Labels & Packaging

This section of WhatTheyThink focuses on emerging trends in the Labels & Packaging print sectors. It feature discussions on technical and business trends that affect all those in the Packaging Supply Chain.

Commentary & Analysis

Fast Moving Consumer Shifts—Drilling Down to Find the Opportunities

Fast Moving Consumer Shifts, or Where’s the Toilet Paper?—Part 1

Flint Group Consolidation of Flexographic Prepress Adds Value for Flexo and Letterpress Customers

Labels and Packaging 2020: The Year in Review

Digital Packaging Migration: Sustainability Is the Key, but What Does that Really Mean?

Digital Packaging Migration: What’s Taking So Long?

drupa 2021 Essentials of Print: Digital Print for Corrugated—The Future Condition of Things

Cracking the Code: Is Your Packaging Secure?

Digital Packaging Migration: “Déjà Vu All Over Again”?

Corrugated Growth and Challenges Part 2: Design Opportunities and Cost Challenges

Packaging Is Changing: Is It to Our Benefit or Our Fault?

Corrugated Growth and Challenges Part 1: If It Was Easy, Everyone Would Be Doing It

More Commentary & Analysis

News

Comexi Installs A Second Comexi SL2 Laminator at the Yusung Pack Facilities in South Korea

Compostable Plastic Packaging Material Market Analysis Explored in Latest Research 2028

Freppel Imprimeur Invests in Asahi CleanPrint AWP™ Water-Washable Plates

Caps and Closures Market: Information, Figures and Analytical Insights 2028

ACTEGA Takes Leadership Position on Food Safety with Removal of Bisphenol A and Epoxysilane from ACTEbond® Laminating Adhesives

Koenig & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 130 Press Drives 30% Annual Digital Sales Growth for Rondo

Submission Period Now Open for the 2021 IoPP AmeriStar Awards Competition

ePac Flexible Packaging Joins Open Invention Network

Hartz Mountain Opens New Production Line with SOMIC Wraparound Case Packer System

ALPLA Expediting a Bottle Cycle in Italy

More News

Video

For Label Specialties, Versatility Is Key

Published: December 8, 2020

David Zwang talks to Jenny Johnson Wolf and Mike Wolf of Label Specialties. Based in Louisville, Ky., Label Specialities is a trade printer that uses every technology available, especially flexo and, most recently, digital labels using HP presses. They also offer a variety of finishing and die-cutting services so as to be able to handle whatever requirements a customer may have. Watch Video

Xeikon Moves into Corrugated

Published: December 3, 2020

Daniel Valema, Strategic Director, Digital Solutions, Xeikon, talks to David Zwang about Xeikon’s move into forms of packaging beyond labels, namely corrugated. Watch Video

Canon’s Crit Driessen on the Labelstream 4000 Installation at Germany’s Oschatz Visuelle Medien

Published: December 2, 2020

Crit Driessen, VP Digital Packaging Print, Canon, talks with David Zwang about the installation of the first LabelStream 4000 series digital label press at Oschatz Visuelle Medien, a full-service visual communications agency based in Niedernhausen, near Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Watch Video

Xeikon’s Stefan Clopterop on fleXflow

Published: December 1, 2020

David Zwang talks with Stefan Clopterop, Segment Manager, Labels and Packaging, Xeikon, about the Xeikon fleXflow digital pouch production solution. Watch Video

Ed Zumbiel and Packaging’s Digital Transformation

Published: November 19, 2020

David Zwang and Ed Zumbiel, President of Zumbiel Digital, discuss the opportunities and challenges to be found in the digital transformation of packaging. Watch Video

Matt Reddington Introduces Veritiv Vine (Part 2)

Published: November 12, 2020

In part 2 of a two-part video interview, David Zwang talks to Matt Reddington, Director of Global Design Services for Veritiv, about Veritiv Vine, the company’s new packaging and brand design offering. Vine is intended to bridge the gap between design and packaging production, combining design creativity with supply chain expertise. Watch Video

Matt Reddington Introduces Veritiv Vine

Published: November 5, 2020

In part 1 of a two-part video interview, David Zwang talks to Matt Reddington, Director of Global Design Services for Veritiv, about Veritiv Vine, the company’s new packaging and brand design offering. Vine is intended to bridge the gap between design and packaging production, combining design creativity with supply chain expertise. Watch Video

Smithers’ Sean Smyth Talks About Digital Print for Packaging

Published: October 29, 2020

Smithers print consultant Sean Smyth talks to David Zwang and recaps some of the highlights of Smithers' recent “Digital Print for Packaging” virtual event. Key takeaways included the relative resilience of the digital label and packaging communities, the emergence of cannabis packaging, and how ecommerce is changing the demand for and nature of packaging. Watch Video

EXCLUSIVE: EFI Chief Revenue Officer Frank Mallozzi Provides Details about New Nozomi C18000 PLUS

Published: October 27, 2020

EFI launched its digital direct-to-corrugated press, the Nozomi C18000, at drupa 2016. Since that time, the company has placed a number of units, and at least two companies have purchased two units. Now, based on market experience and customer feedback, EFI has launched the second generation, the Nozomi C18000 PLUS, available as a field upgrade. Hear what Frank Mallozzi has to say. Watch Video

Industry Veteran Aviv Ratzman Founds Compack, a New Web-to-Pack Portal

Published: September 8, 2020

Aviv Ratzman, who spent time at HP Indigo and co-founded Highcon, starts a new venture today. Compack (Com-Pack.net) is an online solution that enables brand owners to compare and choose suppliers who provide on-demand custom packaging services for both primary and secondary packaging. Ratzman explains the strategy behind the business in this video discussion. Watch Video

More Innovation from Tom O'Brien: Flexible Packaging On Demand

Published: August 17, 2020

Tom O'Brien, founder of AccuLink, now has a new business added to the mix. AccuFlex Packaging is producing flexible packaging on demand with a unique combination of an HP Indigo 20000, Color-Logic print embellishments, E-Beam lamination and pouching. This is a must-watch video for anyone in the packaging industry or any brands looking to produce vibrant and sustainable flexible packaging. Watch Video

Comexi’s Jordi Puig on Energy-Curing Ink for Flexo

Published: August 3, 2020

Jordi Puig, Technical Director Flexo for Comexi, talks about the 60-year-old company and the latest trends in flexo printing—namely, sustainability and a transition to UV- and EB-curing inks. Watch Video

Ashland Adds New Textures to Labels

Published: June 10, 2020

Amy Gran, LA&C Radcure Tech Service & Product Development Chemist at Ashland, talks about Ashland’s energy-curing adhesives and coatings for the food packaging markets, some of the new product trends coming to market—such as tactile materials like soft-touch coatings, sand textures, and raises images—and the advantages of UV curing for these kinds of applications. Watch Video

Marci Kinter on the Increased Importance of Sustainability in Packaging

Published: May 20, 2020

Marci Kinter, Vice President, Government Affairs, SGIA (now Printing United Alliance) talks about the increased importance of sustainability and the circular economy to packaging producers, brand owners, and consumer products companies. Watch Video

EFI’s Josh Samuel on UV Inks for Packaging

Published: May 11, 2020

Josh Samuel, Director of Ink Development for EFI, talks about ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) curable inks and their advantages for use in packaging printing, especially corrugated. Watch Video

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