With nine market categories, seven technical print categories and even a group for alternative uses for narrow-web label presses, the winners of the 21st FINAT Intl. Labeling Competition represent every aspect of labeling. Geographically, the annual event drew entries from the U.S., Latin America and Australia—as well as all across Europe.

Prizewinners received their awards at the recent FINAT annual World Congress in Rhodes, Greece. Several are described below.

The prize for best end-user market label went to The Label Makers, Ltd., Bradford, U.K. for its Lamberts Bay wine labels, which also took top honors in the alcoholic-drinks category.

The labels, printed on a Gallus T250 4-color offset press with UV inks, were also foil-blocked, embossed and varnished. Judges remarked: "The label had something really special to offer in terms of 'shelf appeal.'"

Other winners in the alcoholic-drinks field include Grafiques Varias S.A. of Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, Spain for its Sumarroca Cava Brut wine labels (letterpress); Knaup GmbH of Kirchlengern, Germany for its Puschkin Time Wrap vodka labels (screen); and Label Makers for its Ballet of Angels wine label (litho).

Three excellent examples of p-s film labels for health and beauty aid products were recognized this year. The overall prize went to Knaup GmbH for its Goldwell "Definition for Kids" shampoo labels. Printed in five colors on a matte-transparent PE film using UV inks via a Kammann press, the labels were "admired for their crispness of the imaging and excellent print register," said the judges.

Two other top HBA winners include Knaup for its Theramed Naturweiss toothpaste-mouthwash labels (combination print); and Dow Industries, Wilmington, Del., for its Cutex SimpleGel nail-polish remover labels (flexo).