Packaging

WINNERS OF THE PRESTIGIOUS LABEL INDUSTRY GLOBAL AWARDS ANNOUNCED!

Monday 05. October 2009 - Last week at Labelexpo Europe, a large number of global suppliers, converters, trade associations and media gathered to celebrate and reward excellence in the label industry at The Label Industry Global Awards Gala Dinner.

This year proceedings were different, with companies being allowed to nominate themselves for the Label Industry Award for Continuous Innovation, Label Industry Award for New Innovation and the European Converter of the Year Award. The judging panel then met in Antalya at the FINAT congress in June to make the final decisions and also announce the winner of this year’s R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award winners for the following categories were:
The R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award. Sponsored by Avery Dennison
The Award recognises the values and vision of Stan Avery and his pioneering efforts in the label industry.
Winner: Michael Fairley
Michael Fairley has been writing and talking about labels for more than 30 years. As both the founder of Labels & Labeling and the Cowise International Publishing Group and a successful industry consultant, he has consistently been at the forefront of introducing the latest innovations in label materials, technology, markets and applications.
Nominees:
Jeffrey Arippol – (Novelprint)
Noel Mitchell – (UPM Raflatac)
Guido van der Schueren – (EskoArtwork)

Label Industry Award for Continuous Innovation. Sponsored by Labels & Labeling, NarroWebTech and Label & Narrow Web.
This award is for a long-established supplier or converter company within the label industry that has a long history of innovation and creativity.
Winner 2009: EskoArtwork
The judges selected EskoArtwork as their unanimous winner of this Award for “being dedicated to continuously advancing the science and technology of the label industry in both hardware and software for many years. The company is committed to continuing innovation and ensures the ongoing evolution of its software solutions by delivering an average of two software releases per year. Core competencies lie in digital flexo, color management, specific prepress software for labels and tags, workflow automation and digital printing workflow. EskoArtwork continues to bring innovation to its portfolio of offerings across a wide range of categories.”
Nominees:
Codimag
EskoArtwork
Flint Group Narrow Web

Label Industry Award for New Innovation. Sponsored by Labels & Labeling.
This award is for a converter company or supplier to the label industry which have introduced innovation in new products or services in the last few years.
Winner 2009: EFI Jetrion
The judging panel said: “At Labelexpo Americas 2006, EFI’s Jetrion 4000 UV Inkjet System has evolved into a full-color narrow web alternative to toner-based digital printers for label runs of up to 50,000 labels. It combines EFI’s core strengths of workflow, RIP technology, ink development and machine manufacturing to offer converters an affordable route into short run, variable data printing. With speeds of up to 30.5 meters (100 ft) /min at more than 1,000 dpi with grayscale technology, the Jetrion 4000 delivers full-color label and variable data printing up to 13.9cms (5.5 ins) wide. The system also features Jetrion’s advanced UV4000 ink set which provides exceptional durability and eliminates the need for costly over-laminates.”
Nominees:
Erhardt und Leimer
EFI Jetrion
Kodak

European Converter of the Year Award. Sponsored by Flint Group Narrow Web
Awarded to a European label converting company that has a long record of continuous innovation and has developed pan-European product sales in their chosen market, or have become global suppliers in specialist or niche areas of operation.
Winner 2009: Rako Group
The judging panel unanimously selected the Rako Group as the 2009 winner, commenting: “The Rako Group was founded in 1969 by Ralph Koopmann. With more than 90 printing machines and 1,000 employees, a turnover of approximately 178 million Euros was generated in 2008. Besides several locations in Germany, the Rako Group is expanding its international business with further production sites in Europe and Asia. This includes, most recently, a new production site in Hangzhou, China. Rako has been a technology pioneer in the labels sector. It was the first German label producer with Indigo digital offset-printing capacities in Europe and has pioneered internet connectivity to its customers for the transfer of electronic data and ordering. The company also runs a Security Label division which specializes in electronic theft-protection.”
Nominees:
Marzek Etiketten
Pago
Rako Group

The Green Award sponsored by Xeikon
Winner 2009: GEW
Products showcased in the Green Park area were judged on their green merits by a specially selected panel of industry experts within the labels and packaging industry. The winner was announced at the awards ceremony.
Helmut Schreiner, Label Industry Global Awards Judging Panel Chairman, commented “The quality of entries for the Awards continues at the highest level and makes an ongoing challenge for the judges. Each winner has made a significant contribution to the growth of the industry and I would like to congratulate them all on their awards.”
The Label Industry Global Awards take place at Labelexpo Europe and Labelexpo Americas. The next Awards will take place in Chicago in September 2010.