PrintWeek Awards 2012 Poster Printer of the Year - SMP Group

The south London company, which won this category four years in a row from 2005 to 2008, pips long-time rival Augustus Martin to the award thanks to work for clients including Channel 4, for which it produced striking posters to promote its broadcasting of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

SMP printed 1,656 48-sheet litho posters in four colours onto blue-backed poster paper using its KBA Rapida 162 press.

The density of colour and depth of black on the background was crucial, and the firm faced challenges in managing dot gain.

Meanwhile, SMP showed off its digital expertise in a national billboard campaign for the Vauxhall Ampera, printing 48-sheet posters using its new Agfa M-Press Leopard. This used a combination of metallic poster paper and a specially formulated UV-based poster ink.

www.smpgroup.co.uk 020 8855 5535

Commended

Augustus Martin
www.augustusmartin.com 020 7537 4200
It was almost a hat-trick for Augustus Martin after its victories in the Bespoke Digital Printer and Point-of-Purchase Printer categories, but it has to settle for a commended placing for jobs including wall posters and banners for the launch of the film G.I. Joe 2, and a six-sheet poster for Chanel No. 5.

• Augustus Martin
• Odessa Print Group
• SMP Group