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SGIA Golden Image and Andre Schellenberg Award Winner

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SGIA Golden Image and Andre Schellenberg Award Winner

Insta Graphic Systems Wins SGIA Golden Image Award
International competition recognizes the best in specialty imaging

Cerritos, California, October 22, 2009 — Insta Graphic Systems was recently honored with the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) Golden Image (including André Schellenberg) Gold for Skelly Bones in the Heat Transfer – Textile Products / True Process Colors category and the André Schellenberg for Chroma Depth 3-D Art in the Heat Transfer – Textile Products / Digital category. The awards were presented during the 2009 SGIA Expo in New Orleans.

"I am very proud of the Insta Graphic Systems team," said Janet Wells President & CEO "Our work was compared to the best in the world — and we came out on top. That’s quite an accomplishment!"

More than 90 companies from around the world entered the competition, submitting nearly 450 entries in 43 product categories. Conducted during the 2009 SGIA Expo (New Orleans, October 7–9), this year’s event drew in a wide range of innovative imaging products.

"The quality of work this year was exceptional. Judges in virtually every category told me the entries were so good that choosing winners was a real challenge," said Johnny Shell, SGIA’s Vice President of Technical Services. Shell added that Golden Image is a technical competition, excluding aesthetic issues from the judging process. Prints are judged on the level of difficulty and quality of execution.

"Winning the Golden Image and the André Schellenberg for Heat Transfer – Textile Products / True Process Colors and Heat Transfer – Textile Products / Digital puts Insta Graphic Systems among the top specialty printers in the world in terms of quality and capability. The ability to consistently print such high quality products indicates that Insta Graphic Systems is expert at controlling the many variables involved in specialty printing," Shell said.

A recap of the 2009 SGIA Expo, including the complete list of Golden Image winners, is available online at SGIA.org.

The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association is the one organization whose sole purpose is to provide graphic imaging professionals with the technical know-how, expert advice and knowledge they need to operate more profitable businesses. For more information about SGIA and the SGIA Convention & Exposition, visit www.sgia.org.

Ms. Cris Saunders
Insta Graphic Systems
13925 E. 166th Street
Cerritos, CA 90702-7900
Phone (562) 404-3000 or (800) 421-6971
Fax (562) 404-3010
www.instagraph.com
PUT IT ON! ®

Insta selected as one of the top women owned businesses in California

Insta Graphic Systems is honored to have been selected as one of the Top 100 Women Owned Business in the State of California by Diversity Business. Insta's President, Janet Wells, was recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in the country.

Over 650,000 businesses in the United States were eligible to participate in this business survey. The awards are based on companies' business profiles and annual gross revenues, and serve as the basis of Diversity Business' annual Top Business List.

The Top Business List is the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the United States economy — America’s privately held companies. The list is also the most recognized and respected compilation of companies that truly differentiate themselves in the market place in a time when doing so has never been more important.

Insta Graphic Systems is also proud to be celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Insta manufactures custom heat transfers and heat press machines. Insta offers an array of custom heat transfers ranging from litho, flock, high density, foil, reflective, glitter transfers and more. Insta also offers a full range of heat press machines including its newest addition, the iPress®, created for the hobby, home, school and craft markets.

For more information on press releases, Insta Graphic Systems, or its cutting edge products, contact:

Ms. Cris Saunders
Insta Graphic Systems
13925 E. 166th Street
Cerritos, CA 90702-7900
Phone (562) 404-3000 or (800) 421-6971
Fax (562) 404-3010
www.instagraph.com
PUT IT ON! ®

Insta Unveils New iPress®
Compact and Easy-To-Use Design for Small Shops and Crafters

The iPress® is Insta's solution to providing customers an easy and affordable method of heat transfer application. The iPress® is the ultimate do-it-yourself machine and is the perfect tool for use in the hobby, home, school, craft and color copy markets.

The iPress® is equipped with a 13"x13" platen, detachable plug, analog temperature control and a pressure knob for precise pressure adjustment. Its ergonomic features provide optimal ease of use and its patented design allows the user to get the same consistent temperature and pressure as Insta's larger heat presses, all in a compact and lightweight frame.

The iPress®'s small frame and low price point make it a great tool for people looking to customize garments for themselves, or even build-a-business out of their own homes. All that's needed is color copy/inkjet paper or custom plastisol heat transfers and a garment! The platen size allows users to transfer anything from tagless labels to full chest graphics, numbers and letters.

Insta's iPress® is Ce, Cul, UL and Wee certified and comes with a lifetime warranty on the upper heating element, one year warranty on parts and 90-days on labor.

Insta Turns 50!!!

Insta Graphic Systems is proud to be celebrating its 50th birthday – marking half a century of dedication and service to the heat seal industry. Insta has grown tremendously since its inception in 1959, when its primary business was manufacturing heat transfer letters, numbers and custom designs for the local athletic industry. Today, Insta Graphic Systems is a “total solution provider” in the heat seal industry and major player in the global economy, providing over 120 countries with the highest quality heat press machinery and innovative custom heat transfers.

Over the years, Insta has received numerous accolades for its leadership and excellence in international business. In 1979 Insta was awarded the International Development Award by the imprinted sportswear industry, which recognized Insta’s pioneering efforts in international trade and the company’s contribution to increasing U.S. exports of imprinted sportswear. In 2000, Insta was the proud recipient of the U.S. President’s E-Award, an award presented to only a few outstanding export companies nationwide for excellence, expansion and effort in exports.

In addition to recognition for international business, Insta was recently awarded the WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) certification as a woman owned business. WBENC is “the nation’s leading third-party certifier of women’s business enterprises for the private sector” (www.wbenc.org). With today’s large corporations focused on supplier diversity, WBENC serves as a gateway connecting the minority sector of woman-owned businesses, such as Insta, with large organizations looking to fulfill their corporate supplier diversity objectives.

Insta is constantly looking ahead for new opportunities to implement the use of heat seal technology in areas outside the typical “T-Shirt” industry and has found great success in providing service to the medical, promotional/advertising, athletic, home care, fashion, uniform and color copy markets with its diverse product mix. Insta has recently partnered with companies, such as, Brother International, to bring Insta’s quality engineering into the digital arena and looks forward to expanding into this new frontier of printing.

As Insta looks back on its past 50 years, Janet Wells, President and CEO of Insta Graphic Systems, credits the company’s achievements and longevity to the fact that “…we have been very successful at adapting our company to changes that have occurred in the marketplace…What makes our company unique is the broad mix of products and services that we have available for our customers. That, coupled with our willingness to do whatever it takes to help our customers maintain success in their businesses, is what separates us from our competition”.

50 years of business is a true feat for any company – especially in an industry where trends are constantly changing. All this, while maintaining its reputation as an industry leader who provides quality products to a global customer base. We are grateful to our employees for all their hard work and to our customers for their unwavering loyalty and friendships. We look forward to another 50 years of continued leadership and service to our industry. Insta is not “over the hill” yet… not even close!

Please help us celebrate this momentous birthday at our booth at the ISS Long Beach show this upcoming January!

Promotional Revolution!

Iron-On heat transfers have emerged as a hot trend and proven to be an effective advertising tool, as well as, a great way to engage end users. With more and more competition flooding today’s marketplace, advertising and promotional campaigns have become increasingly important in differentiating brands/products from the sea of sameness. Iron-On heat transfers are a terrific way to promote your brand/product while allowing the end user the creativity in choosing what to apply or “Put It On”!

Insta’s Iron-On heat transfers can be applied with a traditional hand iron and customized to suit your artwork and your ideas. These transfers can be inserted into books, magazines, calendars, inside music CD jewel cases, video DVD cases, electronic games, attached to hangtags on garments, handed out as loose giveaways at events or sold as “Iron-On Heat Transfer Books” filled with various graphics for customers to tear out and iron on at their own convenience.

Insta’s Iron-On’s are offered in a variety of heat transfer products such as Litho Gloss, Litho Glitter, Flex Gloss and Litho Sublimation. Application instructions and diagrams can be printed on the back of the heat transfer or included on a separate slip sheet. It’s completely customizable!

Hot Off the Press! Insta’s New Superflex HP Hits the Market

In response to an ever-growing market demand for ways to increase production speed, Insta has developed just the product to meet those needs. Insta’s Superflex HP heat transfer boasts the same great durability of our regular Superflex, with the added benefits of low application temperature, short dwell time and hot peel capability.

Superflex HP offers superior clarity and opacity, can be printed with up to 6 colors and works on any garment color. Its low application temperature allows this product to be applied to a wide variety of fabrics without leaving heat marks or burning garments. Superflex HP is great choice for cotton, cotton blends, polyester, neoprene, most nylon, in addition to other synthetic fabrics – making this Insta’s most universal product yet!

Superflex HP’s short 4 second dwell time and hot peel capability make it a perfect candidate for high volume production and is well suited for logos, tagless labels, athletic numbers, front graphics, back graphics, as well as, branding logos for non-apparel related items.

Insta Receives WBENC Certification

December 2007 - Having been recognized as a woman owned and regulated business in the U.S., Insta Graphic Systems is awarded WBENC certification as of December 2007. Since 1959, Insta has remained a total solution provider in heat transfer technology. Insta designs, develops, manufactures and sells innovative custom heat transfers and quality heat transfer machines worldwide.

The WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) is “the nation’s leading third-party certifier of women’s business enterprises for the private sector. In partnership with women’s business organizations throughout the United States, WBENC provides access to a national standard of certification and provides information on certified women’s businesses to purchasing managers. WBENC certification is recognized and accepted by the majority of the major corporations across the U.S. (www.wbenc.org).

With today’s large corporations focused on supplier diversity, WBENC serves as a gateway connecting the minority sector of woman-owned businesses, such as Insta,with large organizations looking to fulfill their corporate supplier diversity objectives.

Insta and Thread & Trim

Summer 2007 - Insta is proud to announce the opening of a Central American office in Honduras through the formation of a strategic partnership with Central American trim contractor, Thread & Trim Suppliers. TTS offers trims to the Central American apparel markets, specifically to Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. They are experts in warehousing and distributing trims and aiding customers in creating Full Package Programs and CMT Contracts. Together with Thread & Trim, Insta looks forward to expanding into new markets by incorporating heat transfers and heat transfer machines into the "trims" mix for the Central American marketplace.

INSTA NOMINATED TRANSFER MACHINE SUPPLIER FOR BROTHER INTERNATIONAL

March 2006 - INSTA GRAPHIC SYSTEMS, the worldwide leader in heat transfer technology, is proud to announce it has been nominated an authorized heat press supplier for Brother International Corporation's GT-541 direct-to-print ink jet garment printer.

Insta® has set the standard for quality, engineering and workmanship in heat transfer machine technology, for close to 50 years. INSTA®, a total solution provider in the heat applied digital industry, manufactures over twelve different models of transfer machinery available in both manual and automatic versions.

PUT IT ON® WITH INSTA!