Global Label Awards | 99SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON UPCOMINGGLOBAL LABEL AWARDSThe Global Achievement Award and Label Award shortlist is announced and will be honored at Lablexpo Europe 2023. Charlie Edward reportshe 2023 Global Label Awards are set to return to Labelexpo Europe 2023 with the winner of the prestigious Global Achievement Award and the shortlist for industry awards Tannounced. The awards take place at a gala event on 11 September, the frst night of Labelexpo Europe 2023.The Global Achievement Award is given to Malcolm Rae, who is being recognized as making a key contribution to the label industry, and who is considered a high-profle industry infuencer and motivator.As the founder of GEW, Rae has been instrumental in transforming the label printing landscape, shifting it from a primarily water-based medium to a majority UV ink-based one. His contributions have thus shaped the narrow web industry’s GEW founder Malcolm Rae announced the winner transition to UV curing, an innovation that has fundamentally of the label industry’s most prestigious awardchanged the way labels are produced.Rae’s career, spanning over 35 years, has been characterized by “It has been a fantastic experience groundbreaking invention and innovation. He holds 21 international patents for key products, including the ubiquitous E2C, a staple in during our judging session to see the label industry that is installed on 30,000 label print stations worldwide. More recently, Rae has been instrumental in directing the full range of innovation, team GEW toward UV-LED curing. He spearheaded the development of exchangeable lamps with arc UV lamps, thereby providing energy and powerful sustainability converters an easier pathway to transition to UV-LED technology.Rae’s vast knowledge, vision and expertise in UV curing have initiatives driving this vibrant earned him global recognition. His leadership at GEW and his industry forward”contributions to the label industry have been lauded with several awards, including the prestigious Queen’s Award for Export.the global labels industry. In a world where sustainability is of SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED growing concern, the importance of recognizing companies that are The Global Label Awards will also recognize winners across various pioneering green initiatives cannot be overstated.categories. Among these is the team award, a new category Lastly, the converter of the year award is set to recognize introduced this year. This award recognizes teams that have made companies that have gone above and beyond in fostering a diverse signifcant strides in developing new services or working methods and inclusive work environment, developing employee programs, that have the potential to drive the global label industry forward. contributing to community initiatives, implementing sustainability The shortlisted nominations include the team behind the GSE programs and introducing innovative products or programs for end InkConnection blog site and the Mercian Labels ‘lights out’ project users. members. The nominees for this category are UK-based Baker Label, In addition to the team award, other categories cover a broad Singapore-based Honsen and Italy-based Pilot Italia.spectrum of the industry. The rising star award, the innovation The judging panel is a joint effort of Finat, TLMI and the awards for companies of different sizes, the sustainability award, editors of three prominent label industry publications. The Label and the converter of the year are also announced at the event. Awards judging panel is Philippe Voet, president of FINAT, Tim The rising star award shortlist includes Tommy Schouten of McDonough, TLMI chairman, Chelsea McDougall, editor of Labels Geostick and brothers Harry and Tom Baker of Baker Labels & Labeling, Greg Hrinya, editor of Label & Narrow Web, and Jean jointly nominated. This award recognizes individuals with a track Poncet, editor of Etiq & Pack.record of exceptional and growing contributions to the label Refecting on the judging process, Andy Thomas-Emans, chair of industry, demonstrating clear potential for future leadership and the judging panel, says: ‘It has been a fantastic experience during responsibility. our judging session to see the full range of innovation, team energy The innovation awards split nominees based on company size. and powerful sustainability initiatives driving this vibrant industry For the over 300-employee category, the nominees include Asahi forward. On behalf of the judges, I would like to thank everybody Photoproducts, Dow and Lintec. For the under 300-employee who submitted nominations, and we look forward to revealing category, the nominees are Cartes, GEW and Rotometal. These the names of the winning individuals and companies at Labelexpo awards honor companies that have demonstrated an outstanding Europe in Brussels this September.’commitment to innovation and progress within the label industry.The sustainability award nominees are Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives, The Label Awards will take place on 11 September at Brussels Lintec and UPM Rafatac. This award celebrates companies that Expo. For more information, visit www.labelawards.comhave made signifcant strides toward a sustainable future for Jul - Sep 2023