Merrick Is Among Top 10 Winners in International Competition

Louisville, KY (October 26, 1998) -- The Merrick Printing Company has received 17 awards in the 1998 Premier Print Awards international competition, including two Bennys, the highest level award presented in the industry, often referred to as the "Oscar" of Printing.

With a total of 17 awards, Merrick is listed among the Top 10 International Winners in terms of overall awards, and received more awards than any other Louisville printer. There were nearly 5,000 entries from more than 870 companies worldwide.

Merrick received two Best of Category Awards in this year’s competition, and was the only Kentucky printer to be recognized at that level. Called "The Benny", the award is named after Benjamin Franklin, who is credited with founding the American printing industry.

One of the 1998 Benny Awards recognized Merrick’s expertise in the Single Sheet Broadside, 4-Color or More Category, for an 8-color Asian Dealer Support brochure produced for Cummins Engine Company, Inc., Merrick’s leading account. PriceWeber Marketing Communications, Inc. designed the piece, which features skillful use of spot varnish.

The other Benny was presented to Merrick in the 1, 2 or 3-Color Program Category for a 50-page program produced for the Louisville Visual Art Association entitled, "Barney Bright: A Fifty Year Celebration." Designed by Teresa Heintzman of Louisville, the program features rich shades of bronze and green on a handsome ivory stock.

"It is a tremendous honor to receive these awards which recognizes the talent and skill of the entire team here at Merrick," said David Merrick, president. "We consider our people to be among the best in the business and it is gratifying for the industry to recognize their achievements."

The awards were officially presented at a banquet held October 25,1998, in Chicago. "The field of entries this year was very impressive," said Ray Roper, president and CEO of the Printing Industries of America (PIA), host of the annual competition. PIA is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than one million employees and $142 billion in sales.