The Brussels Expo center was packed with lots of very excited people for Labelexpo Europe 2017, including the label trade press, brand owners, converters, and suppliers to the industry. Calling it Labelexpo Europe is a bit of a misnomer; rather it should be called Labelexpo Global. A total of 139 countries were represented at the show! This global event was spread across nine halls covering over 400,000 square feet. It is a growing show with 679 exhibitors, 198 of them new entrants. While not as big as drupa, it has the same feel in excitement level, and features a lot of new product introductions. According to the show organizers, global label production growth is 1-3% above the global GDP, primarily driven by the rise of the global middle class, which explains the draw.

In general, it is interesting to see how many of the same trends we have been witnessing in commercial printing are now being mirrored in developments in label print and packaging production. Automation, digital control, digital embellishment, and higher levels of integration with third-party hardware and software solutions were very evident throughout the exhibits. 

Flexo is still the dominant printing technology in label production as a result of cost and performance advantages, and it will be for a while. Although it must be said that this is not your father’s flexo, primarily due to developments in both plate technology and optimized printing equipment over the last few years which provides new levels of quality and productivity. With these developments, we are already seeing flexo displacing gravure on one end, and even putting pressure on the inkjet crossover equation. Esko, Kodak, Agfa and Asahi were showing their latest flexo plate and processing technologies, which have increased the quality level of the print, and introduced more streamlined digital production processes. In conjunction with the event, Kodak had the grand opening of a ‘Flexo HUB’ near the Brussels airport, one of many regional centers the company is opening around the globe to collaborate with partners and users on its current and upcoming flexo technologies.