The first Label Summit India celebrates roaring success

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The first Label Summit India, which took place 21-22 February 2006 at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, was a resounding success with 609 visitors from India and other key international markets attending. The unique trade event offered an unrivalled chance for visitors and exhibitors to meet and do serious business with senior representatives from across the label industry. The success of this summit mirrors the booming Indian label industry with 20 per cent annual growth predicted over the next few years. 


The feedback from visitors and exhibitors at the 2006 event has been extremely positive with over 60 per cent of exhibitors re-booking for the next Label Summit India, taking place at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi on 7-8 March 2007.


Harveer Sahni, managing director, Weldon Celloplast said: ‘It was a great event, where all who mattered in the industry came. The summit left us richer in our experience and more knowledgeable about our industry. It created a great feeling of fellowship and brought meaning to the fact that the global narrow-web label industry is becoming one large extended family.’


Vivek Kapoor, director, Icon Prints, said: ‘The two-day Label Summit India held recently in Delhi was one of the best events I have attended.  The distinguished speakers with their well-researched presentations on the technical innovations and market potential of the label industry were educative and inspiring. The interactive sessions brought into focus various exciting technological developments that can with careful and thoughtful implementation benefit our businesses by reducing operation costs through efficiency improvements.”


Federico D'Annunzio, managing director, GIDUE S.p.A., commented: ‘The Indian Label Summit has confirmed the great idea behind business to business networking in a dedicated ‘one space’ environment, with quick and effective results. During a summit it is possible to meet people and build personal relations in a proper environment, which leads to deeper business discussions. You show your products at Labelexpo, you know the people at a regional Label Summit: the perfect combination for business success in the label industry.’


The conference program, chaired by label experts Mike Fairley and Andy Thomas, was full with over 25 key industry players speaking to delegates about the hot topics affecting the country’s label industry. Technological developments were high on the agenda with speakers focusing on RFID and smart label technology.


The growing needs of brand owners were also highlighted by top industry players. A keynote presentation from Rene Abacherli, VP Asia Pacific at Gallus focused on the latest press technology affecting global brands. Rahul Bhargava from Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in India, highlighted his sector’s experiences with self-adhesive solutions.


Converters also spoke to a packed audience over the two-day conference. Harveer Sahni, a leading supplier in India, shared his insights into the country’s self-adhesive label growth opportunities. A panel session on ‘The growth of the Indian market from a converter perspective’ was chaired by Mike Fairley and comprised the following panel members: Manish Desai, Mudrika Labels; Ashish Agarwal, Paper Products; Vivek Kapoor, Icon Prints; and Bhavin Kothari, Interlabels. Sandeep Lal from Metrolabels traveled to the summit from Canada and opened the second day of the conference with a keynote session on ‘How to be a successful international label printer’. Other conference themes included: UV flexo presses; digital printing; wrap around film, unsupported film and sleeves.


Exhibitors from India and around the world included: Nilpeter; Mark Andy; Alphasonics; Brady Corporation; BST Sayona Automations; Erhardt & Leimer; Esko-Graphics; Focus Label Machinery; Gallus; GEW; Gidue; Golden-State Industrial; GRE; Digital Solutions; Hewlett Packard; IGT; Kaygee Loparex India; Link Label Machinery; and Zeller & Gmelin to name a few. The summit also attracted leading converters from across India and the world, creating an ideal environment for networking and business discussions.


Roger Pellow, Labelexpo managing director, said: ‘We’re delighted with our first India summit and have received fantastic feedback from exhibitors and visitors about the quality of the event. People felt the timing and the event offering exceeded their expectations. Visitors traveled from all over India and the world to be a part of this new and important event on the industry’s calendar. Over 60 per cent of the exhibitors have re-booked for the next Label Summit India in New Delhi in 2007 and we’re looking forward to welcoming them again. I’d also like to thank our friends in the Indian label industry and our trade association and media partners for their support in helping us to launch this new and very successful summit.’