Label Summit Latin America reports successful return to Brazil

In its third outing in So Paulo, Brazil, Label Summit Latin America attracted 532 visitors from throughout the region. The event’s conference progam focused on a variety of important industry issues, from globalization and international partnerships to end user requirements and sustainability, while afternoon sessions were split between technology and business management. A table-top exhibition, meanwhile, provided over 40 local and international suppliers with the opportunity to promote their products and plans for the region.

The Brazilian label market is showing signs of resisting the worst of the global economic downturn, maintaining impressive growth this year of around 5-6 percent. Local converters’ desire to invest and grow was reflected by the report from the Labelexpo Global Series, the Summit’s organizer, that the exhibition part of the event attracted more visitors than in any previous year.

The Summit also benefited from a shift in format in the conference progam. The afternoon break-out sessions allowed an increased focus on economic and executive challenges, while still providing a platform for specialized, educational presentations on areas such as digital technology, pre-press and RFID. Morning sessions, too, offered differentiation from previous events, with experts from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico providing increased insight into the Latin American markets and highlighting topics of particular relevance to the region.

Conference highlights included an excellent presentation from brothers Amin Silva Yedra and Fabian Silva Yedra, from Mexican label converter Etiquetas Anro. Discussing the challenges created by the arrival of the new generation to a family-run business, a particularly relevant issue in the label industry, they emphasized the importance of separating familial and professional relationships while clearly defining roles within the company. 

With the recent trend of US converting groups looking to invest in Latin American companies, Fernando Aravena provided a frank assessment of the acquisition of his former company Etiprak, a Chile-based label printing house, by North American company York Label. Aravena now owns label converting operations in both Peru and Argentina.

A panel session chaired by Labelexpo MD Roger Pellow, meanwhile, brought together John Hickey, president of US converter Smyth, and Jean Chatziefstratiou, director of Brazilian printer Prakolar. The interactive discussion focused on the potential in emerging markets and new areas of technology.

The Summit also witnessed an extremely positive reaction from both international suppliers and local converters to the news that L&L deputy editor James Quirk is to relocate to the region and create a newsletter dedicated to the Latin American label industry.

Roger Pellow, Labelexpo managing director, commented: ‘It was fantastic to be back with Label Summit Latin America in So Paulo for the third time, and to such a brilliant reception. It is an exciting time for the labeling industry in this region. We are looking forward to continuing our excellent relationship with the Brazilian association ABIEA and will definitely be back in 2011 with an even bigger and better educational event for the industry.’