Must-attend event for strategic business knowledge, information and inspiration 

The Hague, The Netherlands – With less than a month to go, FINAT, the international association for the self-adhesive label industry, is making a strong statement with its leading 2015 industry event. Over 200 top leaders from the label and narrow web industry have already confirmed attendance to the completely rebranded annual congress: the European Label Forum (ELF). This industry must-attend event takes place in Amsterdam, June 11 to 13. The European Label Forum delivers a complete break with the past in terms of its programming and offers attendees a unique source of knowledge to redefine its business. All details about the Forum, thought leadership speakers, full programme, registration and practical details are available on the dedicated website www.europeanlabelforum.com.

“In the label world, there are a lot of fast and dramatic changes taking place in decorating technologies, packaging types, branding strategies, and markets”, says FINAT Managing Director Jules Lejeune, “As such, we need to pursue a wider vision. The small and mid-sized companies that traditionally made up our industry base when self-adhesive labelling took off in the mid-1970s are now part of a much broader supplier segment challenged to meet the needs of demanding international brands, multiple retailers, and high-tech product manufacturers. We need to change our profile to meet those needs in the 21st century – to be at the leading-edge of product decoration, and at the same time to run successful and profitable businesses.” 

New solid business focus

FINAT’s European Label Forum is bringing together senior management in label converters and their direct and indirect suppliers at an event that, at its core, is a vehicle for creating strategic business knowledge, information and inspiration. Three parallel agenda streams – sales and marketing, manufacturing and technology, and management and corporate affairs – will provide in-depth focus on major company concerns today, in the specific context of labels and packaging. Topics addressed will include such concerns as the future of retailing; label design as a sales tool in today’s market; decoration technologies that compete with traditional labels; 3D printing (dubbed ‘the third industrial revolution’); succession planning in family companies; and how to sell your business. There will also be a highly-participative lean manufacturing workshop. 

Speakers are market leaders

Papers delivered by market-leading speakers characterise the event. Keynote speakers EU past-president Herman van Rompuy and bestselling Danish author and entrepreneur Rasmus Ankersen are part of a line-up which also includes Ramses Dingenouts of global beer brand Heineken and UK procurement expert Gordon Crichton. Jules Lejeune will also present the in-depth market data that the association’s unique members-only FINAT RADAR research platform provides.

A unique series of blogs from each of the speakers at the European Label Forum is available on the website www.europeanlabelforum.com.

Supplier tabletop

The formal meeting agenda is complemented by a supplier tabletop exhibition, featuring additional commercial ‘poster presentations’, and extensive opportunities for networking over the two-day event.  On the evening of the first day, delegates can enjoy socialising during a cocktail cruise on the Amsterdam canals, followed by dinner at the Maritime Museum.

Calling all label printers

“I believe the European Label Forum to be a “must attend” event that will attract business leaders in all aspects of our industry,” concludes Mr Lejeune. “FINAT is especially keen to encourage label converters – not only from Europe, but from around the world -- to come to the convenient hub of Amsterdam to join in the conversation, and they are offered special delegate rates for this reason.”

Supporting the FINAT European Label Forum 2015 are many industry-leading companies: Avery Dennison, Bostik, Dow Corning, Drewsen, ETI Converting, Evonik, Gallus, Herma, Hewlett-Packard, Hueck Folien, ICAP-SIRA, Innovia Films, Intercoat, Kanzan, Kocher+Beck, Labelexpo Global Series/Labels & Labeling, Lintec Corporation, Mark Andy, MPS, Nilpeter, Nuova Gidue, Omet, Organik Kimya, PPG Industries, Prati, Rotometrics, Sun Chemical, UPM Raflatac and Xeikon.