Supreme award

Sponsored by Whitmar Publications

Pomfy Sekt by Litograf

(L-R) Lindsey Pearson, managing director, Whitmar Publications; Eduard Vidra, business manager, Litograf; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘This fabulous inkjet printed label shows many of the capabilities of digital print and digital finishing through the MGI digital embellishment unit. The judges were knocked out by the quality of print and finishing which looked even more stunning and effective on the bottle.’

Excellence with inkjet

Sponsored by Domino

Pumpkin Spice Detailing Spray by Limpet Labels

(L-R) Nathan Williams, operations manager, Limpet Labels; Steven Westwood, UK sales manager, Domino; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘The winner featured a bold, heavy design with clear reverse text and tactile and variable gloss levels, showcasing inkjet’s capability.’

Also nominated:

• GX 5w/30, All4Labels UK Leeds
• Njord Chemistry, Reel Apeal
• Kids Stuff Baby Range, The Label Makers

Excellence with toner

Sponsored by Xeikon

Speyside Whisky Easter Edition by The Label Makers

(L-R) Duncan Sargeant, UK and Ireland sales manager, Xeikon; Ben Robinson, sales director, Zenna Parfaniuk, managing director, both The Label Makers; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘A bright, bold design featuring heavy coverage of toner with detailed foiling, and great use of clean colour with very smooth vignettes.’

Also nominated:

• 750ml Gusbourne 2022 English Rosé, Amberley Labels
• Adrift, Label Apeel
• Shipyard Gin, NSD Labels

Excellence with hybrid printing

Sponsored by Fujifilm

Royal Ocean Racing Club by Label Apeel

(L-R) Will Hearn, national sales manager, Fujifilm; Helena Kellock, managing director designate, Sanda Rozite, account manager, both Label Apeel; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘The combination of flexo and toner printing in a striking design, with high-build varnish and crisp foiling, produce an impactful result that stands out.‘

Also nominated:

• Wild Sauerkirsch, Herzog Etiketten
• Constantinople EDP 100ml box and bottle labels, Label-form
• Bemuse – Wild Raspberry Rosé, Reflex Label Plus

Excellence in finishing and embellishment

Sponsored by A B Graphic International

Pomfy Sekt by Litograf

(L-R) Mark Hyde, sales manager, A B Graphic International; Eduard Vidra, business manager, Litograf; Geoff Miller.

The judges said: ‘An eye-catching design, with use of black-on-black and the combination of digital foil and varnish over the slashed label creating a winning look and feel.’

Also nominated:

• Cosmic by Grafiche Pradella
• Heppington Vineyard by Berkshire Labels
• Black Cocky by MCC Western Australia

Excellence in design

Sponsored by Close Brothers Asset Finance

Vodka White Label by MCC Sydney

(L-R) Nick Aust, sales director, Close Brothers Asset Finance; Robin Wilson, business development manager, MCC Label; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘Bold double-sided graphics with detailed foiling and varnishing, over a textured laminated label construction creates a striking look.‘

Also nominated:

• Yes! Definitely water bottle labels, First Impression Labels
• It’s 5 O’clock, QLM Australia
• Lady Triêu Gin, QLM Vietnam (Hoang Ha Label Co)

Environmental company of year

Sponsored by Screen

Springfield Solutions

(L-R) Carlo Sammarco, business development director, Screen Europe; Matt Dass, managing director, Dave Medcalf, enabling services manager, both Springfield Solutions; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘The care and commitment of this company in its goal to become a net-zero organisation should be applauded. The involvement of personnel throughout the business reinforces the holistic approach to lower the company’s environmental footprint.’

Also nominated:

• ePac UK (Silverstone)
• First Impression Labels

Application excellence – primary packaging

Sponsored by Gallus a Heidelberg Group Company

Nestlé Splash - KitKat by ProAmpac Grimsby

(L-R) Ross Holloway, label specialist, Heidelberg; Greg Harness, product control supervisor, Abigail Sawyer-Parker; packaging technologist, Jeremy Hodson, managing director – all ProAmpac Grimsby; Greg Bland, digital and social media, and Stefan Casey, global design to deliver manager, marketing and consumer communication – global design, both Nestlé; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘The winning campaign featured a variable design and numbering of over 100,000 unique packs for multiple SKUs, with the use of software to vary the design and text showing great creativity.’

Also nominated:

• Paddocks Farm Pouch, CS Labels
• Soft touch foil embellished pouch with window, SunDance
• Tinderbox, QLM Australia

Application excellence – secondary packaging

Sponsored by Inca an Agfa Company

Absolut LEB outer cases by Cepac

(L-R) Matt Brooks, global business director, packaging, Agfa; Chris Ford, group sales and marketing director, Martyn Kidner, sales manager (Doncaster), both Cepac; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘The standout impact of the bright colours and high-gloss finish make this entry a worthy winner.’

Also nominated:

• Small Pet Select Hay Sampler, Independent II
• Vietnamese Phin Filter boxes, QLM Vietnam (Hoang Ha Label Co)

Analogue-to-digital

Sponsored by Dantex Group

Jeptha Creed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey by Independent II

(L-R) Richard Bunney, managing director, Dantex Group; Steven Westwood, on behalf of Independent II; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘Changing from flexo to inkjet in a challenging heavily inked design, opening detail in the logo while eliminating noticeable fluting marks scored highly with the judges.‘

Also nominated:

• Vanguardist Cotton Wrap, MCC Australia
• Xmen Legend, QLM Vietnam (Hoang Ha Label Co)

Innovation

Sponsored by Offset & Print Management

Automation and lights out conversion by Mercian Labels

(L-R) Rachael Swinyard, advertising manager, Digital Labels & Packaging; Dr Adrian Steele, managing director, Richard Jones, operations excellence manager, both Mercian Labels; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘The efficiency of the manufacturing process swayed the judges, with the way hurdles were removed in printing and finishing no doubt to be copied widely in the future.’

Also nominated:

• Cotton Twill Substrate Alternative, MCC Australia
•  SunDance Vase, SunDance
• Jason Kong Gin, QLM Vietnam (Hoang Ha Label Co)

Variable data

Sponsored by eProductivity Software

Yes! Definitely water bottle labels by First Impression Labels

(L-R) Milo Ferchow, product marketing manager, eProductivity Software; Tracy Ruggier, marketing, Yes! Definitely; Asheen Sharatkumar, repro manager technical, First Impression Labels; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘Great use of digital printing for a constantly refreshing design, showing the flexibility of digital printing and its capability – from fine detail to heavy black – with monthly updates making great use of variable data and design.’

Also nominated:

• Hobsons 30th Birthday Dirty Gertie IPA Bingo Label, Mercian Labels
• Echlinville Distillery – Dunvilles 1808, Reflex Label Pluls
• Decorrum Spiced Rum, The Label Makers

Future star

Sponsored by Infigo

Tom Gould by Hine Labels

(L-R) Paul Bromley, head of global sales, Infigo; Anita Hine, managing director, Tom Gould, print finishing operative, both Hine Labels; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘The winning candidate’s development and progress over their time at the company has encompassed various different parts of manufacturing and production, demonstrating commitment to personal development and continuous improvement.’

Also nominated:

• Tom and Harry Baker, Baker Labels/BakPac
•  Georgia Francis, Harkwell
• Ovidiu Gherhel, ePac UK (Silverstone)
• Helena Kellock, Label Apeel

Best new company

Sponsored by Cerm

2K Polymer Systems

(L-R) Andreas Hatzelmann, business development manager, DACH region, Cerm; Michael O’Neill, production manager, Nimesh Patel, director, both 2K Polymer Systems; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘Impressed that an organisation deeply rooted in a different industry has chosen to set-up a dedicated digital printing division, with strong results achieved in less than a year – 6.6 million labels produced.’

Also nominated:

• Lothian Labels
• Rusken Digital
• Sirane

Self-promotional print

Sponsored by Bobst

London Packaging Week Choc Box giveaway by Delga Press

(L-R) Steve Lakin, area sales manager – labels, UK and Ireland, Bobst; Clair Melville-Brown, marketing and communications officer, Luke Lowe, CRM and digital marketing manager, Oliver Kleinman, head of marketing – all The Meliora Group; Geoff Miller

The judges said: ‘After a heated debate, an extremely close decision was swayed by the effective use of digital finishing, coupled with customisation and an engaging campaign utilising the power of digital for short-run customisation.’

Also nominated:

• Trade label and trade pouch sample packs, Baker Labels/BakPac
• Christmas gingerbread house, BoxMart
• Sample confectionery label, Hine Labels