en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Association of Roll-to-Roll Processors (ARC) announced the winners of its annual awards program at the 2026 R2R USA Conference & Expo, held from May 19 to 21, 2026, at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The awards are divided into three categories: Product, Technology, and Sustainability, with judges evaluating entries based on innovation, difficulty, and technical execution.
The Product of the Year award was presented to Inland Packaging for producing labels for AriZona Beverages USA's AriZona Super LXR Hero Hydration Acai Blueberry beverage (a product line extension). Inland Packaging utilized its 7-color flexographic printing process to successfully reproduce five traditional spot colors, resulting in labels with bold colors and strong graphic impact. This process improves production efficiency and enhances sustainability, capable of reproducing 90% of spot colors, reducing ink inventory needs, and minimizing downtime through shorter setup times, fewer plate cylinders, and fewer color changes. The process also reduces energy consumption and waste of ink and water, while offering better repeatability and color consistency. The judges were impressed by the high level of execution and exceptional aesthetics of the labels, noting the efficiency of the 7-color process and its ability to streamline production, saving time and resources. One judge commented, "This entry truly stood out in its category. Excellent operations combined with sophisticated manufacturing technology resulted in a well-executed, visually striking, and sustainably advantageous label."
The Technology of the Year award was awarded to BOBST North America for the EXPERT K5 (equipped with BOBST iMA), the first automated metallizer in the flexible packaging industry. The AI-driven BOBST iMA software automates control of the deposition process and simplifies operations. The status of evaporation boats and wires is displayed on a screen, eliminating the need for operators to perform visual inspections through small metallizing windows—a challenging task on wide-web machines. The system detects boat overflow and wire pre-melting, and maps and controls the size of the aluminum pool. A traffic light system provides visual indication of the aluminum pool status, enabling less skilled employees to achieve high-quality output, helping to overcome skilled labor shortages and reduce training time, which traditionally takes two years to master for manual metallizing systems. The automated system produces a more consistent final product, increasing yield, reducing energy and consumable consumption, and minimizing waste. The judges were impressed by the commercial application of AI, improved process control, and the potential to overcome labor challenges, predicting a significant impact on the industry. One judge noted, "This system achieves what every manufacturer strives for: operator ease of use."
Wallquest received the Sustainability Award for its PVC-free nonwoven peel-and-stick wall covering platform. The engineered barrier coating enables this cellulose-based product to achieve performance comparable to PVC in terms of moisture resistance, adhesion, fire resistance, and printability, while meeting VOC, LEED, and REACH regulatory requirements. Microsphere pressure-sensitive adhesive provides peel-and-stick functionality, simplifying installation—the material can be applied, removed, adjusted, and reapplied without damage. The structure is free from harmful additives such as phthalates, halogens, and plasticizers, and reduces persistence in landfills, renovation waste, and reliance on fossil-based polymers. Water-based barrier coatings and adhesives ensure low VOC emissions, contributing to improved indoor air quality. The judges were impressed by the durability, barrier properties, and peel-and-stick characteristics of the PVC-free substrate, as well as the ability to offer a variety of decorative options. One judge noted, "This is a win-win-win-win: positive impacts on the environment, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, who can more easily update their home decor themselves."
The judging panel consisted of multiple independent consultants with expertise in various fields, including Steve Lange of ProcessDev, LLC, William (Bill) Pope and Malcolm Keif of the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Patrick Morse of Arizona Thin Film Research LLC. The awards ceremony also recognized several individual awards, including the ARC Service Award, the President's Award, and the 2026 WISE (Women in Industry Scholarship for Excellence) recipient.
The ARC Service Award was presented to Andrew Jack of the E+R Group, a former president, in recognition of his long-standing support for the association, as well as his service as an officer, director, member and co-chair of the Vacuum Web Coating Committee, and as a speaker at ARC conferences. Bob Pasquale, former ARC president of New Era Machinery, stated, "Dedicated volunteers like Andy are the backbone of the association, enabling us to provide a wide range of benefits to our members."
The President's Award honored Jeff Peterson of Peterson Media Group, the founding publisher of Converting Quarterly, who helped establish the print magazine and digital platform as the industry-leading resource it is today. ARC Executive Director Chris Kerscher said, "ARC sincerely thanks Jeff and his highly capable team. Converting Quarterly is now in its 15th year, and it would not be where it is today without his efforts."
