Quality Shines at Asian Flexographic Excellence Awards

The Asian Flexographic Technical Association (AFTA) has instigated the Asian Flexographic Excellence Awards. The presentation of the inaugural Awards was made at a Gala Dinner to wind up the 3rd Annual AFTA conference in Bangkok on November 5.

Although several categories were not subscribed to, the organisers were pleased with the number of entries for the inaugural awards and their standard of quality. Chairman of judges Alf Carrigan praised the high quality of the winning entries. This year?s judging panel comprised of highly qualified personnel from Asia and Australia: Rod Urquhart, Monash University, Melbourne; Robert James, RMIT University, Melbourne; Zvi Gat, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, Asia; and Nick Price, Schawk, Asia.

 In keeping with the independent judging criteria, the panel had no knowledge of the actual entrant, as each entry was coded by number.

Winson Press of Singapore gained two Gold Awards ? Lenticular Magic Images earned it acclaim in the Narrow Web Film Category, while its printing of the LAC Wheatgrass label was awarded gold in the Tag and Label Category.

Also earning two gold Awards was TPN Flexpak of Thailand which took out the prize for the Mid Web Film Category with its Iceland Chicken Breast Carton and the award for Wide Web Film with a High 5 Grain Bread wrapper.

In the Beverage Cartons and Cups Category, the winner was Tetra Pak Foshan from China for its Seasons Ice Lemon Tea carton. Malaysian firm Sony EMCS gained the gold award for its Sony DVD wrapper in the Post Print for Corrugated Board White Liner Category, while the Thai Containers Group earned gold for its Tiparos Tom Yam Kung entry in the Post Print for Corrugated Board Non White Liner Category. The judges were also invited to select the best entrant in the overall competition to receive the Chairman?s Award, sponsored by Heidelberg and gallus. The winner of this inaugural award was TPN Flexpak for their Mid Web Film entry.

Judge Robert James noted that the winning of an award is a team effort. ?The success or otherwise of an entry is not just in recognition of the capital investment in equipment, nor skill of the operating personnel of the flexographic printing machine,? he said.

?It begins with the customer, the marketing concept, the photographer, the graphic artist and reproduction house, the various suppliers of raw materials consumed on the printing machine, the skill and knowledge of production personnel and of course, all those responsible for product quality control.?Zvi Gat, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, Asia; Nick Price, Schawk, Asia. Rod Urquhart, Monash University, Melbourne; Robert James, RMIT University, Melbourne; and Alf Carrigan, chairman of the judges.