STOP PRESS! OMNIGRAPHICS NZ, PART OF THE OPUS GROUP, WINS WORLD’S BEST BUILDING WRAP AT SGIA EXPO NEW ORLEANS - October 20, 2011

Dateline: New Orleans October 20th 2011 – As if the prospect of New Zealand winning the Rugby World Cup is not enough, Omnigraphics, a member of the Opus Group of companies which also owns Cactus Imaging in Australia, has taken out the world’s ‘Best Building Wrap’ outdoor advertising award in the ‘International Wrap Artist’ competition at the SGIA Expo currently being held in New Orleans, USA, October 19-21. Omnigraphics was also the overall winner, judged from the winners of the four categories.

The campaign for which Omnigraphics has scored a world-best is none other than the outdoor graphics for the Rugby World Cup itself, notably the entire 1,242 square metre Auckland Tower building which was transformed into a huge advertising billboard promoting ‘The World is Here to Play’ slogan but, thanks to the use of ContraVision Performance see-through perforated window film, still allows light to pass into the offices behind the glass, and for the occupants to see out.

The overall campaign also includes the 536 square metre glass frontage of Auckland’s KPMG building, which was transformed into a photograph of Haka-performing rugby players when viewed from the outside, but still enables vision and light into the offices behind the glass. Coordinated trains and other transport also feature ContraVision see-through window advertising. Production was on  Omnigraphics’ VuTek 3360s for building wraps and its fleet of HP-Scitex 3.2 metre-wide format printers for other work.

Now in its third year, the International Wrap Artist’s competition recognizes achievement in advertising using ContraVision see-through window graphic materials and is judged by an international team of experts which this year includes; Lisa Tomlinson, Planning Director of McCann Advertising UK; Duke Zimmerman, CEO of Zimmerman Fine Art, USA; Val Hirst, Editor of Sign Directions magazine and Australia’s Stan Kilpin, Publisher at Cygnet Publications.

Spokesperson for the judges Tomlinson comments; “As Head of Planning for a large advertising agency, it has been fascinating to see how see-through window graphics are being used to extend corporate and brand campaigns. This is something which I will ensure we will add into the media mix for our clients.”

Steven Spear, General Manager of Omnigraphics NZ won the trip to New Orleans to pick up a handsome trophy, cash and plenty of kudos.

He says; “Winning this award is huge for New Zealand. We rarely get to compete on a world stage but we do like to punch above our weight. For us this is something we can really show off in New Zealand. Working with Contra Vision really helped us bring this project to fruition and helped us through the whole planning process. The application process was so much easier than any other material we tested, which is critical when you are working 50 metres up in the air. We looked at a number of products and Contra Vision was definitely the best; the results speak for themselves. It is also great to be a part of the OPUS Group who have such a strong vision for the Out Of Home industry. In just the last 4 months alone OPUS has invested over $2m in the OOH division arming us with the world’s best and in NZ’s case, the country’s first HP Scitex LX850 machine.”

The full list of winners is:

Omnigraphics NZ – Overall ‘International Wrap Artist’ winner

Omnigraphics NZ – Best Building Wrap

Wacoal Japan – Best Internal Application, Interior Design

VGL Graphics UK – Best Vehicle Wrap

Sheridan & Co UK – Best Retail, Point-of-Purchase

Local distributor for Contra Vision, Starleaton Digital Solutions is understandably delighted with the result in New Orleans: “For an ANZ region outdoor signange producer to take on the world’s best and come out on top is truly gratifying, especially when they are using our Contra Vision Performance brand see-through window films. We wholeheartedly congratulate Omnigraphics and the Opus Group on this significant achievement,” says Starleaton Director Gary Smith.

Smith also notes another category winner with a connection to Starleaton; “The Best Internal Application was won by retail signage printed on a Screen Truepress Jet 520UV with a unique Contra Vision-licensed Rip that enables the printing of see-through advertising on standard clear polyester films, with a different image printed on the reverse side. Starleaton can supply both the printing system and the clear films to achieve this.”

Two Special Awards were also presented; The Most Innovative Use of Contra Vision material (or licensed product) went to Belgian printer White Lazq for wrapping a complete passenger ferry in Rotterdam.

A Lifetime Achievement Award went to Charlie Vendeville, Principal of Imaging Sciences LLC, Ohio. Charlie was a pioneer of see-through window graphic applications including Contra Vision XR printed interlayer for glass louvers, such as those surrounding the European Commission HQ in Brussels.

With the All Blacks odds-on favourites to win their second Rugby World Cup on Sunday, this does indeed appear to be New Zealand’s time in the Sunshine!

ENDS

(Pictured right – Omnigraphics’ Steven Spear prior to leaving for SGIA in New Orleans)

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