheetah |
| Direct-to-Garment Printers (white shirt) | OmniPrint International Inc | FREEJET 330TX PLUS |
| RTR Dye Sublimation on Metal | EPSON | Epson SureColor F6370 |
| RTR Solvent/Latex (over 80 in.) | Mutoh America Inc | Mutoh VJ-2638X |
| RTR Solvent/Latex (under 80 in.) | Mutoh America Inc | Mutoh XPJ-1641SR |
| RTR UV (over 80 in.) | AGFA | Agfa Oberon RTR3300 |
| RTR UV (under 80 in.) | Mutoh America Inc | Mutoh VJ-1638UR |
| RTR Dye-Sublimation on Textile ($50K-$100K) | EPSON | Epson SureColor F10070 |
| RTR Dye-Sublimation on Textile (more than $100K) | Durst Image Technology US LLC (Durst US) | Durst Rhotex 325 |
| RTR Dye-Sublimation on Textile (under $50K) | Mutoh America Inc | Mutoh XPJ-1682WR |
| RTR/hybrid/flatbed new technology | Stratojet USA Inc. (Strategic Printing Solution Inc.) | StratoJet Falcon with AG System |
| Tabletop Flatbed (Industrial/Small Item Decoration) | Mutoh America Inc | Mutoh XPJ-661UF |
| UV Hybrid/Flatbed High Volume Production Class | AGFA | Agfa Jeti Tauro H3300 HS LED |
| UV/Latex Flatbed ($100K – $200K) | Vanguard Digital Printing Systems | VKM600T-HS |
| UV/Latex Flatbed ($200K – $500K) | HP Inc | HP Latex R2000 Plus Printer |
| UV/Latex Flatbed (under $100K) | Vanguard Digital Printing Systems | VR5D |
| UV/Latex Flatbed (under $70K) | LogoJET | UVx90R by LogoJET, Inc. |
| UV/Latex Flatbed + White ($100K – $200K) | HP Inc | HP Latex R1000 Plus Printer |
| UV/Latex Flatbed + White ($200K – $500K) | Vanguard Digital Printing Systems | VKM300D-HS |
| UV/Latex Hybrid (more than $500K) | Durst Image Technology US LLC (Durst US) | Durst Rho 2500 |
| UV/Latex Hybrid1 ($100-$500K) | HP Inc | HP Latex R Printer Series – HP Latex R2000 Plus and HP Latex R1000 Plus |
| UV/Latex Hybrid1 (under $100K) | Mutoh America Inc | Mutoh VJ-1638UH |
| 3D Printers | Mimaki USA Inc | Mimaki 3DUJ-553 |
| Automation Equipment (print/post-print) | Canon Solutions America | Canon UVgel Wallpaper Factory |
| Automation Equipment packaging (post-print) | ROQ US | ROQ Automated Packaging & Labeling |
| Die Cutting Equipment | CWT Worktools USA | LSTMAX Digital Die Cutting System |
| Digital Inks – Industrial and Packaging | Kodak | KODAK PROSPER Packaging Inks and Film Optimizer Agent |
| Digital Inks – Solvent/Eco-Solvent/Latex | Roland DGA Corporation | Eco-Solvent Ink |
| Digital Inks – UV | Canon Solutions America | Canon UVgel 460 |
| Digital Inks/Toner – Textile (small format <24″) | Sawgrass | Sawgrass SubliJet UHD Sublimation Ink |
| Digital/Screen Print Hybrid Printing Systems | The M&R Companies | DS-4000TM Digital Squeegee® Hybrid Printing System |
| Display/Exhibit Hardware | Birttani Display Inc | Zona – The Specialty Sign Display Stand |
| DTG – Pre-Press (sprayers/dryers) | ColDesi Inc | PTM OneStep Pretreat and Cure |
| Laminates, Adhesives, Films, Coatings | Drytac | Protac AMP |
| Laminators (roll-to-roll) | Royal Sovereign International Inc | Sigmont 65H |
| Lasers/Routers/Cutters 4’x8′ or larger | Elitron America Inc. | Kombo TH with Custom Cutting |
| Lasers/Routers/Cutters 4’x8′ or smaller | CWT Worktools USA | CWT APEX Digital Cutting System |
| Media – Adhesive Back (not vinyl) | Drytac | Polar Street FX |
| Media – Adhesive Back Vinyl | 3M Commercial Solutions | 3M(tm) Wrap Film Series 2080 |
| Media – Dye Sublimation Rigid Material | ChromaLuxe | ChromaLuxe Textured Metal Prints |
| Media – Dye Sublimation Transfer Paper | Sawgrass | Sawgrass True Pix CLASSIC Sublimation Media |
| Media – Films | Nekoosa | Sign-Ad® Opaque |
| Media – Heat Transfer Material, Cuttable | Siser North America | Siser® SparkleTM |
| Media – Heat Transfer Material, Printable | B-FLEX America | FIVEBFPRINT01 |
| Media – Non-PVC | Drytac | SpotOn SynTac Floor |
| Media – Rigid / Synthetic | Ultraflex Systems Inc | AcryliFlex |
| Media – Special Effect Heat Transfer Material, Cuttable | STAHLS’ | STAHLS’ CAD-CUT® Soft Foam |
| Media – Textile – Apparel | TVF | Repreve T-Shirt Jersey |
| Media – Textile – Banner | TVF | Deko-Tex 7048AMPGFS |
| Media – Textile – Canvas | TVF | Olympic Heavy Linen |
| Media – Textile – Drapery | TVF | Yellowstone |
| Media – Textile – Flag | TVF | 5 Meter Flag 6043KFL |
| Media – Textile – Framing Systems (backlit) | Fisher Textiles | GF33 Prime Backlit |
| Media – Textile – Framing Systems (frontlit) | TVF | Tsunami-Stretch Polyester |
| Media – Textile – Tablecloth and Linen | TVF | Poly Linen |
| Media – Textile – Traditional Wall Covering | TVF | Rainier |
| Media – Textile – Upholstery Fabric | TVF | Glacier |
| Media – Textile – Wall Covering peel/stick | Ultraflex Systems Inc | FabriTac |
| Screen Printing – Automatic Garment Press | The M&R Companies | COBRATM Automatic Screen Printing Press |
| Screen Printing – Dryers | Lawson Screen & Digital Products | Lawson Digi-Star Elite Conveyor Dryer |
| Screen Printing – Manual Garment Press | HIX Corporation | HIX GT 6/6 Rotary Floor Printer |
| Screen Printing – Post-Press (Clean and Reclaim) | ROQ US | Lotus Holland EVO Compact Auto Screen Reclaim |
| Screen Printing – Pre-Press (Exposure/Imaging) | SAATI Americas Corp | SAATI LTS 8012 Direct Laser CtS Unit |
| Software – Color Enhancement | GMG Americas | GMG ColorCard |
| Software – RIP | Durst Image Technology US LLC (Durst US) | Durst Group – Durst Workflow + |
| Software – Workflow/MIS/CRM | Durst Image Technology US LLC (Durst US) | Durst / Lift Software – Lift ERP |
| Software – Web-Based Design, Personalization or Product Building | EFI | EFI MarketDirect PackCentral |
| Spectrophotometer Devices | X-Rite Pantone | X-Rite i1Pro 3 Plus with i1iO3 |
| Sublimation Finishing | HIX Corporation | HIX SubliPro Conveyer Mug Oven |
| Textile – Finished Garment Accessories | Terry Town | Waffle Weave Shower Curtain – SHWC03 |
| Textile – Finished Garment Blends | Terry Town | Textured Quilted Blanket – DP1801 |
| Textile – Finished Garment Synthetic | Terry Town | Recycled Polyester Blanket- DPR101 |
