The Award for Innovation (for companies with up to 300 employees) went to GMG Color for its GMG ColorCard digital proofing system, which impressed judges with its ability to enable printers to achieve significant time and cost savings. Proofs are color accurate first time, with very tight delta tolerances, and substrate changes can be quickly recalculated and printed.
The Award for Innovation (for companies with more than 300 employees) went jointly to Lenze SE and Paper Machine Converting Company. Lenze SE was recognized for its use of data already available in a press servo drive to provide Smart Condition Monitoring instead of adding extra sensors. This innovation was regarded by the judges as a look to the future with its potential to transform how machines are built and maintained. Paper Machine Converting Company was recognized for its Meridian Elite laser ablation technology for anilox cleaning, developed completely in-house. The judges were impressed with how this innovation completely eliminates the possibility of hotspots, provides higher performance and reliability, and allows customers to have complete documentation of the cleaning process for the life cycle of their anilox.
Avery Dennison Brazil won the Environmental & Sustainability Award for its implementation of a Circular Program to connect converters, brand owners, recyclers and others, to direct waste that would have previously been discarded in landfills into the production of cellulose paper and paper towels. It was recognized by the judges as a blueprint for the future development of the industry.
The Rising Star Award, sponsored by the Label Academy and Avery Dennison, went to Elizabeth Yerecic. Since joining Yerecic Label full-time in 2017, she has already become a key figure in the company’s growth. She was quick to join the workforce development committee at TLMI and helped to co-chair two very successful sessions, 'Training for your Future' and 'Strategies for Hiring', at the 2019 printThink meeting. Elizabeth heads Yerecic’s Product Development Cross Functional Team, and successfully launched Yerecic Label's SustainLabel! line. A passionate environmentalist, Elizabeth also lobbied for Yerecic Label to join the Association of Plastics Recyclers and quickly became an active member.
The final award, the prestigious R. Stanton Avery Global Achievement Award, which was previously announced in early August, went to Federico D’Annunzio, BOBST Group. This award, sponsored by Avery Dennison, honors the contribution an influential individual has made which has positively impacted the growth of the international label industry. Having spent his entire career in this industry, D’Annunzio has been a passionate and innovative leader in digitizing the conventional label printing process so as to shorten set-up times and improve productivity.
Mike Fairley, chair of the judges, said: “I, on behalf of the judging panel, would like to commend and congratulate all this year’s Label Industry Global Awards finalists and winners. The stand-out brilliance in their innovation, leadership and sustainability, and dedication to improving their businesses, is a fantastic inspiration to the label and package printing industry.
“This year, more than ever, it is vital that their achievements and contribution to moving our global industry ever forwards are recognized, particularly in the absence of a live awards ceremony, as we weather these unprecedented COVID times.”
