33rd edition consolidates its position as the definitive European Label Competition  

The Hague, The Netherlands - FINAT, the worldwide association representing the interests of the self-adhesive labelling industry, announced the winners of its 33rd label awards competition at the award ceremony of its annual congress in Münich. With a slightly lower number, still 52 companies from 29 countries worldwide, including the Ukraine and Lebanon, submitted their entries amounting to a total of 245. The judging panel ‘regulars’ Murat Sipahioglu (Avery Dennison, Turkey), Steve Wood (UK) and chairman Tony White (UK) were joined by Rik Olthof (Cartils, international branding and packaging design consultants with offices in Amsterdam and London) and Ian Healey (Editorial Director, Dr. Harnisch Verlag, Germany).

Best in Show and Group Winners: 

The Best in Show and the Marketing/End-Uses Group winner awards went to Smyth/Dow Industries, USA for the Victoria’s Secret Sheer Love label. 

The great visual impact of this label was the feature, which grabbed the attention of the judges who unanimously chose this label as the best in show and an excellent ambassador for the cosmetic category. The label is a combination of screen and flexo printing using 9 colours and very sharp foiling especially in the gold type areas makes this label stand out. The deep black background contrasts with the pink and gold of the two roses. The metallised film base gives the label that extra “lift”. 

The Printing Processes Group winner was Rotakett AB, from Sweden for Astrakan Guld äppelcider halvtorr (Kiviks Musteri). The combination of three screen and five flexo inks gave the images on this label an almost 3D effect.

The Non-Adhesive Group was won by a newcomer Collotype Labels Chile for Sleeve Havana Club Añejo Reserva, a very bright, bold and breezy label printed by flexography on a PET substrate. 

The Innovation Group was shared between Stratus Packaging from France for Etiquette IXcode for banks and the Schreiner Group from Germany for Electric Conductive Films (ECF). 

Last year's change in rules whereby Wines and Cosmetics were judged within their own categories was continued with great success.  The wine category was responsible for 39 entries (16% of all entries) and cosmetics 54 (22%). This continues to encourage companies to enter in other categories with more chance of winning an award. Once again the food and alcoholic drinks categories were the second most popular in the marketing group with 18% of the total entries between them, whilst flexographic printing continued to be the most popular dedicated printing process. 

The number of Marketing Group entries continues to dominate the total number of entries (178) compared to the Printing Processes Group (46), a ratio of 4:1. 

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