Kennesaw, Ga. – The 46th Annual TLMI Printing Excellence Awards were given out in October at this year’s member meeting in Colorado Springs. The awards recognize outstanding printing and converting achievements in the North American label and packaging industry, and for the first time this year, categories were based on market segments with all printing methods represented within each segment. This change was made to create greater inclusivity and to better represent all segments of the industry. Along with 44 other awards, this year’s top award for “Best in Show” and five of the ten “Best in Class” awards were presented to labels produced using HEIDELBERG-Gallus technology – making the manufacturer the most decorated in the competition.

TLMI presented its highest honor this year for “Best in Show” to McDowell Label, a Resource Label Group Co., for its “IsoPept Vanilla Ice Cream” label. The label, which was also recognized as “Best in Class” for the Wellness, Pharmaceutical, & Nutraceutical category, was produced using multiple processes, completely inline on a Gallus press including flexographic printing, lamination, tactile doming, varnishing/coating, and die cutting. The judges’ commented on the winning label, saying, “The converter achieved a stunning, photorealistic reproduction of the classic vanilla ice cream cone with vibrant four-color printing. The label features clean reverse-outs from the metallic substrate; rich bold coverage of heavy black; pattern gloss varnish and soft touch; and a unique use of tactile doming.”

Gallus presses were also used to produce “Best in Class” labels for the Non-Alcoholic Beverage category (McDowell Label, “Space Tea — Vitamin Shoppe”) and the Industrial Automotive category (Multicolor Australia, “Liebherr Remanufactured Component”). Regarding the Space Tea label, the judges were impressed by the “super-tight registration of eight colors, with white as the primary ink color. There are no rich colors to hide potential printing flaws.”

For offset production, Inland Packaging was recognized with “Best in Class” in the Food category for its “Stater Bros. Pumpkin Puree” label, which was printed on a Speedmaster press from HEIDELBERG. Additionally, Brook & Whittle’s “Fireside by Bath & Body Works” was presented with “Best in Class” for the Household – UTC category and was produced using Gallus Screeny products.

“Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Printing Excellence Awards. We’re thrilled that you’ve been appreciated for your hard work and dedication to the industry. HEIDELBERG-Gallus strives to produce the highest quality equipment for our customers, so they can continue to produce the highest quality labels to the market,” said Dan Maurer, Vice President for Digital Product Management, HEIDELBERG USA.