Hybrid Software wins two Pinnacle Awards for Mako Core with Apex and PACKZ Max

Hybrid Software has received two 2026 Pinnacle Awards for Technology from PRINTING United Alliance for its Mako Core with Apex and PACKZ Max solutions, highlighting advancements in print workflow performance and integration.

The awards recognize two industry-first innovations: a fully GPU-native renderer and a PDF editor with an integrated raster image processor (RIP). The Pinnacle Awards honor technologies that deliver measurable improvements in functionality and production efficiency across the printing industry.

Mako Core with Apex, developed by Hybrid Software Helix, is the first software development kit to execute the entire rendering pipeline on the GPU rather than using it solely for selective acceleration. This approach delivers rendering speeds up to 30 times faster than traditional CPU-based systems while enabling post-processing tasks such as halftone screening to be performed directly on the graphics processor.

PACKZ Max, part of Hybrid Software’s labels and packaging portfolio, introduces a unified prepress environment by combining PDF editing with the Harlequin RIP® in a single application. This integration allows operators to edit, preview, screen, and output files within one workflow, providing a more accurate representation of how jobs will image before plate production.

“These awards highlight innovation across Hybrid Software,” says Mike Rottenborn, CEO of Hybrid Software. “Mako Core with Apex and PACKZ Max demonstrate how we continue to challenge established approaches to print production.”

The recognition reflects broader industry movement toward faster, more integrated workflows, as converters and prepress teams seek to reduce processing time, improve accuracy, and manage increasingly complex print jobs, including high-resolution and variable-data applications.