Label Industry Global Awards winners announced

More than 750 suppliers, converters, trade associations and media came together at the second annual Label Industry Global Awards.  The worldwide label industry voted online for nominated individuals and companies to win the awards and a judging panel met in Italy in June to review the votes for each of the four awards, and decide the winners.

The R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award Sponsored by Avery Dennison
Winner:  Lars Eriksen, Nilpeter A/S      
Mr Eriksen is owner and President of the family-owned company, Nilpeter A/S, Denmark.  He has been Vice-Chairman of the Board since 1975, and additionally has several board functions in companies within the graphics industry, most recently becoming Chairman of Etipol A/S.
       
Nominees: Angelo Bartesaghi, Omet Srl 
Calvin Frost, Channeled Resources                      
Dr J.E.G (Mans) Lejeune, FINAT
Juhani Stromberg, UPM Raflatac

The Label Industry Award for Continuous Innovation Sponsored by Labels & Labeling, Label & Narrow Web, and NarroWebTech
This award is for a long-established supplier or converter company within the label industry.

Winner:  Gallus Ferd. Ruesch AG 
Since its foundation in 1923, Gallus Ferd. Rueesch AG has been a world leader and influencer in the narrow-web industry and has been instrumental in guiding the label industry from craftsmanship to industrial production. Key technology advances in which Gallus have been market leaders include rotary letterpress, rotary screen, combination process presses and servo drive technology.
The judging panel commented: There are very few global label industry suppliers that have reached the standards of quality products, innovative developments, pioneering solutions and reputation of that achieved by Gallus and certainly not over such a long period of time.’                  

Nominees: 
Nilpeter A/S                                         
Rotometrics 
Rotoflex          

The Label Industry Award for New Innovation Sponsored by Gidue and HP Indigo
This award is for new supplier or converter companies to the label industry.

Winner:  MPS Systems bv
Founded just nine years ago to develop innovative next generation UV flexo press technology, MPS Systems BV has rapidly become one of the world’s fastest growing press manufacturers in the fields of label and flexible package printing solutions. Success is based upon the MPS patented offset matching crisp dot quality printing system, plus gearless digital multi-drive technology offering extremely low wastage.
The judging panel felt that any company that can build a global reputation for innovation, quality and performance in such a relatively short period of time more than deserves to win this New Innovation Award.’

Nominees: ANI Printing Inks
AVT 
Esko-Graphics                                       
Gidue

European Converter Award for Continuous Innovation sponsored by Xsys
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:  Skanem
Originally founded in 1905 as the Stavanger Printers and Engineering Workshop, the company changed its name to Skanem in 1973.  It acquired SE Labels in 2002 and is now one of the largest producers of self-adhesive labels in Europe, with 10 factories and around 900 employees in five European countries. The group specialises in providing a total label solution for companies whose branded products are produced in countries across Western Europe and are currently looking to strengthen their presence in the Southern and Central European markets - as well as globally. Skanem has successfully achieved that level of continuous innovation that builds brand and customer loyalty across the European market, commented the judges.

Nominees: Pago AG
Arca Etichette
Denny Bros
Herma
Illochroma
Drorys Etichette
Schreiner Group

Mike Fairley, Chairman, Label Industry Global Awards Judging Panel, said, 'On behalf of all the Judges I would like to congratulate Lars Eriksen, Gallus, MPS and Skanem for winning this year's Label Industry Global Awards.  All the nominees were of an excellent standard and the public voting was very close. I would like to thank all the sponsors of the Awards and all those who worked so hard to put them together, and I look forward to the next Awards in 2006.'

The Judging Panel consisted of:
Chairman - Mike Fairley, Tarsus Group plc
Andy Thomas - Editor, Labels & Labeling
Jack Kenny - Editor, Label & Narrow Web
Wolfgang Klos-Geiger - Editor, NarroWebTech
Scott Pilsbury - President, TLMI
David Harrison - President, FINAT