The EFIA awards provide an opportunity for the flexographic industry to come together and celebrate what the association describes as “the best of the best in flexographic printing.”

Packaging solutions provider Parkside had a successful evening, taking home Silver in both the Environmental and Sustainability, and the Medium Web categories for its compostable coffee pack.

Developed for Percol Coffee, the pack is designed to fully break down within 26 weeks in a home compost after use and is the first of its kind to be produced in the world.

The firm also took home the bronze award in the Environmental and Sustainable category for a compostable crisp packet created for Two Farmers.

“As a business we pride ourselves on continuous innovation and development of packaging that meets the needs of the consumer and the retailer,” comments Paula Birch, sales director at Parkside.

European packaging manufacturer Coveris took home four awards at the event. The firm won Gold in both Narrow Web and Best in Show for its Coveris Spalding Asda Simply Cook Tikka Chicken Stir Fry; Gold in Flexo Print on Film for its Coveris Louth Tropico product, sponsored by Comexi; and Silver in Technical Innovator – Supplier for its narrow web label printed using Esko Print Control Wizard software.

Developed as the result of a call from the flexographic printing industry to simplify the implementation of screens and dot gain curves in the reprographics process, Esko Print Control Wizard software offers the sector a standardised approach to screen and curve creation.

Guests were treated to dinner underneath the wings of the Manchester Airport Runway visitor park iconic jet

For the third year in a row, Amcor Flexibles Cumbria was the overall winner of the event, winning Best in Show for its Kellogg’s Extra Chocolate Muesli pack.

Also holding onto its title was Sandon Global which won Supplier of the Year for the fourth year running. Other leading winners of 2019 were DS Smith and Smurfit Kappa, both of which took home 13 accolades.

Commenting on the evening, EFIA chairman, Neil Jones of Bobst UK & Ireland says: “It was a fantastic night and we were amazed by the number of entries we received this year.

“The awards aim to celebrate the dedication, talent and capabilities of those within the industry and this year the level of quality was unprecedented.”

The 2019 EFIA gala dinner took place on March 28th at the Concorde Conference Centre at Manchester Airport’s Runway visitor park.

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