Hub Labels wins TLMI Printing Excellence award

Hub Labels, US-based converter of pressure-sensitive and linerless labels, has won first place in the category ‘Innovation: Single Application, Linerless and Sustainability’ at the TLMI Printing Excellence Awards for its Wonderland Wax Melt Lid label submission. 

The label was a result of a collaboration with Flexcon Global, a provider of coatings, film laminations, and functional technologies. The project was driven by Hub Labels’ goal to reduce plastic use while maintaining product freshness and functionality. Flexcon’s expertise in materials helped make this possible. 

Randy Renner, production manager, Hub Labels, said: ‘A customer approached us with the challenge of producing a resealable label to replace the plastic lid on a pack of wax melts. As the industry is moving towards reducing plastic usage, we were eager to take on this task. The label we created allows for easy removal and resealing, maintaining the product’s freshness with the added benefit of being eco-friendly.’ 

Regarding the label substrate used in the application, several requirements had to be met. 

Dan Riendeau, strategic business director, Flexcon, said: ‘This was an interesting application because the label was multi-functional. It didn’t just need to adhere to a package, it also served the purpose of keeping the wax melt scent fresh. We knew from previous experience that additives in the wax could interfere with the adhesive, so we needed a solution that balanced removability, resistance to the wax contents, and resealability to preserve the scent.’ 

Flexcon OptiFlex Reseal 21133 was the ideal solution for the application. After the substrate was selected, Hub Labels had to overcome one more challenge: fitting the labels to the unique packaging shape. 

‘The original die shape caused excessive liner removal, which made production inefficient,’ said Richard ‘Nink’ Myers, special projects and procurement lead, Hub Labels. ‘We collaborated with our die vendor to redesign the die with added tabs in the corners, significantly improving the process in subsequent runs.’ 

Beyond the technical execution, Hub Labels’ in-house graphics team contributed to the artwork design for the wax melts, showcasing the full range of its capabilities—from concept to finished product.