Best of the Best Awards of L9 World Label Competition announced

The L9 World Label Association (WLA) has presented the Best of the Best awards winners, which were judged by an international panel just before Labelexpo Americas 2024.

Once the main WLA judging had been completed, the winning labels are judged again in the following main printing process classes: flexography, letterpress, offset litho, combination printing, and digital printing.

The plaques will be handed out during local awards ceremonies. The winning labels for the respective classes are listed below.

Flexographic printing

Submitted by JFLP (Japan)

The winner is: Takara Pac, Japan for Japanese sake label

This is a two-layer label in which the upper label is printed, die-cut, laminated and then re-applied to the base layer, which is also die-cut. This enables the upper label to be removed while leaving the base layer to remain as a product label. Judges appreciated a very complex and innovative use of the MPS EFA-10C press, as the complete operation takes place in one pass. Along with the technical points, the label is excellently reproduced with definite customer appeal whilst incorporating a product security feature.

Letterpress printing

Submitted by JFLP (Japan)

The winner is: Kyushu Craft Industries, Japan for The Frozen Eel

Judges noted the use of a silver metallic substrate, which creates a visual impact, with which the vendor intends to attract purchasers. It was particularly demanding of the operator’s skills to achieve accurate print reproduction and also extremely fine registration. This is particularly evident in the fine reversed out letter characters.

Offset-litho printing

Submitted by CPF (China)

The winner is: Ningxia Sunrise Printing, China for Tong Ren Tang President Brand Instant Bird's Nest Bottle Label

The label central image of a golden swiftlet is printed in a four-color process, using a particularly fine screen ruling but in excellent register. The image is further highlighted by very accurate embossing, emphasizing the feathers. The debossed lines in the label's background and the radially textured outer hot-foiled border, give this label the intended quality appearance.

Combination Printing

Submitted by TLMI (US)

The winner is: McDowell Label, a Resource Label Group Company, US for Isopept Vanilla Ice Cream

Judges appreciated this striking label, which is printed onto a silver foil substrate, featuring an extremely even matt black background. It is also printed with similarly even and dense white, onto which very fine black type characters and gold lacquer areas with reversed-out fine text are printed. Finishing touches are both flat gloss and high build varnish, domed and tactile varnished with extreme accuracy, especially where positioned over the reversed-out Braille dots.

Digital Printing

Submitted by CPF (China)

The winner is Cymmetrik (Jiangsu) Printing, China for P&G HR Shampoo Label

Printed four-color process at 1,200 DPI, the label has an almost photographic appearance. The background has a slight tactile feel, as do the varnished areas and the sharply printed Chinese characters. It is a relatively simple but effective label.