A host of speakers representing well-known brands and top label and package printing stakeholders is coming together to take part in the forthcoming Label Summit Latin America 2019, which this year returns to Medellín, Colombia.

Taking place over 14-15 May at Plaza Mayor Medellín and aimed at senior decision makers working within the industry, the summit, the leading trade event of its kind in Latin America, aims to equip delegates with in-depth knowledge as well as strategic insights into how they can help move the sector forward in Colombia and the wider region. With this in mind, the conference program has been designed with a strong business and strategy theme, featuring a diverse range of topics.

A key focus for day one of the summit is legislation and industry trends in Colombia, the wider region, and globally, alongside design and branding. Speaker highlights include Alexander Hernández Muñoz, head of product development at ICIPC, who will set out recent changes in Colombian legislation and the impact on the printing industry. Cesar Augusto Bernal Gonzalez, founder and managing director of Colombian converter Everest Printed Solutions, will lead a session on the use of technologies to support start ups. He will cover packaging design, and how sustainability and materials will shape this in the future. The keynote session, led by Diddier Solano, area sales director UPM Raflatac – gold sponsor of the event – will touch on how a label can build a brand for the future. Tatiana Duarte, executive president of Colombian trade association ANDIGRAF, will present key industry trends to watch for the future.

The second half of day one features sessions themed around design and branding. Guillermo Dufranc, graphic project manager, Tridimage, will speak on designing products for different generations. This will be followed by a panel that will discuss creating products with stand-out presence. Confirmed panelists are regional branding experts Luis Arevalo, design and packaging director Latin America, Colgate-Palmolive; Catalina Botero J., brand development director, Grupo Familia; Luisa Garcia, brand manager, Compañía Nacional de Chocolates (Grupo Nutresa); and Ader Cárdenas, design manager, Quala Nova.

Day two will focus on business markets, new opportunities and the current market trend for diversification. A key highlight is returning speaker Fernando Gabel, executive vice president and general manager, Latam, All4Labels Group, who will present on mergers and acquisitions. Drawing on his experience, he will share insight into how to best to overcome the challenges for a successful transition and how to form new business partnerships. Tara Halpin, owner and president, Steinhauser, will examine how to implement a positive company culture to grow your business, for example through attracting fresh talent and maintaining staff loyalty. José Gutierrez, MCA North Country Manager, HP, will be part of a panel discussion that will examine the future of print – including intelligent products, and how the industry needs to respond to consumer expectations. Other topics covered on day two include business diversification into labels/flexible packaging; automation workflow; and lean manufacture – exporting from Colombia and other countries in the region.

A table-top exposition from leading manufacturers will complement the conference program, with well over 60 leading industry suppliers showcasing the latest products and technological advancements.

Jessika Bustamante Meisner, Label Summit Latin America 2019 event manager, commented: “The prestigious line-up of speakers for this year’s Label Summit Latin America in Colombia is testament to the strength of this event. Converters in the region have an unquenchable appetite for learning about the industry – something we saw very much in evidence at Labelexpo Americas 2018, which, with a 95% increase in visitors from Latin America since the previous edition, has given this year’s summit real momentum.”

“This is the most diverse conference program we have put together. With many high-profile brands represented, it’s an exclusive opportunity for delegates to gain first-hand insight into current and future industry trends, understand the constantly changing regulatory environment, and apply this knowledge to their own businesses and when working with brands.”

Guillermo Dufranc said: “The Label Summit Latin America is an excellent platform for sharing experience and insight. Every generation has its own needs and expectations, and packaging design provides a whole range of possibilities to engage with consumers. Latin America, for instance, has an especially young consumer audience, so label converters and brand owners alike would do as well to understand this growing market. With this in mind, I will be showcasing successful packaging design strategies through engaging images, videos and music, which will reveal how to get right to the heart of your target.”

An early bird attendee rate is valid until 26 April. The full two-day delegate pass for printers/converters, brand owners and designers costs USD $215 (USD $270 thereafter). Two-day supplier/manufacturer only passes cost USD $825. Full event passes include access to the table-top exposition, conference sessions, lunch, evening networking reception and refreshments.

To see the full conference program and find out more about the speakers, visit http://www.labelsummit.com/colombia/conference-program.