Wellington-based Gravure Packaging has picked up the Gravure Process Award at the 2025 New Zealand Pride In Print Awards, for its reproduction of the Boring Oat Milk Barista shrink sleeve.
Judges commended what they called the “high level of thought that went into achieving a visually-stunning outcome with amazing ink layup.”
“Techniques to deliver a UV eyemark, printing of two different colours and varnish were executed masterfully to make this entry stand out from all others in this section,” the judges said.
Grant Amelung, technical director at Gravure Packaging, said that the shrink sleeve is a “lovely job that was produced for a discerning, no-compromise, high-quality, New Zealand-owned brand.
“Our partnership with Boring is on solid ground as the Gravure Packaging brand also subscribes to the same values,” Amelung continued.
“The client loves the look and feel of the bottle – so much so that the shape and the gravure-printed green has become inseparable from their brand.”
According to Amelung, despite the apparent simplicity of its design, the shrink sleeve required a high degree of technical skill to print.
“The vertical vignette is one of perfection, as is the sharpness of print, invisible eyemark, double-sided print and matte over lacquer,” he explained.
“The gravure printing process is well suited to jobs such as this, due to the continuously-electable repeat length that shrink sleeves require, and the ability to print technical coatings, such as Blizzard light barrier and SuperMatte, in line with the print job itself. All while designing for recyclability with washable inks.”
He added that the job was “jam-packed with innovations”, of which Gravure Packaging had previously won awards for.
“Boring is printed in conjunction with our proprietary Blizzard light barrier technology, allowing for the bottle itself to be 100 per cent recyclable transparent PET,” Amelung explained.
“The ultra-diffuse SuperMatte, as utilised in combat military technology, provides the best light diffusion and natural feel when touching the bottle. The printing of such a lovely diffuse matte to that degree at high speed is really only possible with gravure printing.
“The unique high-definition gravure cylinder engraving results in sharp text. And it utilises the ControlShrink film developed by Gravure Packaging for use on high-speed production lines of customers who require the utmost in perfect finish.”
This year’s gala print event was attended by well over 500 print industry members from all around the country, and was MC’d by New Zealand television and radio personality Jason Gunn.
