Categories and criteria

 

Judging criteria

Printing categories will be judged on reproduction, degree of difficulty and print quality. Entries must have been produced in the 12 months prior to 19 July 2024. An international panel of judges will assess each entry submitted.

Download entry form

 

 

Rules

  1. Entries must have been produced by the printing company entering the awards.
  2. No previous winning job may be re-entered from the same or different company.
  3. All entries must be produced in the 12 months prior to 12 July 2024.
  4. Entries are for commercial work undertaken by the printing company entering the awards, except promotional print and innovation categories.
  5. Whitmar Publications reserves the right to use any entries received for marketing and promotional purposes in its magazines and on its website.
  6. Entrants must have obtained the permission of their customer before entering the competition.
  7. Whitmar Publications cannot accept responsibility for entries submitted.
  8. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  9. Entries received after the deadline will be subject to a flat £50 late fee.
  10. Entries may be moved to a different category at the discretion of the judges.
  11. By entering you agree to all technical information being published on the website and in the magazine.
  12. All printed samples must be unconverted, of full press width and include at least three repeat lengths, except corrugated samples where one sheet is sufficient. This should include control strips and registration marks. With the exception of labels and corrugated post-print, cut-outs will NOT be considered by the judges.
  13. The printing company’s contact details should be submitted with the entry if it is being entered on their behalf.

 

NOTE FOR ALL ENTRANTS

All printed samples must be unconverted, of full press width and include at least three repeat lengths, except corrugated samples where one sheet is sufficient. This should include control strips and registration marks. With the exception of labels and corrugated post-print, cut-outs will NOT be considered by the judges.

Categories

 

  • Labels (process)

    Using process primary inks to create colour shades (CMYK, EGP and similar)

  • Labels (line and tone)

    Using spot colours to print line-works and halftones. Halftone overprints should be limited to a maximum of three colours

  • Flexible packaging (narrow/medium web) on film

    <1000mm wide

  • Flexible packaging (wide web) on film

    >1000mm wide

  • Flexible packaging (narrow/medium web) on paper

    >1000mm wide

  • Flexible packaging (wide web) on paper

    >1000mm wide

  • UV Flexo on paper or board

    The use of UV inks (including UV-LED ink) on paper or board substrates

  • Corrugated post-print (A, B, C and D flute)

    Post-print flexo on corrugated board with A, B, C of D fluting

  • Corrugated post-print (E and F flute)

    Post-print flexo on corrugated board with E or F fluting

  • Best use of hybrid printing

    Using flexo as the main printing process but using different processes to give the print additional qualities or attributes

  • Process colours only

    Using just CMYK with or without a white or a varnish

  • Originally printed by another process

    Any flexo job which was originally printed by a different process (a print sample of the previous printing process must be included)

  • Digital labels and packaging

    Any packaging or labels which have been printed with digital printing technology only

  • Best use of embellishment

    Using embossing, foiling or any other embellishments to make visually stunning results on packaging or labels

  • Environmentally sustainable company of the year

    Print companies that can demonstrate their commitment to the environment by implementing policies which reduce waste, emissions or carbon footprint. This could be achieved with investment in infrastructure or management of consumable materials. Entrants should submit a 500 word report which outlines how they meet the criteria of this category, as well as any supporting documents which will help the judges make their assessment.

  • Best newcomer

    For companies which have not entered the awards before, or in the last five years. (You will need to have entered another category to be eligible)

  • Best use of ECG

    The best example of using an extended colour gamut print production (fixed palette production). Entries should demonstrate: A) How using ECG has removed the use of all spot colours B) Two or more jobs batched together in the same print run using the same ECG colour set.

  • Promotional print

    Flexo print produced to showcase the abilities of a printer. (Must be submitted by the printer and can NOT be a commercial job).

  • Innovation - not eligible for suppliers

    Innovations that you, as a flexo printer/converter, have developed and implemented (with or without a partner) for your customers in the 12 months prior to 7 July 2023 - this could be innovations in design, reprographics, production, finishing/converting, ink formulation, materials development, sustainability or other aspects of the service you, as a flexo printer/converter offer to your customers. Judges will favour entries that demonstrate clear evidence of new ideas, new technologies and breakthrough service provision by the entering company that show measureable value for its customers. NOT eligible for suppliers.

    FlexoTech Awards