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."