Show Preview Narrow Web & Label: Labelexpo Europe Evolves

Published: August 01, 2011, By By Claudia Hine, Managing Editor

The UK-based Tarsus Group, organizers of Labelexpo Europe, have good reason to be optimistic about this year's show. Officials anticipate all six halls at the Brussels Expo in Belgium will be sold out when the doors open September 28. Managing director Roger Pellow says, “Labelexpo Europe is set to be the largest edition yet, and this will mean more working machinery and more opportunities for label converters and brand owners.”

What's New

Two major feature areas will be introduced this year. The Digital Print Workshops — popular at Labelexpo Americas last year — will make their European debut. Three digital print technologies — Xeikon's dry toner, HP's liquid toner, and EFI Jetrion's inkjet — will faceoff in live demonstrations.

There will be four of these Digital Print Workshop sessions per day. In three of the sessions, the same job — a food, pharmaceutical, or personal care label — will be printed on the same material. In the fourth session, participants will print a label of their choosing.

A special Package Printing Zone will introduce label printers to short-run package printing, including folding cartons, flexible packaging, pouches, and sachets. Says Pellow, “The Package Printing Zone will demonstrate how converters can expand their business beyond labels, often using the same equipment.”

According to Labelexpo's Mike Fairley, director of strategic development, “One of the challenges faced by brand owners and global retail groups is how to launch more and more products, have more variations and versions, increase their ability to personalize packs, react with consumers, and yet print shorter runs economically. A key solution to many of these challenges is to move to narrower web presses or, like the self-adhesive label industry, begin to install increasing numbers of digital printing presses.” Today, an estimated 15% of self-adhesive label converter output is taken up producing short-run packaging, Fairley reports.

On Display

What's in store for attendees? Avery Dennison (Stand 5A40) reports it will exhibit ThinStream, “a radically new way of die-cutting, which has the potential to revolutionize the traditional converting process.” ThinStream is an ultra-thin PET liner material that, combined with patented machine technology, is said to reduce liner waste by at least 40% and guarantee die-strike-free material. With a caliper of 12 microns (0.48 mil), ThinStream reportedly yields a minimum of 17% more labels per roll.

Narrow web suppliers also will introduce label presses, foil embossers, adhesives, software, label stock, and more. PFFC will keep you informed of all the Labelexpo Europe product introductions with special editions of our E-Clips e-newsletter. Subscribe now at www.pffc-online.com.