Show Preview | Labelexpo Americas 2018

Published: September 03, 2018, By Christine Pietryla Wetzler

Labelexpo Americas has progressed into much more than a trade show for label converters. It’s also the region’s go-to industry show for flexible packaging and folding carton professionals, and a one-stop shop to connect with converters and brand owners. This year’s focus is on future technology and sustainability.

For more information or to register for Labelexpo Americas 2018, visit www.labelexpo-americas.com.
 
Over 400 exhibitors are taking part, with dozens of live printing press demonstrations and product launches showcasing the latest technology. New features include the ground-breaking Automation Arena – which has never been seen before at a trade show in the region, Labelexpo Connections, a 1:1 business meeting program and the TLMI Ecovillage.

The Automation Arena, located in Hall F of the Convention Center, will showcase two automated press lines for conventional (shrink sleeve) and digital (label) production, covering job creation to pre-press, printing, finishing and customer invoicing. There will be three 30-minute demonstrations over the first two days and two on the last day.

The educational conference program offers 12 topical sessions to appeal to converters, including workforce recruitment, mergers and acquisitions, printing on demand, and flexible packaging opportunities. Highlights include CEO-led panel sessions on the first two days discussing long-term competitiveness, connecting the supply chain, and the package printing market.

Attendees can also choose from three expert-led Label Academy master classes covering: shrink sleeve technology, markets and applications; inks, coatings and varnishes, their application in modern narrow web converting operations and legislation; and management information systems (MIS)/workflow automation. Attendees will be able to immediately see this theory in action as these are all key components being demonstrated at the Automation Arena.

Registered attendees can also accelerate their networking opportunities with the fast-track attendee/exhibitor Labelexpo Connections 1:1 appointment program. This allows them to undergo a matching process with potential business leads from participating companies, resulting in a series of relevant 1:1 business meeting at the show.

The show’s sustainability focus will be highlighted at the TLMI Ecovillage, sponsored by Convergen Energy, Channeled Resources Group and Avery Dennison, where the latest sustainable products will be displayed, and a daily speaker will cover topics including the new plastics economy. In addition, waste matrix collected from the live press demonstrations will be brought here, baled and sent to Convergen Energy who will make the waste into low carbon fuel pellets.

Given the emphasis on technology, it is also fitting that the Label Industry Global Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation in the industry, take place on the first evening of Labelexpo Americas, 25 September. More information at www.labelawards.com.

 

BOOTH DESCRIPTIONS

ACTEGA North America (Booth #711) will feature In-mold coatings, UV ink systems, narrow web digital primers and special effects coatings.

Anderson & Vreeland (Booth #929) will be highlighting key technologies backed by its team of technical experts thoroughly versed in the fine points of flexo and digital imaging.

Avery Dennison (Booth #119) will demonstrate solutions that deliver enhanced shelf appeal, higher performance and increased sustainability. We are also unveiling new intelligent labelling solutions, and details of increasingly transparent compliance and services.

AVT (Booth #5202) will showcase new solutions for streamlining quality process workflows, which stem from integration with sister company offerings within the Danaher Product Identification Platform (PID).

Baldwin Vision Systems (Booth #1339) will be showcasing its market-leading inspection and color management systems. They can also provide further insight into how this new “print technology powerhouse” can offer customers complete software and hardware solutions and the ability to connect data throughout the overall process and workflow with automated tools for pre-press, press, and post-press. 

BOBST (Booth #5403) will showcase profitable solutions for the production of challenging applications and trending label specialties. 

Contiweb (Booth #6464) will demonstrate the company’s hybrid web offset system, the Contiweb Thallo. Beyond this, this year we will see the company celebrate its 40^th anniversary, as well as the opening a new office in the USA.

DNP Imagingcomm America Corporation (Booth #1421) will be showcasing four brand new high-performance products.

Domino (Booth #6523) will be bringing its ‘Digital Printing Spectrum’ open house event to the show, welcoming attendees to “See More. Learn More. Do More.” with a complete Schedule of Events and a line-up of guest presenters who are well-known, well-respected in the industry.

Epson (Booth #5813) is planning a new product introduction and will showcase its full range of commercial label solutions, from ColorWorks color label printers for independent businesses to SurePress digital inkjet label presses for large production.

Esko (Booth #5202) will showcase how integrated and automated solutions, such as color specification, 3D pack shots and design reviews, can link brand owners, designers, premedia and the pressroom into a highly productive and efficient workflow. The result - Packaging Connected - drives faster throughput, higher quality, and 'Right First Time' production.

ETI Converting Equipment (Booth #2040) will exhibit a 22” width ETI Cohesio machine equipped with the most recent technologies developed by the company.

Flexo Wash (Booth #511) will introduce the latest in anilox cleaning technology.

FIJIFILM (Booth #5621) is showcasing Flenex plates, the new Illumina retrofit LED curing system, Flexo inks and the new Samba Printbar Systems.

Gallus and Heidelberg (Booth #6150) announced the completion of their full integration in North America and will exhibit their aligned product portfolios. Additionally, Gallus’s new Smartfire digital label printing system will be unveiled to the North American market, and Heidelberg’s Omnifire 250 4D inkjet digital printer will be available for demonstration at the largest event for the label and package printing industry in the Americas.

GSE (Booth #558) has enhanced its ink manager software by introducing an optional module that brings improved control of job procedures and costs, as well as better traceability in label and packaging printing. The software enables converters to minimize ink-related waste, providing improved ink yields, enhanced reporting and business planning and reduced setup times.

Harper Corporation (Booth #401) will be exhibiting several of its products this year and discussing how available programs, services, and anilox technology can enhance print repeatability and improve profitability. One of the systems on display will be Harper’s award-winning patented QDTM ink proofing and flatbed printing system which uses flexographic and gravure processes.

Innovia Films (Booth #1221) will present its expanded range of labeling products and highlight the recent acquisition of manufacturing capabilities in the Americas which now supports new technical expertise in both ‘Bubble’ and Tenter films.

Lundberg Tech, Inc. (Booth #1617) showcases ways label converters can improve operational efficiencies with the MatrixCompactor 140. Designed for removing and handling matrix and edge trim waste from label presses, the solution increases productivity and allows for non-stop production.

MacDermid Graphics Solutions (Booth #528) will be highlighting the recent expansion of its innovative flat-top dot portfolio and cutting-edge thermal platemaking equipment.

Mann Engineering (Booth #1804) will introduce its HYBRID technology Lamination Coating Line. This is a coating line that can produce both laminate and linerless labels.

Martin Automatic (Booth #811) will be exhibiting for the first time a space-saving non-stop roll changer with the shortest inline footprint available. The streamlined design is made possible by its integrated 90-degree turnbar that makes this splicer the perfect choice for label printers who are very tight on space but still want the reliable performance and increased production that an MBS automatic splicer provides.

Matik (Booth #5803) will feature live demonstrations of an SEI Laser Labelmaster laser cutter featuring True digital finishing. SEI Laser Labelmasters offer production with no dies, on-the-fly job changes, high speed, high-quality laser cutting, kiss-cutting and marking. Additionally, features such as cutting individual labels, spot varnish and counted finished labels will be demonstrated live.

Maxcess (Booth #841) will bring a number of its brands to the show including Webex and Menges Roller which will debut of a Low-Inertia Carbon Fiber Idler Roll, as well as Heat Transfer Rolls, Vacuum and Idler Rolls; Valley Roller featuring rubber compounds that offer outstanding resiliency and help customers achieve substantial productivity improvements; Componex- WINertia™ Dead Shaft Idlers which maintain constant traction on high-speed webs and include built-in “air vents” that remove trapped air 7.5 times faster than alternatives; Fife will offer a sneak preview of a sensor technology using multiple cameras, enhanced digital sensor technology and the next-generation inspection system (VEO 700); Tidland brings the Control Series Electronic Knifeholder that offers auto-calibration of side force and blade overlap to increase slit accuracy and consistency; and MAGPOWR will showcase DLCA-NET, a tension amplifier with networking capabilities, offering the ability to transmit calibrated tension values over communications. In addition, the ISR/CSR Integrated Sensing Idler Rollers will be on display.

MPS Systems North America (Booth #911) features the EF SYMJET digital/flexo hybrid solution. The hybrid press combines the stability of the existing MPS EF flexo platform with the integrated well-proven Domino N610i inkjet engine, allowing converters to combine flexo and digital printing as well as converting, all in one pass.

OMET (Booth #3123) is launching its new hybrid OMET XJet powered by Durst, which can be configured with a range of X6 print and converting units along with the Durst Tau digital engine.

SEI Laser (Booth #5803) will demonstrate 'True Digital Finishing' on their Labelmaster digital finishing machine at Matik's booth 5803. SEI Laser's Labelmaster digital finishing machine delivers a cutting and finishing solution that fits the complete digital workflow process.

TRESU Group (Booth #1308) will showcase complete ancillary solutions for automatically regulating ink circulation on flexo presses for more efficient label and carton board production. 

Vetaphone (Booth #5605) will showcase its latest iCorona technology and high power corona treaters, able to treat conductive and non-conductive substrates and equipped with quick change electrode cartridges as standard.

Xeikon (Booth #728) will introduce an entry-level label printing and converting solution, offered at a price point that brings the lucrative label market squarely within reach for label converters of all sizes.