Flint Group Narrow Web has officially opened its 12th annual Narrow Web Print Awards competition with a call for entries. Label converters from around the globe are encouraged to submit sample labels of their choosing for evaluation by a panel of industry judges.

The award winners will be announced during a live event at the Flint Group booth at Labelexpo Americas in Rosemont, IL, USA, on Wednesday, September 14. Flint Group will unveil the names of those printers whose submissions exemplify excellence and entrepreneurship in the wide world of narrow web printing.

The Narrow Web industry is more than just labels – Flint Group challenges converters to “think outside the label” and to also submit their best prints in the Flexible Packaging and Shrink Sleeve segments. “We encourage printers to demonstrate the enriched and expanding pallet of applications that are possible using narrow web presses, utilizing any print method of their choice – water-based flexo, UV flexo, UV offset, or any combination thereof,” says Niklas Olsson, global brand manager. “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 in 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.”

“Through these print awards, we also want to pay tribute to the pioneering spirit we see in narrow web,” explains Kelly Kolliopoulos, global marketing director, 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 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.

“We are extremely pleased and honored 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,” says Mike Buystedt, vice president, Narrow Web North America. “As we celebrate our 12th anniversary, we are very proud, as an ink supplier, to host this friendly competition honoring 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. Entry Guidelines are as follows:
1. Each entry must be printed using inks from Flint Group.
2. Entries can be a commercial label, or a promotional label.
3. Entries can be sent in roll or sheet form with no less than 20 of each label – converters should specify if labels cannot be displayed on the Flint Group stand.
4. Entries should be received no later than August 19, 2016.
5. Entries should be submitted directly to Flint Group Packaging and Narrow Web.