Flint Group Narrow Web has officially opened the 12th annual Narrow Web Print Awards competition with a “Call For Entries”. Label converters from around the globe may submit sample labels of their choosing for the awards.
Flint Group will announce the winners live at its Labelexpo Americas stand on September 14, 2016 (stand 840).
The Narrow Web industry is more than just labels. For the coveted awards, converters are put to challenge of ‘thinking outside the label’ and submit their best prints in the Flexible Packaging and Shrink Sleeve segments.
Niklas Olsson, Global Brand Manager, comments, “We encourage printers to demonstrate the enriched and expanding pallet of applications that are possible using narrow web presses, utilising any print method of their choice – water-based flexo, UV flexo, UV offset, or a combination thereof.”
Mr. Olsson continues, “Over the past two years we have seen an increased amount of print submissions coming from other market segments – it’s encouraging to see narrow web grow in pressure sensitive label, but even more so into various segments of the flexible packaging market and shrink sleeves. We are glad to see narrow web printers around the world pushing past the traditional boundaries.”
Kelly Kolliopoulos, Global Marketing Director Narrow Web, states, “Through these print awards, we also want to pay tribute to the pioneering spirit we see in narrow web. In 2016, we will have a special award dedicated to LED UV printing. For this special competition, we ask pioneers of the industry to come forward and provide examples of LED UV print. As this technology expands, the market is seeing true benefits and outstanding print results – and the market is growing! We would like to bring special attention to printers who have taken this first step, with LED UV, into the future.”
Flint Group has received hundreds of submissions since the first competition in 2005; presenting this prestigious award to more than 75 companies globally. In 2015, Flint Group presented awards in 13 different categories at Labelexpo Europe – all submissions using inks, coatings, and specialty products that were supplied by Flint Group Narrow Web.
Commenting on the awards, Mr. Mike Buystedt, Vice President Narrow Web North America, said, “We are extremely pleased and honoured to receive so many print sample submissions year after year; this proves that the Narrow Web Print Awards is held in serious and respected regard by our customers around the world. As we celebrate our 12th anniversary, we are very proud, as an ink supplier, to host this friendly competition honouring our clients’ creative and outstanding work.”
Criteria for judging includes: registration, smoothness of dot/vignette, overall print quality, and degree of difficulty. Entries will be placed in categories relating to technology and application.
Each entry must be printed using inks from Flint Group and can be a commercial label, or a promotional label. They can be sent in roll or sheet form with no less than 20 of each label. Entries should be submitted directly to Flint Group Packaging and Narrow Web by August 19, 2016.
