The L9 World Label Association (WLA) announced the winners of the Best of the Best Awards, which were judged by an international panel of judges just before Labelexpo Americas 2024. Once the main WLA judging had been completed, the winning labels were judged again in the following main printing process classes: Flexography, Letterpress, Offset Litho, Combination Printing, and Digital Printing.
Here is a look at three of the winning labels – from Japan and China – in the respective classes in which they are honored, along with the company printing the label and the representative association that submitted the entry.
Flexographic Printing
Submitted by JFLP (Japan)
The winner: Takara Pac Ltd, Japan for Japanese Sake Label
This is a two-layer label in which the upper label is printed, diecut, laminated, then re-applied to the base layer, which is then diecut. This enables the upper label to be removed while leaving the base layer to remain as a product label. There was a complex and innovative use of the MPS EFA-10C press, as the operation takes place in one pass. Along with the technical points, the label is reproduced with customer appeal while incorporating a product security feature.
Letterpress Printing
Submitted by JFLP (Japan)
The winner: Kyushu Craft Industries, Japan for The Frozen Eel
The use of a silver metallic substrate creates a visual impact with which the vendor intends to attract buyers. It was particularly demanding of press operator skills to achieve accurate print reproduction and also extremely fine registration. This is particularly evident in the fine reversed out letter characters.
Offset-Litho Printing
Submitted by CPF (China)
The winner: Ningxia Sunrise Printing Co. Ltd., China, for Tong Ren Tang – President Brand Instant Bird’s Nest Bottle Label
The label’s central image of a Golden Swiftlet is printed in fourcolor process, using a particularly fine screen ruling but in excellent register. The image is further highlighted by the use of very accurate embossing emphasizing the feathers.
The debossed lines in the background of the label, together with the radially textured outer hot-foiled border, give this label the intended quality appearance.
AloJapan.com