At the opening of its 2013 Expo in late October, the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) announced the winners of its annual Product of the Year awards, recognizing the latest digital printing equipment and supplies for advancing the industry.

Judges evaluated all of the competition entries and awarded medallions to those they deemed the most innovative in a variety of categories.

“The awards showcase digital imaging products that keep the industry moving forward,” explains Jeff Burton, digital printing analyst for SGIA. “Winners benefit from worldwide recognition. They can market their products as winners of this valued competition.”

The following were this year’s winning products in sign-related categories:

• Digital inks: EFI’s Vutek GS Pro-TF system (graphics example pictured).
• Media (paper): Visual Magnetics’ VM-Ecoten.
• Media (vinyl): ATP Adhesive Systems’ Open Air Clear.
• Media (pressure-sensitive vinyl): Contra Vision’s Sprint.
• Media (films): Floor Signage’s AlumiGraphics Grip.
• Media (textile): Verseidag Seemee’s 3P Premium Backlit.
• Media (rigid): Unisub’s Chromaluxe Tabletop.
• Media (non-woven non-PVC): Argotec’s ArgoGraph two-part graphic film system.
• Finishing (display/exhibit hardware): Consort Display Group’s FlagTrax flag and banner mounting hardware.
• Finishing equipment: Matic’s Cronos.
• Poster-size solvent/latex printer: Mutoh America’s ValueJet 1638.
• Flatbed rigid-substrate ultraviolet-curing (UV-curing) printer under $200,000: Océ Display Graphics’ Arizona 640 GT.
• Flatbed rigid-substrate ultraviolet-curing (UV-curing) printer over $200,000: Océ Display Graphics’ Arizona 660 GT.
• Flatbed rigid-substrate ultraviolet-curing (UV-curing) printer with white ink under $200,000: Océ Display Graphics’ Arizona 660 XT.
• Grand-format roll-to-roll solvent/latex printer: HP’s Latex 3000.