The L9 World Label Association (WLA) has announced the winners of the Best of the Best awards which were judged by an international panel of judges just before Labelexpo Chicago 2024. Once the main WLA judging had been completed the winning labels are judged again in the following main printing process classes: Flexography, Letterpress, Offset Litho, Combination Printing and Digital Printing.  

The plaques will be handed out during local awards ceremonies. 

The winning labels in the respective classes are listed along with the company printing the label and the representative association which submitted the label. 

Flexographic Printing 
Submitted by JFLP (Japan) 

The winner is: Takara Pac Ltd, Japan for Japanese sake Label 

This is a two layer label in which the upper label is printed, die-cut, laminated, then re-applied to the base layer, which is then die-cut. This enables the upper label to be removed while leaving the base layer to remain as a product label.  

A very complex and innovative use of the MPS EFA-10C press, as the complete operation takes place in one pass. Along with the technical points, the label is excellently reproduced with definite customer appeal whilst incorporating a product security feature. 

Letterpress Printing 
Submitted by JFLP (Japan) 

The winner is: Kyushu Craft Industries, Japan for The Frozen Eel 

The use of a silver metallic substrate creates a visual impact, with which the vendor intends to attract purchasers. It was particularly demanding of the operators skills to achieve accurate print reproduction, and also extremely fine registration. This is particularly evident in the fine reversed out letter characters. 

Offset-Litho Printing 
Submitted by CPF (China) 

The winner is: Ningxia Sunrise Printing Co. Ltd., China for  Tong Ren Tang — President Brand Instant Bird’s Nest Bottle Label 

The label central image of a Golden Swiftlet is printed in four colour process, using a particularly fine screen ruling, but in excellent register. The image is further highlighted by the use of very accurate embossing emphasising the feathers. 

The debossed lines in the background of the label, together with the radially textured outer hot-foiled border give this label the intended quality appearance. 

Combination Printing 
Submitted by TLMI (USA) 

The winner is: McDowell Label, a Resource Label Group Company, USA for Isopept Vanilla Ice Cream 

This striking label is printed onto a silver foil substrate, featuring an extremely even matt black background. Also printed with similarly even and dense white, onto which very fine black type characters and gold lacquer areas with reversed out fine text are printed. Finishing touches are both flat gloss and high build varnish, domed and tactile varnished with extreme accuracy, especially where positioned over the reversed out Braille dots. 

Digital Printing 
Submitted by CPF (China) 

The winner is Cymmetrik (Jiangsu) Printing Co., Ltd, China for P&G HR Shampoo Label 

Printed four colour process at 1200 dpi, the label has an almost photographic appearance. The background of the label has a slight tactile feel, as do the varnished areas and the sharply printed Chinese characters. A relatively simple but effective label.