Finat honors Label Awards winners

Finat, the worldwide association representing the interests of the self-adhesive labeling industry, has announced the winners of its latest label awards competition. This, the 31^st Finat label competition, received a record number of entries. It was also reported that entries were of higher quality than average, making selecting winners 'very difficult' and resulting in many more Highly Commended awards.

Best in Show

The Best in Show and the Marketing End Users Group Winner awards went to Collotype Labels USA, for its Kenwood Artist Series label.

The judges were impressed by the technical excellence of the label, using the offset litho process along with delicate foiling, as well as its artistic appearance. ‘This label was technically excellent with an almost ethereal look replicating the skin tones of the subject with great delicacy,’ said Tony White, chairman of the judges. ‘It has an old fashioned appearance evoking the early days of theatre. The dramatic look of the label is enough to grab the consumer’s attention on the shelf.’ 

Special Jury Award

The unusual design and die-cut shape of the Hirschmugl label, printed by The Marzek Group, Austria, was awarded a special ‘Jury Award’. When applied to a bottle, the label gives the appearance of a coiled snake with its head and tail prominent. ‘The combination of the unusual diecut shape and the glitter pigmented ink stopped us in our tracks,’ commented Tony White. 

More than 200 entries were received this year for the Marketing and End-Users Group. 

The Printing Processes Group winner was Pago International, Switzerland, for Just Malve – Mauve Bath, a delicate label printed by UV letterpress.

The Non-Adhesive Group was won by Stratus Packaging from France for a flexo sleeve for ’Soupe à l’oignon’. There were more entries for the sleeve category than in previous years. 

A device for holding important rescue data for cars was seen not only as a new application but also as an important contribution for shortening the time for rescuing people trapped in a vehicle accident, possibly a life saving contribution. Said to be simple but effective, this ’Safety Bag’ holds all the rescue data sheets for the type of car being driven. Printed by the Schreiner Group from Germany, this shows how the label can impact on emergency situations. 

Record number of entries

‘We received just over 360 entries from 50 companies worldwide,’ said Tony White, ‘an eleven percent increase over last year’s record numbers’. The judging panel included well known industry experts from Turkey, (Murat Sipahioglu), Switzerland (Ferdinand Rüesch), Italy (Emilio Gerboni) and a packaging design expert from The Netherlands (Lianne van den Berg).                                                     

Many of the winners from this year’s competition will be entered in the World Label Awards competition which will take place just before Labelexpo Europe in September. 

From the previous year’s Finat winners, seven received a World Label award including the Schreiner Group, Royston Labels, Skanem Newcastle, Tapp Technologies, Marzek Etiketten, Dow Industries and Skanem Hobro. 

The winners of the 2011 Finat label competition

Best in Show: Collotype Labels, USA for Kenwood Artist Series 

Special Jury Award: Marzek Etketten, Austria, for Hirschmugl 

A. Marketing and End-Users Group:

Alcoholic drinks: Joint winners: Collotype Labels, USA, for Kenwood Artist Series and Skanem Introl SA for Zubrówka 1L Czysta Wódka

Food products: Wintek Flexo Prints, India, for Bon Gold Coffee

Household products: Skanem Skurup AB, Sweden, for Sun

Industrial products: Skanem Hobro A/S, Denmark, for Kosangas

Cosmetics: Etisan Etiket, Turkey, for Cortex Herbal Therapy Shampoo

Pharmaceutical: Universal Print Systems, India, for Himalaya Eyecare

Security: Securikett Ulrich & Horn GmbH, Austria, for TÜV Car Plate

Booklets: Skanem Introl SA, Poland, for Oriflame Booklet

Promotional coupons: Schreiner Group, Germany, for consumer label with detachable parts

Self promotional: IPE, Spain for IPE Optical Pigments

Sets of labels: Joint winners: Kolibri Labels B.V., The Netherlands, for Brouwerij ‘t IJ; Stratus Packaging, France, for Delpeyrat magret de canard and CheMes M Szperlinski, Poland for Dr Marcus Titanium 

The Marketing and End-Users Group Winner: Collotype USA for Kenwood Artist Series  

B. Printing Processes Group:

Flexography: Wintek Flexo Prints, India, for Himalaya Herbals Revitalising Night Cream

Rotary Letterpress: Pago International, Switzerland, for just Malve-Mauve Bath

Screen Printing (Silk): schäfer-etiketten GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, for Trinity Créasoin

Reel fed Offset Litho: Tapp Technologies Inc., Canada, for Sea Smoke One Barrel Pinot Noir 2008

Digital Printing: Flexiket A/S, Denmark, for ASDA Bed Cabinet

Combination Printing: Kimbells Pack Inc., Philippines, for Arengga Coffee Alamid           

The Printing Processes Group Winner: Pago International AG, Switzerland, for Just Malve-Mauve Bath 

C. Non-Adhesive Applications

Cartons: Kimbels Pack Inc, Philippines, for Omega Pain Relieving liniment metallised box

Sleeves: Stratus Packaging, France, for Manchon Saveurs en or soupe à l’oignon 

The Non-Adhesive Applications Group Winner: Stratus Packaging, France, for Manchon Saveurs en or soupe à l’oignon 

D. Innovation

Schreiner Group GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, for Safety Bag

The above is also the Group Winner. 

Pictured: Best in show, Kenwood Artist Series label 

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