FINAT details first European Label Forum

‘The annual congress has historically presented key industry updates and insight,’ said FINAT president Kurt Walker. ‘However, we want to enhance the value of our annual event for business and opinion leaders from around Europe and beyond.

‘This is why we have chosen to rebrand the conference as the European Label Forum. The new format will provide insights to attendees on items of relevance for strategic decision making, by connecting different areas of interest and expertise through dialogue and interaction.

‘Sessions will also map the key transformations reshaping the industry, and in doing should help them to identify the opportunities and challenges. In other words, the European Label Forum will offer a unique source of knowledge, experience and networks key to the strategic success of label businesses in an international business environment.’

The first European Label Forum will take place June 11-13 in Amsterdam. Keynote speakers will include: Herman van Rompuy, former EU President and Belgian Prime Minister; entrepreneur and author Rasmus Ankersen; Ramses Dingenouts, senior packaging and identity design manager at Heineken; and Gordon Crichton, director of the French Procurement Management Institute (MAI).

A series of three parallel streams on the first day of European Label Forum 2014 will cover sales and marketing, technology and manufacturing, and management and corporate affairs.

As with previous FINAT congresses, the first European Label Forum will feature the presentation of FINAT’s annual awards, including the FINAT Label Awards and Recycling Award.

There will also be a first-hand preview of the third edition of the FINAT Radar half-yearly market overview, and which is to be published after European Label Form 2015.

‘Presenting trends and underscoring market influences is the key role of this event, but the value is in truly understanding how they will impact day-to-day business and shape the future,’ added Walker. ‘We are aiming to offer direct business value to a variety of label industry audiences and we are therefore encouraging label printers to consider participating with multiple members of staff to take advantage of this opportunity.

‘There will be ample opportunity to network so that delegates can share ideas amongst themselves and leave with a clearer idea of how they can make a difference when they return to their operations. We also believe the European Label Forum will help attendees build new relationships that will enable them to interact with like-minded business leaders beyond the conference, collaborating on new ways of working to ensure a long-term profitable future.’