Smurfit Kappa UK scooped a major medals haul at this year’s prestigious EFTA (European Flexographic Technical Association) print awards, including the Best in Show award.
The company, a leading provider of paper based packaging and print, won a total of ten awards, including five golds, and the judge’s top award for the ‘biOrb’ – a stylish home aquarium, manufactured by Reef One.
The awards, held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, recognise the highest achievements in flexographic printing throughout the UK and across Europe.
Smurfit Kappa UK’s medal tally featured gold awards from several well-known drinks brands, including Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky (Post Print category); Irish drinks brand The Knot (Coated Screen category); Chivas Regal Blended Scotch Whisky (Coated Process category) and William Lawson’s Scotch Whisky.
The company also carried off awards for the Lloyd Grossman food brand, and for Cross and Blackwell’s Branston Relish. Smurfit Kappa dominated the Overseas Print Awards category too – taking no less than three awards.
Adrian Bird, Sales & Marketing Director from Smurfit Kappa UK said: “It’s very gratifying to have our work acknowledged by EFTA. We work extremely hard with brand owners to come up with print solutions that are innovative, functional and have great stand-out appeal. “The judging process for the EFTA awards is particularly rigorous, examining everything from technical excellence and production methods to environmental issues. Winning these awards really underlines our expertise in the printing sector.”
Bernard Catterall, chairman of EFTA UK said: “There is little doubt that producing to the standard to win one of these awards requires skill and a lot of technical know-how. An EFTA award is the benchmark in flexographic printing.”
Neil Walton, Operations Manager from Reef One, manufacturers of the biOrb aquarium, which took the Best in Show award said: “The biOrb is a stylish product which gives a modern twist to a traditional fish bowl. We needed a print solution that would capture the visual appeal of the biOrb, and Smurfit Kappa more than delivered. Sharp print, authentic colour and tone and great technical execution ensured that the packaging served as a great advert for the product.”
Smurfit Kappa offers a comprehensive range of print processes for use with corrugated cardboard including Flexo Post Print, Preprint, Screen, Digital, Litho-Lamination and Direct Litho. The company’s national team of print experts works with clients to ensure the most effective combination of print process and substrates are selected to create innovative and striking designs.