Opportunities beyond labels

Labelexpo Americas is no longer just about labels. Mike Fairley provides an analysis of some of the new opportunities to be found at the 2010 show in Chicago

The label industry has always grown through innovation and new ideas. It’s been quick to encompass materials, technology or products that create new opportunities and added value applications, and has been good at solving problems for potential new customers and markets.

After the past few years of global financial crisis, difficult trading conditions and a still somewhat uncertain recovery, it is probably even more important for the label converter to now be looking at even newer opportunities – both within labels and beyond − and to consider entering new niche markets, becoming more flexible in their production, driving costs down, and increasing profitability.

Perhaps as good a place to start in this quest is by attending the forthcoming Labelexpo Americas show in Chicago. With some 400 exhibitors, 23 conference sessions, a masterclass and a series of technology workshops, there are bound to be a multitude of possibilities for growth that the converter should be studying – which this year are expected to include unsupported film, flexible packaging and sleeve label applications, cartons, digital sheet-fed printing of wet-glue labels, RFID insertion, medical applications and booklet finishing.

Indeed, there is an area of the show in Hall C which will be solely dedicated to the print and packaging processes beyond labels and which are opportunities for converters. In this area, called ‘Beyond labels – new opportunities for the converter’, exhibitors will demonstrate combined packaging solutions and different product and market applications.

It is already clear from advance information that there will be some exciting new converting opportunities on show this year; opportunities that any serious converter should be evaluating in their ongoing quest for growth and profitability.

Delta Industrial, for example, will show two converting systems for multiple processes at Labelexpo Americas. One application being demonstrated, which will certainly attract converter interest, is a medical process converting line – which comes complete with in-line heatseal packaging. It will also show a complete digital print finishing line, as will companies such as AB Graphic International Inc.

Meanwhile, among a number of machines that Nilpeter will be debuting at the show, the FA-6 is particularly aimed at the growing number of converters that wish to offer a comprehensive ‘one-stop’ label and packaging service to brand owners and packaging contractors. This 8-color, 22 inch wide press is equipped with both UV curing units and hot air dryers for producing a variety of film packaging, labels and carton board.

Likewise, Mark Andy is another exhibitor setting out to aid converters looking for new opportunities outside of self-adhesive labels, by showing a number of advanced label and non-label applications, such as the latest in RFID insertion, or machines for the printing of unsupported label and packaging films and the production of light cartons.

Or what about booklet labels? Converters interested in production of multi-page labels for agrochemical, food or pharmaceutical markets should visit the Prati booth, where equipment for applying a booklet label onto a base label for automatic application − and then adding variable data information as well if required – will be on display.

Durst Photechnik will show a digital varnishing module, Diva, for the Rotoworx modular finishing system. This module has the ability to produce different gloss levels – high gloss, semi-gloss, satin, matte, etc – in just one single pass and with a single varnishing fluid.

Believed to be unique in the label industry, the module also enables converters to produce special effects, such as textures and tactile elements – and even vary the top finish from label to label.

And what about those converters, industry suppliers or label users looking to understand more about digital printing technologies, their market applications and opportunities, or looking to invest in a digital press for the first time? They would do well to attend the digital label printing masterclass being run on the third morning of the show. An intensive three-hour session being presented by some of the leading experts in this sector, the masterclass is an ideal introduction to this fast-growing technology.

A whole range of interesting conference sessions during the show will also provide new ideas and opportunities for converters. Sessions this year include printed electronics, brand protection and anti-counterfeiting, SnapTag technology that can enhance a brand, opportunities in flexible packaging, as well as range of special management and technical topics – including color management, automation and integration of digital technology throughout the production chain, and the development of a sustainable supply chain.

Labelexpo Americas now offers converters opportunities that extend beyond self-adhesive labels into sleeve labels, heat transfer decoration, flexible packaging, cartons and much more; opportunities that can add value and enhance profitability, products that can provide a total packaging and label service to customers, solutions to aid brand owners in track and trace, counterfeit deterrence and marketing.

Click here for more stories about Labelexpo Americas on L&L.com.