Omet, Roland DG, Paragon Label, and Terry Fulwiler were the recipients of Label Industry Global Awards this year, presented during a festive gathering aboard a cruise boat in Lake Michigan during Labelexpo Americas.

The Label Industry Award for Continuous Innovation was presented to Omet, the Italian press manufacturer, for “demonstrating a long-term commitment to producing innovative print technology for the label industry since 1963.” According to the award judges, “Omet’s Varyflex flexo printing press was the first to employ sleeve technology in the narrow web market. The Varyflex press was also one of the first presses to utilize gearless technology, a forerunner to present day servo technology. In 2004 OMET pioneered its first combination print platform equipped with flexo, rotogravure, screen, and holographic capability all in one pass. Omet leads the label industry with the continuous manufacture of innovative multi-process, multi-substrate combination printing presses.”

Nominees for the award included Collano, Tailored Solutions and Xeikon.

Roland DG received the Label Industry Award for New Innovation. “Roland DG Corporation is the winner of the award for its development and introduction of the VersaUV inkjet printer. The company has demonstrated itself worthy of the award as a result of the innovative and revolutionary utilization of LED UV lamp curing technology. Mounted and staggered in a unique configuration, the LED lamps provide and enable the creation of a wide variety of ‘layered’ UV coatings, special effects, custom finishes and textures, and a variety of gloss levels. It is the perfect choice for short-run highly customized label or prototype requirements across a very wide range of substrates. Roland’s VersaUV curing innovation also substantially reduces energy requirements and is Energy Star certified.”

Other nominees were Cerm, Gallus and Primera Technology.

The Converter Award for Sustainability/Environmental Responsibility this year went to Paragon Label, a division of Mrs. Grossman. “Paragon Label – Mrs. Grossman has demonstrated a long-term ongoing commitment to sustainability and the environment for more than a decade. Paragon Label takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability, including energy conservation, waste recycling, purchase practices focused towards Forest Stewardship Council certified suppliers, waste water treatment, building construction, and the use of solvent-free, 100 percent non-toxic inks. In summary, Paragon Label is the ultimate example of ‘green’ not only as a way of doing business, but as a way of life.”

Nominees included Spear, Specialty Printing, and Vintage 99 Label Manufacturing.