Inaugural Dot Awards presented at Esko World 2026

Esko has unveiled the winners of its inaugural Dot Awards, a new global competition celebrating excellence and innovation in flexographic print production. Presented for the first time at Esko World 2026 in New Orleans, the awards recognize printers that are pushing the boundaries of print quality, process control and technological achievement through the use of Esko screening technologies.

“The Dot Awards were created to recognize the extraordinary work being produced every day by flexographic printers across the globe,” said Eddy Fadel, Esko GM Flexo. “These awards celebrate not only outstanding print quality, but also the innovation, expertise and commitment to continuous improvement that drive our industry forward. The standard of entries in this inaugural year has been exceptional.”

Presented on day two of the annual Esko World global packaging technology event, the first edition of the awards attracted 29 entries from printers around the world. Each submission was evaluated by an independent judging panel against three key criteria – Technical Print Quality, Degree of Difficulty, and Esko Ecosystem Excellence. Awards were then presented across three technology categories highlighting excellence achieved using corresponding Esko Spark, Crystal and Quartz screening technologies.

The highest honor of the competition, the Top Dot Award, was presented to Brandpack (Australia) for its Spud Lite Potatoes flexible packaging project. Selected from all category winners, the Best in Show entry ‘demonstrated exceptional contrast, color strength, realistic product imagery and precise control across both highlight and solid-tone areas’. The judges praised the quality of execution and press consistency throughout production, describing it as a benchmark example of modern flexographic printing excellence.

“The Top Dot Award represents the very best of what flexo can achieve today,” said Eddy. “The winning entry from Brandpack combined technical excellence, process discipline and visual impact in a way that truly stood out among an outstanding field of competitors.”In the Spark category, recognizing outstanding print work produced with Esko HD and/or Pixel+ screening technology, the winners demonstrated exceptional control and consistency in demanding production environments.

UV Web Winner: UVBIZ (India) for Holland Park Chocolate Eclairs. Judges praised the flexible packaging entry as a ‘textbook demonstration’ of fixed-gamut printing, highlighting its exceptional color precision, clean highlight transitions and outstanding registration performance.

Solvent Web Winner: Alpha Clicheria (Brazil) for Flor de Ypê – 6-pack Moisturizing Bar Soap. The judges commended its vibrant solids, controlled dot gain and sharp reproduction of intricate floral artwork, delivered consistently at production speeds of 300 m/min.

Corrugated Winner: Contact Originators Ltd (UK) for Hozelock Auto Reel Mobile. The entry successfully transformed a lithographic design into high-quality post-print corrugated production, preserving fine highlights and color consistency on a challenging coated EB flute substrate.

The Crystal category celebrates exceptional work using advanced Esko Crystal screening technology.

UV Web Winner: OVELAR S.A. (Spain) for Ambi Pur Active Cleaner – Water Flowers & Mint. Originally an offset-printed design, the judges noted how Crystal Screening enabled OVELAR not only to match but improve the original print, delivering cleaner transitions, stronger colors and impressive highlight detail.

Solvent Web Winner: Clicheart (Brazil) for MultiStar Premium Dog Food. Combining Crystal Screening with advanced plate imaging technology, the entry achieved photographic-quality imagery, smooth gradients and outstanding tonal control while maintaining consistent performance throughout production.

The Quartz category honors the finest work produced using the very latest next-generation Esko Quartz screening technology.

Water Web Winner: Zincopar (Italy) for Brainrot Collectible Trading Card Packaging. Featuring highly detailed artwork across a complex multilayer substrate structure, the judges awarded maximum marks for sharpness, registration, dot quality and consistency.

Solvent Web Winner: Brandpack (Australia) for Connoisseur Cookies & Cream Ice Cream. The judges highlighted the ability of the Quartz workflow to preserve the premium appearance of the brand through smooth gradients, fine typography and exceptional print definition at high line screens.

“The inaugural Dot Awards showcased the continued evolution of flexographic printing and the capabilities enabled by Esko HD Flexo, Crystal and Quartz screening technologies,” added Eddy Fadel. “From extended color gamut printing and high-speed flexible packaging production to advanced corrugated applications and complex multilayer substrates, the winning entries demonstrated how innovation and craftsmanship continue to raise industry standards.

“With the launch of the Dot Awards, we are creating a platform to celebrate the achievements of our customers and inspire the wider packaging community,” he said. “The quality of this year’s entries confirms that flexography is not just competing with other print processes – it is leading. We look forward to seeing the competition grow even further when the Dot Awards return in 2027.”