We keep hearing about all of the opportunities available in labels and packaging production, but where can you find them? And which ones are right for you and your company? Whether you are already a converter or are a print service provider looking at expanding your product and services portfolio, it is important to develop a long-term strategy in order to capture your share of the developing and changing markets.

Where do you start? Purchasing new technology? In essence, if “you build it, will they come”? If it is about technology, what type of print and converting/finishing and embellishment technology should you be looking at: flexo, gravure, offset, toner, inkjet, hybrid, bespoke? Drupa 2020 is about a year away, what should you be looking for when you get there? What about workflow? Does one size fit all, or do you need to create a workflow that will enable you to integrate all of your production processes? I recently touched on personalization in packaging. Is that the secret key to success? If you are a commercial printer and really don’t have an interest in expanding into Label and Packaging production, are there lessons you can learn from converters to enhance your business?

There really are no quick and easy answers to many of these questions, and to address each of them with the necessary focus to enable you to fully understand them and prepare to take action requires more than one article. So, I will take each of them on in this new series of articles, but in the context of the bigger picture.