SPPJY Sappi Ltd (PK)

BOSTON, June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi Fine Paper North America today announced the Printer of the Year and 11 Gold Award winners of its 17th North American Printer of the Year contest. Regarded as the world's most respected accolade of excellence in printed communications, this award recognizes innovation and excellence in print, with nominated materials produced on Sappi papers across eleven categories of work. These winners were chosen as the most outstanding print submissions from approximately 1700 entries this year.

"Since 1999, Sappi has been committed to acknowledging companies who successfully embody the innovation of print while developing sustainable printing techniques," said Jennifer Miller, Executive Vice President Coated Business and Chief Sustainability Officer, Sappi Fine Paper North America. "With our Printers of the Year competition, Sappi applauds companies whose commitment to the creative and versatile uses of print have made them industry leaders and earned them the respect of clients, publishers and the design community."

Classic Color, a leader in pre-media, digital artistry and innovative printing, is this year's Printer of the Year award winner, selected for its direct mail piece for a car advertisement, printed on Sappi's McCoy Silk paper. According to judge Lauren Eliot, the piece was "thoughtfully produced with every detail executed." Classic Color will receive $20,000 to support brand and marketing initiatives, as well as up to 5,000 pounds of Sappi paper and the opportunity to print a Sappi job. The Gold Award winners, each chosen for their dedication to craft and meticulous eye for detail, will receive 5,000 pounds of paper and a spot on the list of preferred Sappi printers.

A panel of highly regarded print professionals selected the winning entries based on the overall impact of the piece, degree of difficulty in printing techniques, and technical excellence. The winners of Sappi's North American Printer of the Year award across a variety of categories, including Direct Mail and Cross-Channel Communications, which were added this year. The following companies represent the best the world of printing can offer:

To ensure the highest possible standards and integrity, this year's judging panel was comprised of Lauren Elliot, Principal of Wicked Good Print Production, a print and digital advertising consulting company; Dr. Malcolm Keif, Professor and Graduate Coordinator at Cal Poly State University in the Graphic Communication Department; Ken Lantz, Studio Producer, KnowledgePoint360 Group specializing in printing services for the pharmaceutical industry based in New Jersey; and James K. Tenorio, Professor Emeritus in the Cross Media Graphics Management Program at University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin's Polytechnic University.

Sappi's North American Printers of the Year winners will also gain increased visibility with current and potential clients by being featured on their own page in Sappi's Printers of the Year Online Resource. This unique and searchable database for designers, print buyers and corporations provides information about the award winning printers and their capabilities, printing equipment and location. The database is available at http://www.na.sappi.com/global-programs/printer-of-the-year/find-a-printer

About Sappi Fine Paper North America
Sappi Fine Paper North America, known for innovation and quality, is a preeminent North American producer of coated fine and release papers, as well as dissolving wood pulp (DWP) and market kraft pulp headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Its coated fine papers, with highly recognized brand names such as McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are used in premium magazines, catalogs, books and high-end print advertising. Its food packaging brand, Lusterprint is a greaseproof product with an excellent print surface. The company is also the world's leading supplier of release papers for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries, including the globally recognized Ultracast brand. Sappi's release papers provide the surface aesthetics for synthetic fabrics used in footwear, clothing, upholstery and accessories, as well as the textures for decorative laminates found in kitchens, baths, flooring and other decorative surfaces. Sappi globally is the world's largest manufacturer of dissolving wood pulp, a versatile raw material for a wide range of products including textile fibers and household products. Sappi Fine Paper North America, through the recent conversion of the Cloquet pulp mill, manufactures dissolving pulp under Sappi's Specialised Cellulose division primarily for the textile markets.

Sappi Fine Paper North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 14,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at: www.sappi.com/na.

For further information:

Rachel Leamon
Burson-Marsteller
Office:  617-912-5411
Rachel.Leamon@bm.com

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SOURCE Sappi Fine Paper North America