Flint Group has announced the winners of its 10th Annual Narrow Web Print Awards, which were presented at an awards ceremony at Labelexpo Americas 2014 in Chicago, IL. The event also marked the 25th anniversary of Flint Group exhibiting at Labelexpo.

Participating countries included the United States, Canada, Brazil, Germany and Russia. Entries consisted of a large collection of technologies: UV screen, UV offset, UV flexo, water-based flexo, specialty inks and coatings.

In 2014, Flint Group introduced a special category for web packaging applications, which encouraged printers to exhibit the unique applications possible using narrow/mid web presses.

“The Print Awards continue to be a fantastic tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity our global customers demonstrate as they submit the most creative use of color, design and materials in narrow web label printing,” says Niklas Olsson, Flint Group Narrow Web global brand manager.

Awards were presented in 12 different categories – all print submissions using inks, coatings and specialty products supplied by Flint Group Narrow Web. In addition, several of the winners also used plates and plate material supplied by Flint Group Flexographic Products.

Winners include:

Prakolar Rotulos Auto Adhesivos S.A. – Brazil

AWT Labels & Packaging – USA

RR Donnelley – USA

Spectrol, Inc. – Canada

Palmas Printing – USA

Optikett – Germany

Smyth Companies LLC – USA

WS Packaging – USA

Perflex Label – Canada

Yerecic Label – USA

Consolidated Label – USA

Criteria for judging follow the guidelines that are standards set by the industry associations FINAT and TLMI. These included: registration, smoothness of dot/vignette, overall print quality, and degree of difficulty. 

“It is truly an honor to see the print quality submitted by our customers,” Olsson adds. “Each year we look forward to the judging; it is amazing to see the quality and stunning effects converters around the world create when using the inks we supply them. Quite a number of entries contained multiple print methods used in combination and thus creating very eye catching effects. It’s encouraging to see the sophistication and excellence in every detail in their printing – truly pushing the bar in cutting edge designs and application of inks.”

Flint Group will begin accepting submissions for the 11th annual Narrow Web Print Awards soon after the new year. They will be presented at Labelexpo Europe in Brussels, Belgium.