Labelexpo Europe shines

Labelexpo Europe continues to go from strength to strength. As the world’s most important showcase for new developments in the world of labels, narrow web converting and now print packaging, it is a must-see event for label and packaging printers, designers and end users. 

In writing about the Brussels expo for the last 15 years, I have not seen such a blizzard of important new product introductions. These include not just a raft of new digital print and converting equipment, but also new labels and packaging presses, important advances in press control technology, plant management systems and automated quality control. On the materials front we see exciting new developments in areas like thin films – including a new die-cut system dedicated to cutting the industry’s thinnest PS substrates. 

There are two new major feature areas at this year’s show. The popular Digital Print Workshops, introduced at last year’s Labelexpo Americas, will make their debut in Europe. Three printing technologies – dry toner, liquid toner and inkjet – will be compared against each other during live machine demonstrations run by an independent moderator. The technologies will be represented by Xeikon, HP and EFI Jetrion respectively. 

For the first time at any Labelexpo show, there will also be a new feature dedicated to package printing. The aim is to introduce label printers to opportunities in short-run package printing, including flexible packaging, folding cartons, pouches and sachets. Many of these jobs can be printed on narrow to mid web presses and there will be package printing presses and converting systems on display at the show. 

Another interesting innovation at this year’s show is a dedicated Operators Day on the last Saturday, when label company owners are encouraged to bring their pressroom operators to Labelexpo. 

L&L will have its global editorial team present at the show from Europe, Latin America, North America, China and India, so please make a point of dropping onto the stand to tell us about any new developments – or just for a chat on what’s new.