Label
converters from around the world participated in the eighth annual Flint Group
Narrow Web Print Awards competition in September 2012. Entries were submitted from several
countries, including the United States, Italy, China, Argentina and
Brazil. Label submissions utilized a
wide range of technologies – UV flexo, water-based flexo, UV screen, special
effect inks, and coatings. And, new in
2012, a category dedicated to UV flexo low migration food packaging!
"The
Print Awards continue to be a fantastic tribute to our global customers who
demonstrate the most creative use of colour, design, and materials in narrow
web label printing," explains Niklas Olsson, Flint Group Narrow Web Global
Brand Manager.
He
continues, "Each year we receive anywhere from 60 to over 100 print
samples for judging; you can only imagine the excellence in print we see from
all around the world! Our team is
thrilled each year to see what printers are doing – how they continue to push the
boundaries of printing; how they use our inks to create their works of
art."
Awards
were presented in eight different categories in September 2012 – all print
submissions using inks, coatings and specialty products supplied by Flint Group
Narrow Web. The winners included:
- ACM S.r.l (Italy)
- Shanghai Komark Labels & Labelling (China)
- Smyth Companies LLC (U.S.A.)
- Autopack SA (Argentina)
- Labelcrafters (U.S.A.)
- Prakolar Rotulos Autoadhesivos (Brazil)
- Consolidated Label Company (U.S.A.)
Mike
Buystedt, VP Sales Narrow Web North America had this to say, "Judging the
label submissions is a great challenge, which is taken very seriously. Many times, we have to choose between several
outstanding print samples in the same category; we have to look to the most intricate
detail that sets one great print apart from another. In some of these cases, we give honourable
mention to designs that are a close second."
Criteria
for judging followed the guidelines that are standards set by the industry
associations FINAT and TLMI and included: registration, smoothness of
dot/vignette, overall print quality, and degree of difficulty. The judges also reviewed each label for
creative use of inks and colour – rewarding those prints that exhibit
extra-ordinary use of inks.
The
Narrow Web Print Awards will continue in 2013 at Labelexpo Brussels in
September. Narrow Web converters from
around the world are encouraged to submit printed samples and join this
friendly and professional competition of colourful use of inks, design, and print.
