European industry celebrates new Finat president

Slovak-based converter Purgina Labels, a specialist in premium food, wine and spirits self-adhesive labels, is likely to become a well-known name across the labeling world over the next few years.

This is primarily because the company’s managing director, Dana Kilárská, has been appointed president of Finat, the European label association. This follows many years of support for Finat, both from Purgina as a company and from Kilárská personally.

She was a key early supporter of the Finat Young Managers Club, now the Young Professionals Network, elected first as treasurer, then president; and helping the YMC/YPN grow into the powerful and influential voice within Finat it is today.

“One growing beverage market segment is ready-to-drink cans. This is a very creative market with many customized designs for craft brands, and we are able to make them stand out with tactile effects even on lower volumes”

She has also been a regular speaker at Finat meetings on a range of subjects including attracting young people into the label industry. Purgina has been a strong supporter of Finat and a regular participant in the Finat label competition, starting in 2012 with an award for its ‘Art of Labels’ promotional work, and continuing this year with an award in the flexographic print category.

Kilárská’s appointment is also a notable milestone for Finat,
as she becomes the first woman to serve as president.

Industry experience

Dana Kilárská brings to the Finat presidency more than two decades of international business experience across hospitality, printing and packaging.

Along with brother Radovan, Dana represents the second generation at family-owned Purgina Labels. The company was founded by Stefan Kilársky in 1991, and both Dana and Radovan were already heavily involved in marketing and technology roles when L&L first visited the company back in 2011.

The company was then operating a Gallus TCS250 intermittent offset press fitted out with screen, embossing, flexo coating and hot stamping, and a fully loaded Gallus RCS330, the first machine in the region to combine UV offset, flexo, screen and cold foil, along with an insetting capability.

These two presses allowed Purgina to enter markets in premium food, wine, liquor and cosmetics, helping the company differentiate itself from increasing competition in Slovakia and neighboring countries. Although most of Purgina’s work comes from Slovakian customers, the company is increasingly successful in Hungary, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Since L&L’s last visit, Purgina has renewed its press fleet. In 2020, with its 30th anniversary approaching, the Gallus TCS250 was replaced with a Wanjie WJPS 350 semi-rotary offset press configured with screen printing and hot foil. The press was supplied and installed by Madrid-based Wanjie Europe.

‘We were already familiar with semi-rotary offset technology, so we were operating this press within two weeks of installation,’ says Radovan. ‘The TCS was only 250mm wide, which was a problem, and we wanted to move these jobs to a faster, wider (330mm) machine. We tested the Wanjie press in Madrid with the full range of substrates we use.’

The configuration of the Gallus RCS press was also changed. ‘We took off the offset units,’ says Radovan. ‘There are higher costs to keep everything running, and flexo is much easier. So now we just have flexo for long runs and semi-rotary offset for shorter runs.’

At the same time, Purgina moved into digital printing with the installation of an Epson L-4533AW water-based inkjet press.

‘We chose this press not only because water-based inks are environmentally friendly, but also because of the high-quality print on uncoated papers as the ink soaks into the substrate,’ explains Radovan. ‘The press has a wide color gamut. We can confidently hit 95 percent of Pantone colors, and we can print multiple designs, each with its own Pantone colors across the web. We can also offer variable printing; for example, we can give limited editions of wine bottles a unique number.’ Along with the two new presses came a new Cartes finishing line.

Purgina also partners with several converters across Europe, giving the company flexible access to a broader range of technologies with far greater efficiency. ‘This allows us to access the technology when we need it and learn all about it, but without the capital cost, and they get the clicks,’ explains Radovan.

Automation expert

One of Dana Kilárská’s key areas of expertise is pre-press automation. Purgina installed the first Cerm MIS in the region as far back as 2008 and implemented the EskoArtwork Backstage server, connected via JDF Link, to automate the flow of artwork and production data. The company later added AVT inspection systems on its Gallus presses to automate error detection and rewinding.

Die-cut profiles are downloaded directly from pre-press to control the Digimask die-cut verification system, which is particularly useful for ultra-clear materials and complex die shapes.

‘Purgina has always invested in automation and system upgrades to the extent its resources allow in the region and continues to see significant potential for further automation,’ explains Dana. ‘We are already looking ahead to future projects that will build on this foundation.’

When L&L visited Purgina in 2011, the premium wine label market was driving the company’s growth as Slovak wine brands transitioned from wet glue to PS. Spirits were also emerging as a strong market segment, often utilizing clear-on-clear labels with complex embellishment. The company was moving away from its more traditional low-embellishment food customers to search out higher value-added work.

How have things changed today?

‘The volume of wine and spirits has definitely declined,’ says Dana. ‘This has been balanced with a growing demand for alcohol-free beverages, though it’s not clear yet if this will be a long-term trend. Demand declined in Slovakia because of the economy, and we even see some wine customers going back to wet glue for their cheaper wines.’

One growing beverage market segment is ready-to-drink cans. ‘This is a very creative market with many customized designs for craft brands, and we are able to make them stand out with tactile effects even on lower volumes.’ 

Purgina has also had success moving into value-added food sectors, particularly for sandwiches and baguettes where a label is applied to the film. Indeed, Purgina won its 2026 Finat flexo award for a baguette label.

A significant part of Purgina’s business remains in thermal labels for customers in the wider logistics industry, boosted by the continued growth of e-commerce. A significant trend is supplying pre-printed logos on VIP labels.

Purgina has a strong consultancy and design offering through its internal graphics department. The company also offers warehouse management to its key customers along with a labeling service where required.

Future trends

While Purgina has no plans to diversify into flexible packaging or folding cartons yet, Dana is enthusiastic about the Informa Group’s decision to change the name of Labelexpo to Loupe. ‘This is the way our industry is moving. While labels remain at the center of Loupe, narrow and mid-web flexible packaging and in-line folding cartons are becoming part of the offering of label converters. We are also involved in these discussions at Finat.’

A key theme of Dana Kilárská’s Finat presidency will be sustainability and how the industry reacts to the challenges of meeting the EU’s circular economy directives.

“‘This role means the world to me, not because of the title, but because of the community behind it. Finat is made up of extraordinary people, and to lead them is a privilege”

Dana says some customers, particularly in Austria, are requiring wash-off labels for glass and plastic bottles to promote refill and recycling. More broadly, she sees a general movement across the industry towards more sustainable alternatives and believes the key for converters is finding technology and products that comply without high added cost.

A subject which came up a lot at the European Label Forum 2026, and which impacts the label industry’s future sustainability, is recruitment of young people. Purgina faces the same challenges here as other European (and not only European) converters.

‘It is hard to find skilled workers,’ says Dana. ‘Even with the digital press you still need skilled craftsmen for the finishing machine where you are embossing and hot stamping.’

But despite the challenges, Dana Kilárská remains enthusiastic about the industry’s prospects as she enters the first year of her new role as Finat president.

New team at Finat

Dana Kilárská’s Finat presidency was confirmed by the General Assembly at the European Label Forum 2026 in Seville, Spain, along with the appointment of Vito Giurazza as vice president. Giurazza, who joined the Finat board in 2023, is CEO of Tikedo, one of Europe’s leading label-converting groups with operations across Italy, Spain and Latvia.

The occasion also saw outgoing president Philippe Voet and former president Chris Ellison appointed as Finat honorary members in recognition of their service to Finat and the wider label community. Both Voet and Ellison remain engaged in Finat’s leadership team.

Commenting on her appointment, Kilárská says: ‘This role means the world to me, not because of the title, but because of the community behind it. Finat is made up of extraordinary people, and to lead them is a privilege.’