The Packaging & Label Gravure Association Print Awards

The PLGA Awards Salute Label Printing Excellence And Technical Advances

The Packaging & Label Gravure Association Print Awards program recognizes member printers and converters for outstanding achievement in gravure printing. Judges look primarily at the quality of the printing, paying particular attention to registration, color consistency and overall print quality. Consideration is also given to gravure processes and technical excellence.

The award-winners shown here are only a third of the packages recognized by PLGA this past spring. For a complete listing and images of current and past winners, go to http://www.plga.com/awards.html.

Best of Show

Great Outdoor Grill Mesquite Chunks

Manufacturer: American Packaging Corp.

Six-color reverse-printed film/film lamination. Product was previously produced in a multi-wall paper bag format that became easily worn and dirty during the shipping process. The judges commented that at first glance it was a larger-than-life pouch with illustrations that gave a flavor of barbecuing and made you feel that this pack would be at home in the great outdoors. Closer scrutiny confirms that the solids are very good, the halftones sharp and well defined and the type, although large, is very sharp. Overall a very good presentation that achieved the results expected by the customer.

Process Innovation

Hilfiger Cologne Spray

Manufacturer: Shorewood Packaging Corp.

Four colors plus varnish on front side and one color plus varnish on back printed on International Paper "Starcoat." The judges commented on the brilliant deep dark colors, exact register and finely defined lines. The crispness of type is outstanding and die cutting is dead on.

Pouches

Tyson Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast Strips

Manufacturer: Nordenia USA

Seven colors reverse printed on 48Ga Polyester and laminated with solvent-less adhesive. The pouch has a dynamic look to it. The fine type is very clear and legible, and the halftones are good especially in the shadow and highlight areas. The solid colors are well produced and the registration is very tight

Sleeves/Tubes - Reverse Printed

Nature's Noni Juice

Manufacturer: Gilbreth Packaging Systems

Seven colors printed on PETG, richness achieved with four-color process. The product exhibits clean, and crisp type. The vignette is nice and the gradations in the background are outstanding.

Heat Shrinkable - Less Than 12%

Foundation

Manufacturer: SleeveCo, Inc.

Seven colors in a combination of screen and process work printed on .05" SRHS PVC. The judges commented that the type is very clear and legible and vignettes are good. A good reproduction on a difficult material.

Heat Shrinkable - More Than 13%

Hellmann's Light Mayonnaise

Manufacturer: Fort Dearborn Company

Four process colors and five line colors reverse-printed on PVC shrink film. The sandwich and salad labels ran on the same cylinder and had to match proofs exactly. The type areas are clear and sharp, the solid areas are well produced and the vignettes are good.

In Mold Label - Paper

Prestone De-Icer

Manufacturer: NorthStar Print Group

Four colors plus two varnishes printed on 60# C2S paper. The judges commented that it was a busy label with much to look at. The half-tones and particular the vignettes are nicely done. There has been a good use of color and the type is clean and easy to read. There were plenty of opportunities for problems to creep in, but they were successful in avoiding them and produced an outstanding label.

In Mold Label - Film

Tree Top Apple Juice

Manufacturer: NorthStar Print Group

Six colors plus one varnish printed on 4-mil film. This looks like a delicate and well-produced label with subtle use of colors. Closer inspection confirmed this impression. The half-tones are well executed and the background shade is well printed and adds to the subtlety previously mentioned.

Paper

Pringles Lord of the Rings

Manufacturer: American Packaging Corp.

A six-color job that involved random ink jet numbering in register with the print and with thermo chromatic ink applied over the numbers. The judges commented that it was an interesting, well-produced label. The half-tone illustrations are atmospheric and look good. The type is profuse but well printed and legible, and many possibilities for misregister were averted.

Prime Label - Film

Colgate Suavitel

Manufacturer: Package Service Company

Seven colors plus UV printed on white BOPP. The robe and background were printed in a duotone format for global color matching. This is a well produced label with excellent halftones and vignettes. The flesh tones are very good and the type is clean and clear. The die cutting is well done and controlled.

Technical Achievement

Glade Magic Candles

Manufacturer: Fort Dearborn

A challenging job on shrink film printed with shrink film inks and Thermo-Chromic inks. Good register and clean images. After application, the sleeve maintains "full color" until the candle is lit. The border of color turns white revealing reverse-printed butterflies.