Wide Format Imaging

Jerry Cooper, owner of TPM in Greenville, SC, was greeted by cameras and cheers on May 12 as 3M announced that his company had won the 3M Graphics Market Center's "Wrap a Rough Wall to Win" Contest. Cooper was presented with a gift card for $10,000 for a home theater system.

TPM's winning design, which was created by The Bounce Agency of Greenville to promote the Greenville Literacy Association (GLA), a non-profit, community-based adult literacy program, was applied to a fountain surround in downtown Greenville. The unique and unexpected graphics helped draw attention and build awareness for the association's annual book fair. GLA is the largest community-based adult literacy program in South Carolina and one of the most highly developed in the nation. 3M also awarded GLA a gift card worth $2,000.

To win the 3M contest, graphics manufacturers were invited to submit their best rough wall wraps for consideration. From a pool of hundreds of entries, the field was narrowed to 25 finalists and the winning wrap was then selected by a panel of qualified judges from the Society for Environmental Graphics Design and the Small Business Administration.

To be considered for the contest, a wrap must have incorporated on or both of these 3M products:

• 3M Scotchcal Graphic Film for Textured Surfaces IJ8624

• 3M Scotchcal Luster Overlaminate 8524

According to TPM Color Lab Division manager, Rick Cothran, "We have an established relationship of trust with 3M. 3M's product durability, warranty and technical service have been a tremendous asset. The reliable performance of 3M's products gives us flexibility for out-of-the-box applications like the GLA project."