Wellington-based Gravure Packaging (GPL) has won a ‘label industry Oscar’ for the best gravure process label in 2017 at the World Label Awards (WLA).
A shrink sleeve produced by GPL for a 170g tub of yoghurt for Melbourne-based manufacturer Chobani was judged the winner of the Gravure Class in the prestigious WLA competition, which is colloquially known as the “technical Oscars of the global label industry.”
GPL managing director Greg Chapman says the WLA award is “great recognition” of the development work invested in improving the firm’s print quality as well as its capabilities to solve what were quite technical challenges in this particular job.
“We’ve worked with Chobani for a few years now, they have very precise standards and we love delivering great looking shrink sleeves for them.”
Chapman says the Melbourne-based yoghurt manufacturer is “very focused” on producing the highest quality product, which nicely aligns with GPL’s own culture.
In order to be considered for entry to the WLA competition, a printer’s label must first have won an award in its local association’s competition, with entries from individual printers are not accepted.
The Chobani shrink sleeve won two Gold Medals at the New Zealand Pride In Print Awards last year, including the Gravure Category. The New Zealand label association SALMA selected it as the sole submission it was permitted to make in the Gravure Class.
“Labels are submitted from around the world including Europe, the United States, Japan, India, China, Australia and New Zealand,” says Chapman. “The second-placed entry in our class was a Heineken label from the United Kingdom.
“We are aware the WLA’s panel of international judges spend a considerable time examining and debating the technical and aesthetic features of each label, including converting and finishing technology.”
Judging panel chair Tony White says: “Never will a label have been examined in such detail, even by a quality control department. We expect a high standard of printing at this level and we also look for the quality of the design of the label.”
During a recent visit to GPL’s Fitzherbert Street plant, MP for Hutt South Chris Bishop said he was impressed by the operation and to learn the firm is both an exporter as well as supplier to another accomplished local enterprise, in Whittaker’s Chocolates.
“Hearty congratulations to GPL -- a real Hutt success story,” says Bishop. “I’m proud to represent an area in Parliament with so many award-winning businesses, of which GPL is just the latest. Well done to the staff of this fantastic and world-class Petone company.”
New Zealand finished second-equal with the US, each with five WLA awards, behind Japan with eight.
Gravure Packaging Limited, established in 1984, is based in Petone, Wellington, New Zealand and produces gravure printed flexible packaging including shrink sleeves, confectionary, snack, laminates, rewinds and light industrial products. GPL has a sister company in Sydney - Australian Packaging.
The company has been a regular winner at New Zealand’s Pride In Print Awards, with multiple Supreme Award Finalist nominations, as well as earning 35 Gold Medals and 22 Highly Commended citations.