The In-Mold Decorating Association (www.imdassociation.com) names the winners of its first annual awards competition at the group's fall conference in Scottsdale, AZ. The winners, recognized as the industry's best in-mold labeled (IML) packaging and in-mold decorated durable products, were chosen based on creativity in design, engineering and innovation.

The four packaging winners include:

A. Best of Show Award to South Yarra, Australia-based VIP Packaging (www.vippackaging.com.au) for a 1-kg Yoplait yogurt tub for National Foods Ltd. (Australia). The challenge in designing this innovative package was to use technology to differentiate the product in the marketplace, says VIP Packaging. This was done through unusual on-package tamper evidence, custom designed comfort grip, pouring spout and stand out, photo-quality in-mold labeling graphics.

B. Best Part Design Award to Cups4You USA (www.cups4you.com) of Lyons, IL, for its Blue Bunny® Italian gelato cup and lid for Wells' Dairy, Inc. With an unusual container shape in the ice-cream category, which is transparent enough to let the beauty of the product show through, the package's label works flawlessly with the 3D geometry of the cup, said the judges. It also reflects the product's Italian heritage while maintaining the Blue Bunny brand image for customers.

C. Best Thin-Wall Packaging Award to St.-Placide, Quebec, Canada-based North America IML Containers (www.iml.ca) for its squarish pasta-sauce container for Olivieri Foods, a division of Canada Bread. These cups are evocative of high-quality pasta sauces from a fine Italian restaurant, remarked the judges. The five-sided in-mold labels in rich Italian colors allow viewing of the product under a dramatic and elegant lid.

D. Best Label Design Award to Hammer Packaging (www.hammerpackaging.com) of Rochester, NY, for its Coca-Cola Stadium Cup. This large cup was challenging to mold consistently without the label shifting position or wrinkling in the mold while also maintaining good post-mold durability. The printing process was carefully adjusted to achieve desired cure of the black-background UV ink. The result was a dramatic presentation for the 79th annual Academy Awards.

The IMDA is an organization of molders, printers, material and equipment suppliers and others committed to the development and growth of in-mold decorating products, technologies and markets. Its mission is to raise the level of awareness and acceptance of IML-decorated durable products and packaging by OEMs, end users and marketers.