Polestar triumphs at PPA Production and Environment Awards

Polestar dominated the supplier categories at last night's PPA Production and Environment Awards, taking home three gongs and two highly commendeds.

Polestar had four plants shortlisted in the Magazine Printing Company of the Year category alone, where Polestar Chantry pipped Polestar Colchester and Polestar Bicester (formerly BGP) to the top spot. Both Colchester and Bicester were highly commended.

The group's other two awards both went to its gravure supersite, Polestar Sheffield, which took home the awards for Environmentally Sustainable Supplier of the Year and Print Production Initiative of the Year, which was awarded for its work on The Amazing Spiderman issue of ShortList magazine.

Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert said: "This is fantastic news for us and a really appreciated vote of confidence by the magazine publishing industry at a time when Polestar is going through such an exciting period in our development."

Rhapsody also had a good night at the annual event, which was held at London's Kings Place, collecting awards for both Pre-Media Company of the Year and Best Use of Technology to Enhance the Magazine Production Process, for its Emagine workflow.

Gould Publication Papers picked up the gong for Magazine Paper Supplier/Merchant of the Year, beating Antalis and Sappi who were both highly commended.

Meanwhile, on the publishing side Haymarket Media Group matched Polestar's triple triumph as it took home awards for Production Team of the Year, Environmentally Sustainable Business of the Year and the individual award for Outstanding Achievement of the Year, which went to head of production Gary Charlton for co-ordinating Haymarket's production of the official programmes and magazines for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Charlton said: "I’m delighted that the Haymarket production team’s efforts have been recognised by the PPA. It is particularly pleasing to win in three categories, including the Environmentally Sustainable Business of the Year – Publisher.

"This is the second year running that Haymarket has won this award. The judges comments were that Haymarket 'has built a longstanding and extraordinary environmental record, and heads the field in environmental best practice'. I am also very pleased to have won Outstanding Achievement."

Visit the PPA website for the full list of winners and commendations from this year's awards.