Labelexpo reaches new heights

Labelexpo Europe 2017 is the ‘biggest, greatest and boldest’ in the event’s history, with more working machinery from a record number of exhibitors occupying more floor space than ever before.

Labelexpo Europe 2017 features more working machinery from a record number of exhibitors occupying more floor space than ever before

Lisa Milburn, Labelexpo Global Series managing director, explained that the show this year, covering nine halls and 38,000 sqm net floor space, hosts 679 exhibitors, of which 198 are new exhibitors.

With pre-registered attendees from 139 countries, and large delegations visiting from, Japan, India, Brazil, China and Iran, Milburn said: ‘This is the biggest event in the show’s history, and is the biggest, greatest and boldest we have achieved.’

She drew attention to the ‘ground-breaking’ Automation Arena, a never-before-seen feature area, which you can read more about here, before Andy Thomas, L&L/Labelexpo strategic director, spoke of the wider industry trends, reflected at the show, like the growth in shrink sleeves and the evolution of Labelexpo into a show with a greater focus on package printing.

‘Since its launch, Labelexpo has diversified multiple times to keep up with industry trends and developments. Flexible packaging is another example of this and a natural progression with machines that can handle a wider range of materials and a new generation of machines in the mid web segment.’

The FoodSafeUV initiative hosts its first meeting at Labelexpo Europe 2017, another example Thomas used to evidence Labelexpo’s growth into areas beyond narrow web, self-adhesive. FoodSafeUV is aims to persuade brands that certified UV curing with stringent testing as part of a GMP workflow is as safe a process as solvent and water-based inks for printing food packaging. Further details are available here.

Mike Fairley, Label Academy founder, went onto explain the working going on to grow the label and package printing education and training resource, including the launch of two new booksShrink Sleeve Technology and Management Information Systems and Workflow Automation.

Chris Ellison, OPM (Labels and Packaging) Group managing director and new Finat president, invited Milburn and Fairley onto the stage to mark the 25th anniversary of the show and the association working together, where they were joined by Jules Lejuene, former Finat managing director and son of Mans Lejuene, credited with helping Finat become the association it is today.