Kodak launches Global Flexo Innovation Awards to mark 10 years of Flexcel NX

The Flexcel NX system was introduced in 2008, with continued adoption of Flexcel NX plates worldwide sad by Kodak to, ‘underscore the industry’s demand for higher quality packaging with more cost effective and efficient production processes.’

Many Kodak customers are reported to be leveraging the unique capabilities of Flexcel NX plates to drive growth through the conversion of gravure and offset work to flexo printing. This is delivering quality, cost and time-to-market benefits to their brand clients.

The Kodak Global Flexo Innovation Awards will honor packaging that produces outstanding quality and convinces with innovation excellence in at least two of the following categories:

• Use of creative graphic design;
• Conversion from other print processes;
• Print production workflow efficiency; and
• Commitment to sustainable print.

The competition invites entries from pre-press providers, printers or brands from all over the world. It is open to any commercial packaging project printed with Kodak Flexcel NX plates.

An independent panel of judges comprised of experts representing players in the flexo and packaging value chain will assess the entries submitted. Chaired by flexo expert Pier Luigi Sassanelli, the panel will also include: Philippe Roulet, former head of packaging material and training at Nestlé; Sebastian Longo, managing director at Fotograbados Longo S.A. Argentina; Bernhard Stradner, director of sales at Allstein; Chris Horton, former senior vice president at SGS; Ken McGuire, research fellow at Procter & Gamble; and Jean-Paul Duquet, director of sustainability, Flexible Packaging Europe. 

Chris Payne, president of flexographic division and vice president at Kodak. Commented: ‘The Global Flexo Innovation Awards are designed to honor companies who, through their commitment to excellence using Flexcel NX plates, have played a significant part in the spectacular rise of flexographic printing over the last 10 years.

‘At the same time, the awards are a celebration of the journey we are on; they clearly demonstrate the Flexcel NX technology’s potential to help users gaining additional business opportunities by further improving efficiency, quality and sustainability to continue to fuel the industry transformation and raise the flexo standards.’

For full details on how to enter and a link to the entry form, visit www.transformationalflexo.com. Closing date for entries is October 16, 2018. Awards winners will be presented to the winners in early 2019 at an exclusive gala hosted by Kodak and attended by key influencers from the international flexo community.