Background

Labelexpo Europe is the biggest of all the Labelexpo events, and truly a global event. It is held every other year, with the US event held in the even years. Launched in London in 1980, the event moved to Brussels in 1985 adjacent to the old World Fair Grounds. As the event grew, the venue became somewhat constrained in size and infrastructure, it was decided to move the venue to the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona. With over 650 exhibitors, the event will fill four halls with approximately 1.3 million sq.ft. of exhibit space.

Historically, it has been a label and converting event, but in recent years it has seen flexible packaging solutions share the floor as the shift in packaging and demands for more sustainable solutions increase. This year, for the first time, the event will also host folding carton solutions. As a result, this stands to become one of the most diverse label and packaging converting events in the world short of drupa. This expansion of label and packaging solutions reflects the changing demands of the market and the associated expansion of targeted hybrid manufacturing processes.

What to Expect?

While the name Labelexpo suggests it is a label show, flexible packaging solutions have continued to integrate into the mix, driven by the capabilities of some of the press technologies, but also as a hedge for more sustainable flexible packaging over rigid packaging. According to Jade Grace, the Managing Director of all of the Taurus Labelexpo events, “product decoration and information is the core application.”

Being a global event, there will be attendees from over 140 countries, with the top 10 country attendees most likely being from Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, UK, Spain, Poland India, and Türkiye. Of the over 630 exhibitors from all over the world, as with the 2023 event, there are an increasing amount from China, currently estimated at about 211 or almost 30% of the exhibitors. That compares with about 23% (by my calculation) of the exhibitors in 2023. These included both equipment and consumable manufacturers.

It should be no surprise that there are many Chinese and Asian exhibitors, since many of the solutions and/or components distributed by non-Asian companies include components produced in Asia and the Pac Rim. While I noticed a presence of Chinese manufacturers at Label Expo US last year, I expect a wide range of hardware including, flexo, offset, inkjet, embellishment, converting, etc.

Lots of Equipment

There will be a lot of new digital, inkjet and hybrid press and converting solutions in the exhibit halls. Automation will be the overriding and common theme, and considering the market shifts, demands, and labor challenges, this should be high on most converters’ minds at this point. While sustainability has been an important theme in the last few Labelexpo events, it will be more prominent this year since the new EU waste regulations that went into effect in February of this year are now putting pressure on the entire packaging supply chain, including the manufacturers and its suppliers.

Flexo still produces the majority of packaging across most applications, and over the last decade there has continued to be significant development in adapting and digitalizing the equipment to better support the needs of the market. This year the exhibitors will highlight the trend towards wider “mid-web” press widths between 26–30-in. (670–850mm). This wider format size is optimized for cost-effective printing of shrink sleeves, in-mold labels, wraparound labels, flexible packaging, and lightweight folding cartons.

Some of the products will include the Omet X7, Mark Andy Performance Series S9, Lombardi Invicta i1, Spande AC, and Nilpeter FA-26. MPS and Bobst will promote their mid-web technology without a press on the show floor. Digitalized narrow-web flexo presses at the show include the Nilpeter FA-17, Spande S7, the launch of Lombardi’s new Synchroline, and presses from Bengraphic, Label Source (showing a machine configured for non-stop operation), Label King, Hontec, Multitec, Zonten and Weigang.

As packaging demands have shifted, the need to support end-to-end solutions are becoming more important and modularity is one of the keys to support that. The rapid exchange of plug-and-play print and converting units, including embellishment, is the answer to that. Digitalization, automation, and modularity can bring you performance increases and flexibility. However, hybrid presses can make use of an almost unlimited combination of digital and conventional print, decoration, and converting units. Examples on the show floor will include the nine-color 420mm-wide Durst KJET, incorporating the company’s LED-UV inkjet print engine, four flexo units, two multi-purpose lamination units, turn-bar and semi-rotary die-cut. Other hybrid presses will include Mark Andy DSHD HighSpeed 1200, printing 1200 dpi at 146 m/min. (480 ft./min.), and units by Label Source, Zonten, and Lombardi. Arrow Systems will bring a hybrid water-based inkjet press to the show, with its Memjet-based ArrowJet Bolt Hybrid Pro M incorporating inline priming and varnishing at speeds up to 150m/min.

Gallus is expected showcase a solution built around its “System to Compose” hybrid technology combining the Gallus One digital press and Labelmaster flexo platform. Bobst will also promote its latest hybrid technology. Another way to “hybridize” a flexo press is to add press-wide print bars, either for white, spot colors, or for jetting cold foil adhesives and varnishes for textured effects. There will be a host of solutions to support these additions. Among the print bars demonstrated at Labelexpo Europe 2025 will be the Domino K600i and Jetron PB400, a newly launched unit with print speeds up to 75m/min. Fujifilm will also launch a digital metallization module built around its Samba 42k print bar integrated with am Actega EcoLeaf unit.

There are no CI flexo presses expected to be on the show floor at Labelexpo Europe 2025. However, several CI suppliers have booths at the show to promote their presses to label converters looking to scale up their production of filmic labels and flexible packaging. Giave is claiming a breakthrough technology with its Gialux LED-UV CI press, which has a more compact footprint because it does not require a drying tunnel. Comexi will promote the latest upgrade to its established F4 Origin CI press.

Offset

Intermittent/semi-rotary is the most common offset technology on show at Labelexpo Europe 2025. This technology has remained remarkably resilient in short-run high-value markets such as wine labels. Companies showing equipment at the show include Miyakoshi, Weigang, Zonten and Wanjie. Rotary offset is also represented at Labelexpo Europe 2025, with Rotatek showing a print module from its redesigned Universal 850 rotary offset press. The company promises more information about the relaunch of the Brava semi-rotary press and work on AI modeling of ink-water balance. Comexi, meanwhile, promotes the latest version of its unique offset CI Evolution technology. We should not forget sheetfed offset technology. Heidelberg will be heavily promoting the latest automation and inline coating and foiling technologies and post-processing systems for its Speedmaster press programs dedicated to wet glue and in-mold labels.

Digital

While most of the exhibitors have yet to announce their latest products and solutions, there are some that are starting to see the light of day. HP Indigo will be showing a number of solutions, especially now that the expo focus includes their strengths in labels, flexible packaging, and folding carton, and the associated converting equipment. They already one of their products, the HP Indigo 6K+, which is a significant upgrade to the current 6K. It includes AI-powered automation tools and a new “SmartControlSystem.” This new press has been in beta for a while and after speaking with a few of the beta sites, they were impressed with the performance and uptime. They will be showing this alongside their flagship HP Indigo V12 and other solutions.

Xeikon will showcase its TX500, running live demonstrations with inline metallization from Kurz. This is also the Labelexpo debut of Xeikon’s PX3300HD high-definition Panther inkjet press. Durst is keeping the details of its new press launch under wraps until the show, describing it as a “compact, scalable” eight-color LED-UV press. Konica Minolta presents the prototype of a new AccurioLabel press with an added IQ unit for in-line quality control. Canon showcases its UVgel Factory for Labels, featuring the wide format Colorado M-series, Fotoba Jumbo Roll JRL 17, and Colex flatbed cutting table for automated roll printing and digital finishing of kiss-cut self-adhesives and labels. Canon will also show the LabelStream LS2000 CMYK+W water-based press.

The availability of water-based inkjet solutions, particularly in food and other migration-sensitive applications, are increasing. Epson will promote the commercial launch of its SurePress L-5034, operating at 13.5 m/min., while Arrow Systems’ new Memjet-based ArrowJet Bolt Hybrid Pro M includes inline priming and varnishing, operating at up to 150m/min. Among other digital press introductions, Dantex will show its new entry-level PicoColour UV inkjet press alongside the established PicoJet; AstroNova launches the QL-435 1,200 DPI digital press targeted at mid-to longer runs; Dilli highlights its flagship Neo Picasso Plus UV inkjet press running with a jumbo winder for longer runs; Jetron will demonstrate its D2Roll LB3550 UV inkjet press incorporating digital embossing and opaque white.

Domino will show its latest N730i digital press built with parent Brother’s 1200 dpi Bitstar printheads, along with the established N610i. Screen Europe will launch its Truepress Label 350UV SAI-S with an inline primer unit to improve ink adhesion, reduces graininess, and allows for creative texture effects. Another interesting launch is Epson’s D3000 UV-UIR PrecisionCore printhead, capable of imaging at 1,200 dpi.

Folding Cartons

Since this is the first time folding cartons will have a “voice” at Labelexpo Europe, inline flexography and rotary offset represent a disruptive alternative to the multi-stage sheetfed offset process which dominates the highly consolidated industrial folding carton industry. The ability to produce a finished carton from the reel and to add multiple decoration and reverse printing steps inline is a true game-changer. Canon will demonstrate the Edale CartonLine UV flexo press at the show, configured with turnbar cold foil, lamination and flatbed die cutting. I’m sure there will be many other solutions shown as well.

It’s All About the Connections

All of these exciting new hardware solutions, as well as those already installed at the converter will need to be managed and connected to the internal equipment as well as the rest of the external supply chain. Solutions from Esko, Hybrid Software, Label Traxx, CERM, DATALINE, ePS, FourPees, infigo, PRINT/Vis, and many more will be there to help you understand options and solutions.

What Are You Waiting For?

Labelexpo Europe 2023 was a good event, and Labelexpo 2025 promises to be a great event. As is the case with most of today’s expo events, there are many reasons people attend and you probably should as well. You most likely need to “see” and “review” what is available from your preferred partners. Especially now since the tariff situation seems to be starting to find its home. What better place to see what new technologies, even the ones in the small booths on the edges, offer that can increase your opportunities and profitability. Finally, it is a great way to meet like-minded printers and converters to help you level set your business against the others.

And of course, Barcelona is a lovely city with incredible history, art, scenery, and food. Hope to see you there!

More to Come…

I would like to address your interests and concerns in future articles as it relates to the manufacturing of Print, Packaging, and Labels, and how if at all it drives Industry 4.0 and 5.0. If you have any interesting examples of hybrid and bespoke manufacturing, I am anxious to hear about them. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] with any questions, suggestions, or examples of interesting applications.