Rollspack and Multi-Color Corporation took out best in show at the second annual FPLMA awards, held as part of the association's annual technical forum, while Danny Hayes of FILDES Manufacturing won Apprentice of the Year.
The awards dinner, held at Metropolis in Southbank, celebrated the best the label and flexible packaging industries had to offer, as well as a live band and a trio of opera-singing waiters. "We have this evening the best of the best on show within our industry and I encourage more members to participate in 2018," said Mark Easton, FPLMA president, in his opening speech. "We have some great categories that suit all businesses and technologies, so I encourage you to be a part of our industry's print excellence."
Winners on the night included Hally Labels, QLM Label Makers, Label House, LabelForce, Andrew Kohn, Graphic Packaging International, Visyboard Dandenong, and J&P Flexographics, who each picked up awards in their respective categories.
This year, there were two Best in Show awards - one each for labels and flexible packaging - which went respectively to Multi-Color Corporation, for its Silken Beastie label, and Rollspack, for its Little Lucifer packaging (prepress by Kirk Group Victoria).
The FPLMA also announced its Apprentice of the Year from three finalists: Danny Hayes, of FILDES Manufacturing; Brian Kieryczuk, of AusTab Labels; and Ben Haley, of Fantastic Labels. Though the judges faced a tough decision, in the end Hayes emerged as the clear winner, succeeding Rameesha De Silva Weerasingha as the 2017 Apprentice of the Year. The prize includes an overseas study trip.