Now in its fourth year, the aim of the annual WineLand & ROTOCON 30 Under 30 Awards is to find innovators and trendsetters under the age of 30 and recognise the most promising young wine ambassadors actively working in the South African wine industry.
For the third consecutive year, ROTOCON, leading supplier for South Africa’s label printing and packaging industry, has confirmed its continued support for the 2023 edition of this prestigious event. The company’s uninterrupted sponsorship of the awards is in line with its ongoing commitment to youth development in South Africa. “Not only does an event such as this help identify the future leaders of tomorrow, but by developing the potential of our youth we can help shape the future of our country,” ROTOCON group chief executive officer Michael Aengenvoort says.
As a trusted partner of the 30 Under 30 event, ROTOCON has a vested interest in the development and motivation of the young leaders of tomorrow. “It’s our pleasure to once again sponsor the WineLand ROTOCON 30 Under 30 Awards and to celebrate the determination and passion of young wine enthusiasts making a difference in the South African wine industry,” Michael says. ROTOCON is a firm believer in championing South African-led labelling and packaging innovation and excellence. “Wine label printers make up an important part of our customer base, and we’re pledging our support and commitment to youth talent development in the local wine industry by sponsoring these awards.”
Youth development and human capital represent the cornerstone of ROTOCON’s corporate social responsibility. By partnering with the WineLand 30 Under 30 initiative, ROTOCON hopes the power of technology will inspire young people to pursue their ambitions in the wine industry. “As a company, we’re committed to the development and mentorship of the young leaders of tomorrow,” Michael says. “We look forward to seeing how they’ll apply and further refine their skills in the wine industry. We hope this recognition will encourage them to be the best they can,” ROTOCON sales director Pascal Aengenvoort says.
The 30 emerging stars are pushing boundaries and changing the playing field in the South African wine space. These are the innovative, bold minds from various fields in the wine value chain – from soil scientists, sommeliers, winemakers and wine marketers to academics, PR and marketing experts, harvest assistants and brand ambassadors. “These young voices will become the leaders of tomorrow and we want to tell their stories, share their visions for our industry and help shape their future,” WineLand editor Wanda Augustyn says.
Competitions such as these ensure South Africa’s most promising wine talent doesn’t slip under the radar. The 30 Under 30 winners will be recognised at an awards luncheon on 15 June.
ROTOCON adds label design to the mix
To further illustrate its commitment to youth and skills development in South Africa, ROTOCON launched a wine label design competition for undergraduate students in the department of visual communication at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). With this design competition, ROTOCON will not only be encouraging youth skills development but also spark a viable partnership between two industries. The winner of the competition will be announced at the 30 Under 30 Awards function.
The two initiatives are a perfect match, Michael says. They not only highlight ROTOCON’s drive for developing youth and technology opportunities in South Africa, but also resonate with the company mantra of “bringing people together”. “It’s a great fit,” he says. “Giving back to the community, especially the youth of our country, is something that’s always been deeply rooted in our DNA. But more than that, it’s the perfect integration of two industries. It allows for the wine and label design sectors to come together and take hands. We have no doubt that the 30 Under 30 Awards and wine label design competition will inspire our industry’s brightest stars to become leaders in their respective fields.”
The TUT’s integrated communications design students were challenged to develop innovative, cutting-edge wine label designs that factor in design and strong ideation that include contemporary printing processes and finishes such as foils, varnishes, die-cuts and embossing. The winner of the competition will take home R30 000 in prize money and enjoy an all- expenses-paid trip to Cape Town to receive their award at the WineLand ROTOCON 30 Under 30 Awards luncheon. The winner will also be presented with a certificate from ROTOCON to recognise their skills and knowledge in label printing and finishing.
“As headline sponsor, ROTOCON will add additional excitement to the 30 Under 30 event with this competition,” says Banie Stafford of ROTOCON marketing and brand agency B Creative. “It will simultaneously recognise the creativity and technical intricacies behind the design of a great wine label. We’re confident that this will encourage young design students with a flair for brand-driven innovation to pursue career opportunities in this industry.” The winning label design will be printed on a press with auxiliary technology, all represented by ROTOCON, and applied to wine bottles for presentation at the awards lunch expenses-paid trip to Cape Town to receive their award at the WineLand ROTOCON 30 Under 30 Awards luncheon. The winner will also be presented with a certificate from ROTOCON to recognise their skills and knowledge in label printing and finishing.
“The partnerships between industry and universities are of critical importance to our success,” says Herman Botes, head of TUT’s department of visual communication. “We’re excited to add this vibrant partnership to the mix as it will enable our students to be industry-ready in the niche field of wine label design and production.”
PDF of article»» as featured in WineLand Magazine
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