Pragati bags SAPPI International printer award

Hyderabad, Nov 25 (UNI) Hyderabad-based Pragati Offset Pvt Ltd, a leading printer today announced that it has been conferred with the prestigious ''SAPPI International Printer of the Year 2008'' award, earning the distinction of getting the honour for the second time.

It was in 2006 that 'Pragati' created history by becoming the first printing company from India as well as from the entire Asian, Australian and South and Central American region to ever win this award, which had so far gone only to printers manufactured in North America, Europe and South Africa.

In a function held recently at Cape Town in South Africa, the company CEO Narendra Paruchuri received the award for Pragati's 2008 calendar. The calendar was printed on SAPPI Magno paper, with multiple 3-dimensional embossing, foiling with overprinting, gloss, textured and glitter UV varnishes and new technologies such as holographic UV coatings.

In a statement, Mr Paruchuri said, ''Thanks to our efficient and motivated workforce, who is proficient to handle the latest technologies, Pragati had achieved such unique distinction, which restate the fact that we have taken the Indian printing quality to world-class level.'' SAPPI (South African Pulp and Paper Inc) is the largest producer of art paper in the world with mills in Europe, US and Africa. The International competition encompassing all five continents was started in 2001.

Pragati has won 10 Golds, 20 Silvers and 6 Bronzes at the SAPPI competition in the past eight years, a feat unsurpassed by any printer in the world. Pragati has also won numerous national awards including Best Printer in India and SAARC regions, the statement added.

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