Encore Envelopes has achieved a variety of significant accolades at this year’s Excellence in Flexography Awards in San Antonio, Texas. The Awards are organised by the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA).

The Tyne and Wear-based company was recognised for its excellent printing techniques and was awarded the ‘Best in Show’ for the envelope sector category. It also picked up a further three Gold and two Silver awards and one bronze for the individual categories within the sector.

This is the fifth year running that the company has been awarded ‘Best in Show’ in the envelope sector – taking its overall total to six awards.

Encore’s Managing Director Russell Croisdale attended the ceremony. He commented on winning the significant award: “This is a hugely proud moment for everyone at Encore Envelopes to be recognised for achieving such a high standard of print over so many years.”

He added: “To win another prestigious award is truly a team effort across all departments of the company.  All members of our staff work hard to achieve such high standards. Our aim every year is to keep pushing the bar higher with our specialist Lithoflex technology, which is now a major part of our business.”

Encore’s specialist Lithoflex machines have enabled the company to achieve an eye-catching but cost efficient way of producing envelopes, which are printed using four-colour process flexo in line before being made into an envelope. The quality is virtually indistinguishable to litho printed envelopes.

The Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) is the world’s leading professional society dedicated to the advancement of the flexographic printing industry. The FTA represents over 1,300 companies worldwide.

The Excellence in Flexography Awards is the largest and most highly respected awards competition in the flexographic industry. Judged by distinguished industry experts, it is an ideal platform for flexographic printers and envelope converters to compete and demonstrate their skills. Awards judge Mike Taylor was particularly impressed with Encore’s innovation in the envelope printing sector. He said: “The competition was tight this year. In year's past, you used to see elite converters stand alone, but not so much any more. The quality of work that is now being produced is incredible when you consider the instability of some the substrates in use.”

Encore Envelopes employ 240 people who print and manufacture over 60 million envelopes a week from its factory in Washington, Tyne and Wear. A staggering one in six envelopes delivered in the UK is produced by Encore.

Encore Envelopes are the largest independent manufacturer and printer of envelopes in the UK with a world-wide reputation for innovation in Flexographic printing.