Roger Pellow: China sees increasing quality demands

Returning to China for Labelexpo Asia in Shanghai provided an opportunity to gauge the development of the label industry in the country.

Firstly, the quality of manufacturing is improving – the exhibition even saw the launch of a digital press by Taiyo – and many companies are looking at the west as a potential market in the near future.

Secondly, the standard of the labels and package printing being produced is improving all the time. This is being driven in particular by the Chinese FMCG and personal care brands wanting to compete with the likes of Unilever and P&G on the shelf.

The third dynamic is that the universe of package printing and label printers is growing rapidly to meet demand. Attendance at Labelexpo Asia was up by nine percent, to 18,019. If the western brands don’t take the game to the Chinese they will come and attack the western manufacturers.

The final surprise is that the environment is now being talked about and appearing on the agenda.

Roger Pellow
Managing director
Tarsus Labels and Packaging Group