Hub Labels wins TLMI Printing Excellence Award Collaboration leads to winning construction

Hub Labels wins TLMI Printing Excellence Award Collaboration leads to winning construction

Hub Labels Wins TLMI Printing Excellence Award for Innovation and Sustainability
Joint Collaboration with Flexcon Delivers Award-Winning Wax Melt Lid Label

We’re excited to announce that Hub Labels, in collaboration with Flexcon Global, has won First Place in the Innovation: Single Application, Linerless & Sustainability category at the 2024 TLMI Printing Excellence Awards. Our Wonderland Wax Melt Lid label demonstrates our commitment to providing sustainable and innovative labeling solutions.

See the Award-Winning Label in Action
Watch our Wonderland Wax Melt Lid label featured at the TLMI Annual Meeting 2024. This innovative, eco-friendly solution was highlighted for its sustainability and functionality. Check out the video here: Watch on LinkedIn.

Read the full press release below:

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hub Labels Wins TLMI Printing Excellence Award
Collaboration Leads to Award-Winning Solution

Hagerstown, MD, October 2, 2024 – Hub Labels, a manufacturer of pressure-sensitive and linerless labels, today announced that their Wonderland Wax Melt Lid label submission won First Place in the category: Innovation: Single Application, Linerless & Sustainability at the TLMI Printing Excellence Awards.

The award-winning label was developed through a collaboration with Mercury Plastics and Flexcon Global, combining expertise to create a sustainable and functional solution. The project began when Mercury Plastics, a Maryland-based manufacturer of custom thermoformed packaging, presented Hub Labels with a challenge: replace traditional plastic lids for wax melts with a resealable label to reduce plastic use. Mercury Plastics also designed the recyclable clamshell packaging that complemented the label concept. To bring the vision to life, Hub Labels partnered with Flexcon Global, a leading provider of coatings, laminations, and material technologies. Flexcon’s expertise ensured the resealable label met the project’s dual goals of sustainability and product functionality.

This innovative solution showcases the power of collaboration and reflects Hub Labels’ ongoing commitment to reducing plastic waste while delivering high-quality, sustainable packaging solutions.

A Collaborative Effort
Pictured above: Thomas Dahbura, President of Hub Labels, and Carl Livesay, General Manager of Mercury Plastics, who worked together to bring this eco-friendly innovation to life.

“Mercury approached us with the challenge of producing a resealable label to replace the plastic lid on a pack of wax melts. As the industry is moving towards reducing plastic usage, we were eager to take on this task,“ shares Randy Renner, Production Manager, Hub Labels. “The label we created allows for easy removal and resealing, maintaining the product’s freshness with the added benefit of being eco-friendly.”

Regarding the label substrate used in the application, several requirements had to be met.

“This was an interesting application because the label was multi-functional. It didn’t just need to adhere to a package, it also served the purpose of keeping the wax melt scent fresh,” shares Dan Riendeau, Strategic Business Director, Flexcon. “We knew from previous experience that additives in the wax could interfere with the adhesive, so we needed a solution that balanced removability, resistance to the wax contents, and resealability to preserve the scent.”

Flexcon® OptiFlex® Reseal™ 21133 was the ideal solution for the application. After the substrate was selected, Hub Labels had to overcome one more challenge: fitting the labels to the unique packaging shape.

“The original die shape caused excessive liner removal, which made production inefficient,” says Richard ‘Nink’ Myers, Special Projects & Procurement Lead, Hub Labels. “We collaborated with our die vendor to redesign the die with added tabs in the corners, significantly improving the process in subsequent runs.”

Beyond the technical execution, Hub Labels’ in-house graphics team contributed to the artwork design for the wax melts, showcasing the full range of our capabilities—from concept to finished product. This winning label reflects our commitment to partnerships and creative problem-solving.

About Hub Labels
Hub Labels, Inc. is a leader in pressure-sensitive and linerless labels. With state-of-the-art flexographic and hybrid digital presses, we deliver unmatched quality and innovation. Our core values—Safety, Sustainability, Innovation, Service, and Community—drive us to build strong partnerships with our customers, vendors, and suppliers.

About Flexcon
Flexcon Global is a preferred provider of innovative coatings, film laminations, and functional technologies. With nearly 70 years of experience, Flexcon develops solutions that positively impact society and the environment. Learn more at Flexcon.

About Mercury Plastics

Mercury Plastics is a Maryland-based manufacturer specializing in custom thermoformed packaging solutions. With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, Mercury Plastics partners with clients to develop packaging that meets functional needs while reducing environmental impact. Learn more at Mercury Plastics.