Labelexpo Europe is the biggest ever, says Lisa Milburn

Labelexpo Global Series managing director, Lisa Milburn explained, “This show has the highest number of working machines. I know I have said this in the earlier editions too, but the contractors who are transporting the machines have come and told us this.”

She added, “This, added by the pre-registered attendees from 139 countries with large delegations visiting from, Japan, India, Brazil, China and Iran, makes it the biggest event in the show’s history.”

Andy Thomas, Label & Labeling’s strategic director, gave a glimpse of the global label trends. “Global demand for pressure sensitive labels is at 40%, while wet glue, which is still dominant in developing countries, is at 36%. There is growth in shrink sleeves with global demand being 18%. Region-wise, with 43% Asia Pacific now has an equivalent volume to North America and Europe. A very interesting statistic is that South America is now at 10% in global label consumption.”

Thomas said the market value of printed labels using digital has grown to 9.7% in Europe with toner’s share being 76% while inkjet/hybrid share at 24%. “One of the key trends we are seeing is in the area of digital embellishment, with Gallus and Edale among others leading the way.”

Labelexpo Europe is hosting the first ever Automation Arena, which Milburn said, was “ground-breaking” and never-before-seen feature, while Thomas spoke about the new initiative Food Safe UV, consisting of a group of equipment manufacturers like Bobst, Gallus, Mark Andy, MPS, Nilpeter and Omet, and also includes ink suppliers Flint Group and Sun Chemical, and UV lamp suppliers GEW and Phoseon Technology. “The idea is to promote the safety of UV inks and varnishes for indirect food contact packaging among the brands. The group will devise a good manufacturing practice workflow, of certification of UV curing with stringent testing will be a part, to persuade the brands.”

Mike Fairley, the founder of Label Academy founder, spoke about the Label Academy, the association with Finat, TMAi and LMAI, and how with the addition of two new books during this show, Shrink Sleeve Technology and Management Information Systems and Workflow Automation, has taken the number of label and packaging printing education training resource material to 11 since the time Label Academy was first announced in Labelexpo Americas 2014 – with just three books and two Encyclopedias.