The Hague, The Netherlands – FINAT, the international association for self-adhesive label industry, takes pride in announcing that FINAT, as every other year, is one of the leading associations with regard to winning World Label Awards. With 27 categories to choose from and with the diverse range of applications available, it is easier to match the FINAT entries to the World Label Award categories. Hence FINAT normally enters more categories than any other association. FINAT consistently wins several categories mostly in the wine/spirits and cosmetic end use segments. From this year's FINAT 2010 award winners, seven became a World Label Award winner, including Dow Industries, Skanem Hobro, Marzek Etiketten, Tapp Technologies, Skanem Newcastle, Schreiner Group and Royston Labels. Six others have received honourable mention awards. Marzek Etiketten from Austria was the most awarded label producer.
 
Judging the Best Labels
The judging for the World Label Awards was held last September, before the opening of the LabelExpo USA. The entries came from label associations across the globe. In addition to FINAT (Europe), entrees represented contributions from TLMI (USA), JFLP (Japan), LATMA (Australia) and SALMA. The judging process is fairly rigorous with each of the L8 associations nominating a representative judge under the chairmanship of Tony White. Each entry is scrutinised very carefully for printing excellence, design suitability and degree of difficulty by all the judges. It is precisely these criteria which FINAT meets at every judging session in their domestic competition which gives them the edge. The use of colours, the fineness of print and the technologies used to achieve the results are the main reasons why FINAT wins so many awards. The other fact is that due to the diversity of end user markets for which FINAT members provide services means that only the best of the best are selected for the WLA competition.
 
Matured label industry delivers excellent quality
Gradually over the years, since the WLA competition began in 1991, the quality of the labels has increased considerably along with the increased complexity of the different techniques or procedures used to create the finished article. "A recent glance back into the archives proved that if the winners from the early 90's were to be submitted today they would not even get past the first selection process even in the FINAT domestic competition, says Tony White. "This is how far the label industry has progressed in the past few years."
 
Winning Awards Categories and Winners
Flexo Line: Dow Industries, USA for IZOD Body Spray.
Silk Screen Line/Screen: Skanem Hobro, Denmark for co-op Sensibel Sun Spray
Offset line: Marzek Etiketten, Austria for Vinidi wine
Offset Wine/Spirits: Tapp Technologies, Canada for Sbragia 2007 Home     Ranch Merlot
Non-pressure sensitive: Skanem, Newcastle, UK, for Ocean Pure Hot & Spicy King Prawns
Innovation: Schreiner Group, Germany for Needle trap
Booklets: Royston Labels, UK for Charles Worthington Front
 
Honourable Mentions Categories and Winners
Letterpress Colour Process: Marzek Etiketten, Austria for Carpe Diem
Silk Screen Line: schäfer-etiketten, Germany for Intra Cosmetic Silkmed Hand Sanitizer
Flexo Wine/Spirits: Spear Europe, UK for Cruzcampo Gran Reserva
Flexo Cosmetics: Pragati Flexo, India for Lakmé Skin Perfect Moisturiser 60ml
Letterpress Cosmetics: Kuresa, Peru for Antigua Bottega
Multi-Process Line: Marzek Etiketten for Brut Polz Rosé.
 
FINAT is delighted that so many of its members / award winners made it to the World Label Awards. "I believe that it is the competitive environment between the different countries and the high demands of their customers throughout Europe which spurs the printers on to raise their sights with regard to good printing practices," says Andrea Vimercati, President of FINAT. "We most definitely will highlight the FINAT World Label Award winners during our next FINAT congress which is being held in Sicily in June 2011."