Label Industry Global Awards winners announced

At Labelexpo Europe, industry leaders gathered to celebrate and reward excellence in the label sector at The Label Industry Global Awards Gala Dinner. This year, companies were 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 met in Antalya at the FINAT congress in June to make the decisions and also announce the winner of this year’s R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award winners were:

The R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award Sponsored by Avery Dennison

The award recognizes 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.

Other 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: 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 pre-press 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.’

Other nominees:

? Codimag

? 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 has introduced innovation in new products or services in recent years.

Winner: EFI Jetrion

The judging panel said: ‘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.’

Other nominees:

? Erhardt + Leimer

? 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: 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.’

Other nominees:

? Marzek Etiketten

? Pago

The Green Award Sponsored by Xeikon

Winner: 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.