The first edition of Labelexpo Europe since 2019 closed on a high note last week, with a total of 637 exhibitors taking part in the show, which took place in Brussels Belgium for the last time, before the move to Barcelona for 2025. Australian and NZ visitors were everywhere, reports one exhibitor and the uptake of inkjet in narrow web is gaining pace.
Screen's Truepress PAC 520P inkjet press showed how paper-based flexible packaging can reduce harmful plastics
Spread across nine halls and covering 36,588 sqm of floor place, this year’s show featured over 250 product launches focused particularly on flexible packaging, digitization and automation.
The unprecedented heatwave in Brussels did not deter 35,889 visitors from 138 countries attending the four-day show. Countries such as Germany, France, Oceania and Italy were especially well represented, with large visitor delegations.
Equipment manufacturers announced multiple sales across the four days and an exhibitor rebook rate of 96% was reported for Labelexpo Europe 2025.
Demonstrating how Labelexpo Europe is evolving into a package printing show, digital printing of paper-based flexible packaging materials was evident on the show floor, with paper-based packaging printed by Xeikon on the new TX-500 Titon toner press and SCREEN on the Truepress Pac520P – seen for the first time at a Labelexpo. Inkjet was prominent bot as stand-alone R2R devices and hybrid lines incorporating flexo stations.
An example of this was on the busy Screen stand, where SCREEN and Nilpeter unveiled an innovative integrated printing solution, to meet the increasing demand in integrated digital printing and embellishment. The two companies partnerered with the aim to meet the requirements of the label and packaging industry with stable and high-quality combination printing.
The integrated hybrid solution combines Screen's new Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI technology with Nilpeter's state-of-the-art FA-Line flexo platform. The Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI S unit offers up to seven digital colours, enabling expanded gamut along with high performance white printing. Integrated with Nilpeter's platform-based FA-Line and embellishment solutions, the in-line solution facilitates an efficient production of value-added labels using Flexograpohy, digital and converting.
Both Screen and Durst announced local region sales of inkjet digital label presses with Australian/NZ personel from both organisations and dealers.
In-line digital primer for Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI extends media range
Screen also announced the prototype development of an in-line inkjet digital primer for its flagship label printing press, the Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI. This
New primer for Screen's Truepress Label 350UV Sai overcomes adhesion issues of difficult labelstocks ground-breaking feature addresses one of the biggest challenges in UV inkjet digital printing, namely poor ink adhesion on certain substrates.
Traditionally, the issue of poor ink adhesion has been resolved through offline pre-priming of the substrate before printing labels. However, Screen's cutting-edge development eliminates this extra step by incorporating an in-line digital primer directly inside its Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI digital printing press. This innovative solution not only saves time and resources but could also deliver superior ink adhesion on a wide range of substrates and better print quality that enhance visual appeal and brand impact.
First look at Screen's Truepress PAC 520P inkjet press for paper packaging
Screen also presented its innovative Truepress PAC 520P inkjet digital printing press for paper packaging at Labelexpo Europe 2023. A rapidly growing trend is the reduction of plastic material used in packaging and its paper-based equivalent replacement as consumers perceive paper-based packaging as a more environmentally friendly and easy-to-recycle format for the products they buy.
In response to these market trends, Screen is moving forward with product planning for its Truepress PAC 520P – a high-speed, water-based inkjet digital press for paper-based packaging substrates with a much lower environmental impact than conventional printing processes. The Truepress PAC 520P uses newly developed proprietary water-based pigment inks that comply with appropriate food-safety regulations.
The Truepress PAC 520P offers label converters a seamless entry into the lucrative flexible packaging market, providing a competitive edge and increased profitability. With its small compact footprint and relatively low level of investment, this innovative solution eliminates the need for label converters to continuously struggle with tight margins in a saturated market.
Screen also announce a partnership with Scantrust, a software platform that leverages product packaging and secure QR codes for anti-counterfeiting, packaging compliance, product traceability, and customer engagement, have entered into a partnership to help consumers and brand owners fight product counterfeits. Using sophisticated digital printing technology and a patented process for creating secure QR codes, the combined partners' technology makes it possible for anyone to instantly check whether a secure code is authentic or not. A smartphone camera is all that’s needed to authenticate a Scantrust secure QR code.
Flexo still strongest
Flexo remains the most widely-used printing technology and is adapting well to the digital onslaught. Flexo 'made a major comeback' at this show, with Nilpeter, Lombardi and BOBST demonstrating printing of flexible packaging and unsupported label film materials on 26in/670mm mid-web UV flexo press lines on the show floor. OMET made the show debut of its KFlex modular flexo platform and Mark Andy launched the Pro Series flexo press, upgradable to a hybrid machine.
96% rebook for Barcelona
Jade Grace, Managing Director, Labelexpo Global Series said: “We’ve just delivered Labelexpo Europe 2023 after a four-year break and what a show it has been! The feedback we have received from visitors and exhibitors alike has consistently shown the high quality of leads, enquiries and contacts made at the show, with an incredible number of sales secured on the exhibition floor. We have also secured a rebook rate of 96% for Labelexpo Europe 2025, which bodes well for our first show in Barcelona."
In thanking both exhibors and visitors for unwavering support, Grace adds: “It has been the hardest show yet for us to deliver, but the most rewarding. We are looking forward to the next chapter in 2025 where we will be bringing Labelexpo Europe to its new home at the Fira in Barcelona, with many plans to stimulate growth and collaboration in the industry.”
Echoing this sentiment, Jules Lejeune, Managing Director, FINAT said: “For us, Labelexpo is always an excellent opportunity to meet with members, potential members and other interested parties and to engage in conversations about our current and future programmes, and to recruit members and enlist volunteers for our working groups and taskforces. This year, we featured our efforts to facilitate value chain collaboration on sustainability such as CELAB-Europe, UV FoodSafe and Product Carbon Footprint, and to act as spokesperson of the label industry towards European legislators and stakeholders.”
Steve Flannery, SVP & GM Materials Group EMENA, Avery Dennison commented: "We were thrilled to be back at Labelexpo for the first time since the pandemic and connect together. Our booth was buzzing with conversations around a linerless future, the benefits of EcoDesign, digital innovations and so much more. Thanks for an amazing turnout!"
Other major show features for Labelexpo Europe 2023 included the Automation Arena which drew in large crowds to every one of its ten live demonstrations. Visitors witnessed a fully automated workflow from file creation to turret rewind with automated inspection and MIS integration, without any manual intervention. The participants included CERM, Esko, Xeikon, KURZ, Grafotronic and Fedrigoni Self-Adhesive.
Two expert-led Label Academy-hosted master classes covered the hot topics of flexible packaging and sustainable labels.
Pierre Dogliani, R&D innovation manager, NW Europe, Flint Group, who spoke at the sustainable labels and packaging master class said: "Engaging in this educational platform has been a truly enriching experience, and it's been very inspiring to observe the immense enthusiasm among participants when exploring the realm of sustainable inks and coatings. I believe these insights offered attendees a broader and more informed perspective on sustainability in the label industry."
https://www.labelexpo-europe.com/
