Over 1300 of printings elite gathered in the Great Room of Le Mridien Grosvenor House saw BLP Print Solutions crowned as the Printing Company of the Year at the PrintWeek Awards 2000.


The Newcastle upon Tyne firm triumphed over Carlton Barclay Group, Image Colourprint and Impac Europe in the evenings top category.


Other winners included Diamond Print Services, which won two awards - for Finishing Company of the Year and Post-Press Company of the Year.


Director Peter Wight said the trophies were rewards for " a lot of hard work by a lot of people - were absolutely delighted".


Acorn Web Offset sales director John Preston was "over the moon" after his firm lifted the Catalogue Printer of the Year trophy.


"We entered four categories. 78% of our business is magazines so to win the catalogue award is a bit of a surprise."


Other highlights included St Ives (Plymouth) taking top honours in the Consumer Magazine Printer of the Year for the fourth year, BAS Printers winning both the Fine Art Printer and Book Printer awards, and VGL taking the Innovative Printer prize for its 10,000m building graphic of Dutch footballer Edgar Davids.


TV personality Carol Smillie hosted the evening with support from comedian Fred MacAuley.


The full list of winners is:
Printing Company of the Year: BLP Print Solutions


Student of the Year: Barrie Holmes


Finishing Company of the Year: Diamond Print Services


Pre-Press Company of the Year: Stephens & George Magazines


SME Company of the Year: Milford Printers


Label Printer of the Year: Walsall Litho


Consumer Magazine Printer of the Year: St Ives (Plymouth)


Business Magazine Printer of the Year: St Ives (Roche)


Greetings Card Printer of the Year: Herbert Walker & Son (Printers)


Book Printer of the Year: BAS Printers


Carton Packaging Printer of the Year: Field Packaging (Bradford)


Catalogue Printer of the Year: Acorn Web Offset


Brochure Printer of the Year: The Midas Press


Direct Mail Printer of the Year: Print & Mailing Solutions of Anton Group


Newspaper Printer of the Year: News International Newspapers


Fine Art Printer of the Year: BAS Printers


Post-Press Company of the Year: Diamond Print Services


Poster Printer of the Year: St Michaels Press


Report & Accounts Printer of the Year: Westerham Press


Digital Printer of the Year: SP Digital


Innovative Printer of the Year: VGL


Creative Repro Company of the Year: Argent Colour