THE winners of the Label Industry Global Awards 2023 have been announced during Labelexpo Europe in Brussels.
The awards recognise organisations and individuals who have excelled in the label and package printing sector.
This year, there were a total of seven awards: the Global Achievement Award, the New Global Team Achievement Award, the Innovation Award (for companies with up to 300 employees), the Innovation Award (for companies with more than 300 employees), the Rising Star Award, the Sustainability Award, and Converter of the Year.
The Team Achievement Award was introduced for the first time and was awarded to Mercian Labels and its partners Screen, CERM and ABG for their six-year ‘lights-out’ converting project.
Lintec Corporation triumphed in the Innovation Award category for companies with more than 300 employees. The firm was honoured for its new polyester-based adhesive, which assists in the clean separation of PET container waste.
The accolade for the Innovation Award for companies with up to 300 employees went to CARTES, who impressed judges with its fully automated end-to-end digital embellishment line, which integrates inkjet embellishment, digital metalisation and laser die cutting modules.
Tommy Schouten won the Rising Star Award after impressing judges with his drive and passion for process optimisation and continuous improvement.
The Sustainability Award went to UPM Raflatac for the company’s Ocean Action Label, made from ocean-bound plastic.
The Converter of the Year Award was won by Baker Labels. Judges were impressed with the culture of the company which encourages among its 112 staff a passion for continuous learning, inclusivity and an active participation in a range of charitable and local community initiatives.
The Global Achievement Award went to GEW founder Malcolm Rae. This award recognises an individual who has made a key contribution to the promotion and growth of the label industry and has been a high-profile industry influencer and motivator. The Label Awards judging panel commented, “Malcolm Rae is a worthy winner of the Global Achievement Award. This recognises his unique contribution, through GEW, the company he founded, to the narrow web industry’s transition to UV curing and to the subsequent technological development of the UV curing industry.”
Andy Thomas-Emans, chair of the judging panel, said, “We have been very impressed by the high quality of entries received for this year’s Label Industry Global Awards. I would like to thank everybody who submitted nominations and on behalf of the judging panel, I would like to congratulate all the winners and finalists. The full range of innovation, team energy and powerful sustainability initiatives shone through during the judging process.”
Jade Grace, MD, Labelexpo Global Series, added, “I would like to congratulate all of this year’s Label Industry Global Awards finalists and winners. I would also like to thank our sponsors – Gallus, Bobst, Durst, GEW, Flint Group and Labels & Labeling magazine – for their support in making these awards possible and supporting innovation in our industry.”
