With all the interest in in-mold labeling (IML) that brand owners are showing, it's no wonder Verstraete IML (Maldegem, Belgium) is garnering a lot of attention. As one of the world's largest suppliers of labels for IML applications for packaging, Verstraete came away a big winner at the first Get Smart networking event on September 10 at the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel in Belgium.
Verstraete captured the Trends Top Grafische Gazellen 2015 and SBM award. Production Managers Dieter Peelen and Filip De Vent (pictured) from Verstraete IML accepted the trophies from the organizer Grafisch Nieuws, a monthly publication by Roularta Media Group, and its partner SBM, the training organization Syntra voor Bedrijf en Medewerkers.
More than 600 visitors from the Belgian graphic industry attended this first edition of the Get Smart networking event for the print media business.
The Trends Top Grafische Gazellen awards are given to the most competitive companies in their field by region. These fast-growing companies are recognized for their importance in the economic landscape. Verstraete IML emerged as the best-performing company in the graphics sector. Managing Director Koen Verstraete commented, "The key to our success and strong growth? We invest heavily in people, machinery, technology and infrastructure."
For the new training prize, the SBM award, Trends Top and Roularta selected the company with the most training hours on the social balance sheet per region. Verstraete IML emerged as the winner once again. This year, the company has made the largest investment in training in Belgium. Dieter Peelen noted, "Training is not a choice for Verstraete IML, it is a must. We recruited a hundred new employees in the past year. Our rapidly evolving and innovative fleet of machinery requires flexibility. Plus we operate in a niche market--just three reasons why we train our people to be specialists. Their expert knowledge makes the difference."
Verstraete IML was also a big winner at the In-Mold Decorating Association's 2015 parts competition, taking the Gold Award for Best Label Design for Homann Meat Salad packaging and the Award for Best Thermoformed (IML) Package for ConAgra Foods. The awards will be presented at the IMDA Annual Symposium, October 28 and 29, at the Doubletree Hotel in Skokie, IL.
