2006 World Label Awards: nineteen label printers take 25 top awards for best labels on the planet.

The World Label Association (WLA) has been around for about 20 years. It was formed by the Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) in North America and by FINAT, the European label association. The Japan Federation of Label Printers (JFLP) joined a few years later. The aim was to select the "best of the best" from the winners of the respective domestic competitions. LATMA from Australia joined three years ago, and New Zealand's SALMA is also represented. The Indian and Russian label associations have been invited to join.

Entries to the WLA are only through a recognized international label association and the entries must have won an award in the association's awards program. Judges present two types of award in a variety of print categories: A winner's plaque and an honorable mention when the judges decide that an entry is worthy of an award but is not quite good enough to win.

Judging usually takes place before or during one of the Labelexpo shows in Chicago or Brussels. An international panel of judges is nominated by the respective participating associations and the judging takes about a day to complete. The chair of the World Label Association is Tony White, who represents FINAT on the judging panel. TLMI is represented by Mike Buystedt; Junpei Odaka represents JFLP, and Pete Petran represents LATMA and SALMA.

"In the future," says White, "it would be encouraging if China joined the ranks of the World Label Association, providing they have a recognized association."

There are 27 categories in the competition, ranging through the main printing processes with a few end use applications included (cosmetics, wines and spirits). Winning plaques were awarded in 18 categories and honorable mentions in five. The awards are presented at the respective Awards ceremonies in the different continents. TLMI in February, FINAT at the annual congress in June, and JFLP at a special awards dinner.

Seieido Printing, JFLP

Offset Wine/Spirits

Princess Goldfish Sake

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tailored Label Products, TLMI

Electronic Printing

Cambria Counter Top Label

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Flexiket, FINAT

Screen, Line & Screen/Tone

Lego Belville Princess

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Collotype Labels, TLMI

Offset, Line

Archetype Barossa

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Doga Etiket, FINAT

Non-Pressure Sensitive, Any Process

Despina Dry Red Wine

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Labelworld Pty., LATMA

Multi-Process, Line & Screen/Tone

Happs 2005 PF White

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

G-3 Enterprises, TLMI

Flexo, Wine/Spirits

Bridlewood Blue Roan Syrah

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Labelsco, FINAT

Flexo, Color Process

Nu Green Volumising Shampoo

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sankyo Tac Label, JFLP

Letterpress, Wine/Spirits

Kumejima Awamori

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Smyth Companies, TLMI

Innovation

Coors Cold Wrap Label

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dow Industries, TLMI

Multi-Process, Line

Ken's Cocktail Sauce

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Nosco, TLMI

Coupon, Any Process

Opti-Free Replenish

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Clear Image Labels, LATMA

Color Process, HM

Rolling 2005 Sauvignon Blanc

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

RELATED ARTICLE: 2006 World Label Award Winners

Coast Label, TLMI

Flexo, Line & Screen, HM

Roex L-Lysine & L-Proline

Labelsco, FINAT

Flexo, Color Process

Nu Green Volumising Shampoo

Nippon Seal, JFLP

Letterpress, Line

Miwa Somen

Sankyo Tac Label, JFLP

Letterpress, Color Process

Garlic Tablet

Flexiket, FINAT

Screen, Line & Screen/Tone

Lego Belville Princess

Collotype Labels, TLMI

Offset, Line

Archetype Barossa

Tapp Technologies, TLMI

Offset, Line & Screen/Tone

Solaris Cabernet Sauvignon

Clear Image Labels, LATMA

Color Process, HM

Rolling 2005 Sauvignon Blanc

Seieido Printing, JFLP

Color Process

Lacquer Ware

G-3 Enterprises, TLMI

Flexo, Wine/Spirits

Bridlewood Blue Roan Syrah

Sankyo Tac Label, JFLP

Letterpress, Wine/Spirits

Kumejima Awamori

Collotype Label, TLMI

Offset, Wine/Spirits, HM

Sockeye 2005 Pinot Noir

Seieido Printing, JFLP

Offset Wine/Spirits

Princess Goldfish Sake

Dow Industries, TLMI

Flexo, Cosmetics, HM

Victoria's Secret Holiday

B.V. Kolibri, FINAT

Letterpress, Cosmetics

Greenland Shower Gel

Dow Industries, TLMI

Multi-Process, Line

Ken's Cocktail Sauce

ARC Co., JFLP

Multi-Process, Line & Screen/Tone, HM

Rakuraku Beer Label

Labelworld Pty., LATMA

Multi-Process, Line & Screen/Tone

Happs 2005 PF White

Collotype Labels, FINAT & LATMA

Multi-Process, Color Process

Avery Lane Cabernet

Nosco, TLMI

Coupon, Any Process

Opti-Free Replenish

Doga Etiket, FINAT

Non-Pressure Sensitive, Any Process

Despina Dry Red Wine

Smyth Companies, TLMI

Innovation

Coors Cold Wrap Label

Schreiner Group, FINAT

Innovation

Self Adhesive Multi Purpose

Antenna

Tailored Label Products, TLMI

Electronic Printing

Cambria Counter Top Label

HM = Honorable Mention