46th Annual TLMI Printing Excellence Awards
The 46th Annual TLMI Printing Excellence Awards celebrates outstanding printing and converting achievements in the North American label and packaging industry. The awards aim to create a visible connection between labels that are produced daily on press and award-winning submissions. The competition — which was revamped in 2023 — recognizes all print processes, including digital, flexography, gravure, offset, rotary screen, and multi-process.
Wellness, Pharmaceutical, & Nutraceutical
BEST OF SHOW; BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
McDowell Label, a Resource Label Group Co.
IsoPept Vanilla Ice Cream
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 on the logo identity, strokes of copy, icons, and the vanilla ice cream cone itself.
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Multi-Process (may include digital hybrid); LAMINATION — In-Line; DOMING/TACTILE — In-Line; VARNISHING/COATING — In-Line; DIECUTTING/STRIPPING — In-Line
PRESS — Gallus; PLATES — DuPont; CYLINDERS — RotoMetrics; ANILOX — Interflex; DIES — RotoMetrics; SUBSTRATE — UPM Raflatac; INKS — Siegwerk; COATING — ACTEGA
Wine & Spirits — All, including neck label
BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
AWT Labels & Packaging — Anaheim
SANTO 2023 MEZQUILA
Produced in a two-step process, this challenging artistic label was printed on a flexo press and later enhanced with embellishments. Tight registration is crucial for the label’s high-quality appearance, and the foil detail faithfully captures the artist’s vision.
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Flexography; FOILING — Off-Line; EMBOSSING — Off-Line; DOMING/TACTILE — Off-Line; VARNISHING/COATING — Off-Line; DIECUTTING/STRIPPING — In-Line & Off-Line
PRESS — Nilpeter; PLATES — Kodak; SCREENS — Full Service Graphics; CYLINDERS — Rossini; ANILOX — Harper; DIES — RotoMetrics; SUBSTRATE — Wausau Coated; INKS — Siegwerk; COATING —Siegwerk; MOUNTING TAPE — Tesa; OTHER SUPPLIERS — UEI (dies for foil/emboss), Kurz (Foil)
Beverages — Alcoholic
BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
Inland Packaging
Berkshire Lager
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Flexography; VARNISHING/COATING — In-Line
PRESS — Mark Andy; PLATES — Kodak; CYLINDERS — RotoMetrics; ANILOX — Apex International; SUBSTRATE — 45 Micron PETG; INKS — Siegwerk; COATING — Siegwerk; MOUNTING TAPE — 3M
Beverages — Nonalcoholic
BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
McDowell Label, a Resource Label Group Co.
Space Tea — Vitamin Shoppe
The line-art-heavy design demanded super-tight registration of eight colors, with white as the primary ink color. There are no rich colors to hide potential printing flaws. The sleeve is finished with a lightly textured, patterned matte varnish for enhanced consumer engagement.
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Flexography; VARNISHING/COATING — In-Line
PRESS — Gallus; PLATES — DuPont; CYLINDERS — MECA; ANILOX — Interflex; SUBSTRATE — Multi-Plastics; INKS — Siegwerk; COATING — ACTEGA
Food
BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
Inland Packaging
Stater Bros. Pumpkin Puree
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Offset; VARNISHING/COATING — In-Line
PRESS — Heidelberg; SUBSTRATE — Sappi; INKS — Sun Chemical; COATING — ICP
Household — UTC
BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
Brook + Whittle
Fireside by Bath & Body Works
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Flexography; FOILING — In-Line; DOMING/TACTILE — In-Line; VARNISHING/COATING — In-Line
PRESS — MPS; PLATES — Kodak; SCREENS — Gallus; CYLINDERS — Maxcess; ANILOX — Harper; DIES — Maxcess; SUBSTRATE — Avery Dennison; INKS — Siegwerk; COATING — Siegwerk; ADHESIVES — Siegwerk; MOUNTING TAPE — Tesa
Personal Care & Cosmetics
BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
McDowell Label, a Resource Label Group Co.
Winter Breeze
This holiday-themed hand soap label boasts vivid four-color process and an exceptionally smooth screen-toned vignette that sets off the graphics. All graphics and varnish are surface-printed on opaque shrink film to maintain consistent branding. None of the soap colors impact the graphic identity of any of the SKUs within this ever-growing product portfolio. The label also is an authentic representation of crisp dot technology and effective feathering of dots.
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Flexography; VARNISHING/COATING — In-Line
PRESS — MPS; PLATES — DuPont; CYLINDERS — MECA; ANILOX — Interflex; DIES — RotoMetrics; SUBSTRATE — Klockner; INKS — Siegwerk; COATING — ACTEGA
Industrial — Automotive
BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
Multi-Color Australia
Liebherr Remanufactured Component
The label employs clear substrate with a back slit that is laminated to white poly substrate printed using three ink colors.
After lamination, the narrow back slit area is removed and affixed on top of the label. The remaining glassine forms a removable flap for end-users to protect the information underneath.
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Flexography; LAMINATION — In-Line; DIECUTTING/STRIPPING — In-Line & Off-Line
PRESS — Gallus EM280; PLATES — DuPont Cyrel; CYLINDERS — Gallus; ANILOX — Sandon Global; DIES — RotoMetrics; SUBSTRATE — Spicers; INKS — DIC; COATING — Prismatic Inks; MOUNTING TAPE — Dominion Tapes
Promotional & Extended Content
BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
Hub Labels
Savage Bunny
Creating the Savage Bunny label posed challenges, notably integrating variable data seamlessly into the printed design. Meticulous iterations resulted in a label that marries artistry and innovation flawlessly.
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Digital; LAMINATION — Off-Line; DIECUTTING/STRIPPING — Off-Line
PRESS — HP Indigo 6K; DIES — Kocher+Beck; SUBSTRATE — UPM Raflatac; INKS — HP; COATING — NAZDAR
Innovation, Single Application, Linerless & Sustainability
BEST IN CLASS; FIRST PLACE
Hub Labels
Perdue
The converter faced hurdles in color matching and adhesive precision. They ensured Perdue’s signature hues and meticulously calibrated silicone and adhesive application.
PRINTING PROCESS — In-Line Flexography; VARNISHING/COATING — In-Line
PRESS — MPS; PLATES — DuPont Cyrel; SCREENS — Esko; CYLINDERS — RotoMetrics; ANILOX — Harper; SUBSTRATE — Innovia; INKS — NAZDAR; ADHESIVES — Bostik; MOUNTING TAPE — Tesa & Lohmann; OTHER SUPPLIERS — ETI Converting (linerless coater)
See the full list of awardees in the September/October 2023 issue of Packaging Impressions.
