On December 7, 2020, this year’s EDP Awards 2020 were handed over in an online presentation to a total of 29 winners, whose products convinced the jury of the European Digital Press Association (EDP). The coveted awards were presented for the 14th time, with a slight delay due to Covid, as all the planned dates had to be postponed or canceled due to the impact of the pandemic, including the original date at drupa in Düsseldorf in June.
The EDP Awards are Europes only technology assessment in the industry and an open competition for all products announced and launched in the market within a year. The winners are selected by a commission of experts (the EDP Technical Committee), which evaluate the submitted products according to criteria such as innovation, quality, performance, and cost. Due to these strict criteria, there are no voting or other public votes. It is about technical criteria, not popularity. This is the only way EDP can guarantee that manufacturers’ achievements in developing new technologies will be recognized. Thus, the logo of the EDP Awards stands for innovation and quality, offering orientation and providing a neutral recommendation for purchase decisions of users.
29 proud winners
This year a total of 29 trophies were given to the winners. Products of the five main categories were awarded: software/hardware, print (large and wide format and commercial), industrial solutions, finishing, and consumables. “It has been a very challenging year for all of us,” said EDP vice-president Peter Ollén, who welcomed the winners at the online event on behalf of EDP president Klaus Peter Nicolay. “Due to the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, it was not easy to organize the award this year. My thanks goes out to the jury and their professional work, and of course, to all the participants who put their trust in our expertise”. This year the Technical Committee consisted of the chairman and editor-in-chief Herman Hartman, SignPro Benelux, Mike Horsten, consultant at TEXSMART.NL, and Igor Terentyev, publisher of Publish Russia – all under the leadership of EDP president Klaus-Peter Nicolay, publisher and editor-in-chief of Druckmarkt Deutschland and Switzerland.
Arguments of the jury
“In normal years, the award ceremony usually takes place in May or June,” says jury chairman Hermann Hartmann. “This year, Covid-19 has considerably delayed both the judging and the presentation. However, we are pleased that we have awarded no less than 29 prizes for just as many innovative products”. So the evaluation process has made further progress this year, but Herman Hartmann also says, “Like many others, the Technical Committee had the problem of not being able to see the new products live. Several online meetings with suppliers were necessary to gather enough information. We also paid close attention to the signals from the market.”
Even before Covid-19 changed everything, 2020 promised to be a year of transition. In the run-up to the canceled drupa, for example, many products were announced that will probably be evaluated in the next submission phase. Turnaround also in digital printing: Toner is increasingly being replaced by inkjet technology. Promising products were again submitted in the textile sector as well. Software is becoming more and more important as printer manufacturers realize that the output volume of their printers is not only dependent on the speed of their presses – the workflow is receiving more and more attention.
Neo-jury member Mike Horsten enjoyed his first involvement with EDP very much and says, “2020 was interesting for the members of the EDP jury. With no trade shows, only virtual demos, and many zoom meetings, it was a challenge to find the right winners in the many categories. I would like to thank all the manufacturers who helped us with providing the additional information we needed to evaluate the products. Without this additional effort, it would not have been possible”. The EDP awards are evaluated in many ways. Important is not only the device or software itself but also the impact of the product on people and users. The change it has made in the marketplace due to technology and integration has become an important part of the 2020 awards, “Products have been judged not only on innovation but also on better price, ease of use or even a clever solution that were added to a current product. Also, this year, market trends and customer needs were taken into account. We believe that this year’s winners with the solutions they offer are truly outstanding in their field,” Mike Horsten adds.
Winners of the EDP Awards 2020 are:
Software/hardware
Best layout, design, and editing system: Chili Publish | Chili Publisher
Best color management solution: Onyx | Onyx 19
Best workflow technology: Durst | Durst workflow
Best MIS / ERP system: Dataline | MultiPress e-calculator
Best special application software: EFI | FreeForm Create
Best print and finishing support tool: Bobst | Large Format Digital Inspection Table
Large/Wide format printing
Best roll-to-roll printer < 170 cm: Mimaki | UJV100-160
Best roll-to-roll printer < 320 cm: Agfa | Oberon RTR3300
Best roll-to-roll printer > 320 cm: EFI | Vutek D Series
Best flatbed/hybrid printer < 250 sqm/h: EFI | Vutek 32h
Best flatbed/hybrid printer > 250 sqm/h: Durst Rho 2500
Best print & cut solution: Roland DG | Versa UV LEC2-300
Best object printer: Mutoh | XpertJet 461UF / 661UF
Best textile printer roll-to-roll > 100 sqm/h: Mtex| Falcon
Best direct to garment printer: Roland | Texart Xt-640S-DTG
Commercial printing
Best cutsheet color A4 to B3: Xerox | PrimeLink C9070
Best cutsheet color up to SRA 3 < 499.000 A4/month: Ricoh | Pro C5300s
Best cutsheet color up to SRA 3 > 500.000 A4/month: Kyocera | TASKalfa Pro 15000c
Best cutsheet color B3 +: Canon | varioPrint IX-series
Best combined label and flexible packaging printer: Bobst | Master DMS
Industrial solutions in print and finishing
Best corrugated solution: Highcon | Beam 2C
Best wallpaper production solution: Fotoba | XLD 170 WP
Best print head: Memjet | DuraFlex
Finishing and enhancement
Best digital wide format cutting solution: Summa | L3214
Best webfeed finishing solution: Tecnau | Stack 5251
Best enhancement solution: Klieverik | GTC111-5400
Consumables (inks and substrates)
Best environmental ink/toner: Kodak | NexPress antimicrobial clear ink
Best coating and varnish: Kornit | NeoPigment Robusto softener
Best substrate: Neenah Coldenhove | Texcol
The EDP is convinced that the current presentation of the awards will motivate plenty of new calculations for the next phase. The preparations for this will be completed by the end of 2020. With products already announced in various market segments, the EDP Association expects to see a comprehensive awards calendar in 2021. With 20 magazines in no less than 25 European countries, the EDP Association is an important platform for informing users about the various digital printing systems in all parts of the market. The current restrictions on visiting trade shows or showrooms make EDP even more important.
The EDP Association (European Digital Press Association) was founded in 2006 by six magazines with a special focus on digital technologies. Today the EDP has 20 member magazines from all over Europe, covering 25 countries and reaching more than half a million readers (printed editions only). One of the declared goals of the EDP Association is to help users find the right solutions for their applications. Meanwhile, the EDP Awards are highly regarded in the market and are a strong reference point. Each year, experts from the EDP circle evaluate the latest technologies and product developments in categories such as hardware and software, large/wide format printing, commercial printing, industrial solutions, finishing, and consumables. The best products in each category are honored with an EDP Award. Since 2007, the EDP has handed over around 360 awards for the best technology and product developments – now 29 awards are being added this year.
