Quality and service key to labelling’s future

Self-adhesive label trade association FINAT has emphasised the importance of the industry looking after its customers.

Speaking during the association’s recent 50th Anniversary celebrations in Paris, board member Jaume Puigbò said: “Quality and service are a must – plus, of course, price. But that does not mean that a printer must sacrifice his margins – it means that our members have to work more closely with the customers to find solutions that optimise label production and provide the best possible labels at the most economic price.

“In turn, this means we have to use the best machines to produce exactly what the customer wants, as well as using our skills and knowledge to make suggestions about label size, new materials, or perhaps other printing methods, or varying the length of print run so that printers can stay competitive without losing margins – and a better, more effective label is created for that customer.

“The customer’s main focus is on the quality of his goods which our product helps to sell – and it is part of the quality of service provided by our members to ensure that he gets the most effective and cost efficient label that his money can buy.”

FINAT members agree that prices have fallen in recent years, partly because of the effect of competition but also because more manufacturers are using better machines, new materials which help contain cost increase pressures. There is also a trend towards customers ordering lower print run quantities to reduce their stock holding and provide a degree of flexibility.

President of FINAT Jan Frederik Vink said: “We recognise that labelling is a highly competitive business and as an organisation we are geared up to helping our members help their customers get the best possible value through such initiatives as our technical standards documents and printers’ forums which identify developments and trends that, in turn, lead to better self-adhesive labels and systems.”

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