Launch of Turkish edition of Label Encyclopedia

Almost 200 label converters, label industry suppliers, special guests and media representatives attended a keynote presentation, book launch and cocktail reception at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Istanbul, on the March 16. The event was sponsored by Canpas (Can Hassas Kağit San Ve Tic. A.S.), one of Turkey’s leading ‘world brand’ label suppliers to the cosmetics, cleaning products, textile, food and industrial sectors.

The presentation on ‘The future of label converting’ by Michael Fairley, director strategic development for the labels group, Tarsus Exhibitions and Publishing, was a prelude to the launch of the Turkish language version of the Encyclopedia of Labels and Label Technology – with the translation and printing of the book again sponsored by Canpas.

During the presentation Mr Fairley highlighted how the label industry had evolved from a craft-based industry to a technology-based industry during the 1980s and 1990s and was now becoming a service and value solutions-based industry in the 21st century. This was to meet the demands of ever more sophisticated private and own-brand label buyers who were looking for labels and packaging to be more entertaining, required ‘Smart’ label solutions, were looking for a more rapid time to market, needed to better manage their supply chains and who demanded higher levels of brand equity and brand protection.

Key elements required to meet this changing world of label converting were ever-increasing digitization – of origination, artwork, files, proofing, document transfer and printing – and new direct digital-drive servo press set-up, control, printing and converting technology. To manage these sophisticated solutions and requirements now demanded by label buyers was also leading to more sophisticated management of information, procedures and systems within the label plant.

To add value to the label converting business today, he explained, also meant that label converters should be looking at what other converted or self-adhesive products could be produced on their narrow-web presses (pouches, sleeves, narrow-web cartons, etc), as well as becoming involved in the future of smart labels using RFID, smart active and intelligent label solutions. He concluded by reviewing some of the key challenges facing the label converter: globalization, reducing wastage and costs, adding value and the development of new levels of service.

Following the seminar presentation, Mr Aydin Okay, president of Canpas and of the Turkish Label Association, and Michael Fairley (who is the author of the Encyclopedia), undertook a joint book signing of the Turkish version of the Encyclopedia, complimentary copies of which were then presented to all those who attended the event.