Finat details second ELF

The ELF 2016 program will build on the key learnings of the 2015 event, and will focus on two essential conditions of success for a profitable business: value creation and innovation. Interactive parallel workshops on these topics will enable participants to gain new insights, tools, tips and skills that will help them and their business to enhance profitability, Finat said. ‘Both topics are two sides of the same coin,’ explained Jules Lejeune, Finat managing director. ‘On the one hand, label printers are servicing mature, competitive markets and are facing the challenge to differentiate their existing product and solutions and avoid commoditization. On the other, the European Label Forum 2015 learned us that end users are more and more open to working with their strategic labels and packaging suppliers on the joint development of new solutions.’

Other components of the program include the findings from the latest Finat Radar report, a review of noteworthy developments seen at drupa 2016, and an interactive session led by Mike Fairley and the Label Academy that will put business leaders to the test on their knowledge about labeling technology. The first morning session of ELF 2016 will be interactive through the use of Buzzmaster, allowing attendees to interact with the program in real time using their smartphones as moderator Rens de Jong conducts interviews with stakeholders from different areas of the European label market. To conclude ELF 2016, former Formula One racing executive Mark Gallagher will present an ‘outside in’ perspective of a winning and innovative future for the label industry.

The program is designed to address current and potential challenges and opportunities in the label industry, as Jules Lejeune, Finat managing director detailed. ‘The European Label Forum offers a unique source of knowledge, experience and networking key to the strategic success of label businesses in an international environment.

‘We have excellent speakers on tap and expect that every attendee will leave the Forum with many new ideas to immediately implement as the look to the future of their businesses. We are especially pleased to be kicking off the session with a talk by Swedish Futurologist Magnus Lindkvist who will talk about the disruptive trends that will change the label and package printing market over the next 10 years. It will be a great way to get our creative juices going and frame the work we will be doing during the remainder of the event.’

A supplier table-top exhibition and the Finat Awards ceremony on June 16 provide strong networking opportunities.

The Finat European Label Forum 2016 takes place June 16-18 at the Moevenpick Hotel in Amsterdam.

ELF is one date in Finat’s extensive 2016 event program; see more upcoming industry events on the L&L website