Buzzing in Brussels

On September 23-26, the latest innovations in the label industry will be on show in Brussels. Sonali Advani spoke to Roger Pellow, managing director of Labelexpo, on what to expect at this year’s show.

Sonali Advani: How many exhibitors have signed up to the show? What are the expected visitor numbers?

Roger Pellow: More than 500 exhibitors have already signed up. In terms of visitor numbers, we want to deliver the same numbers as the last show in Brussels, which attracted about 25,000. We understand that these are challenging times but we have been working closely with various associations around the world in order to promote the show. We expect good visitor numbers not only from Europe but also from as far as South America, India, and Japan.

SA: Now that you are present in different continents, is it difficult to attract visitors to Brussels who might prefer a local event, especially in recessionary times?

RP: Brussels is the biggest show. It is spread across 29,000 m2 floorspace compared with, say, the India Label Show, which is about 5,000 m2. Labelexpo Europe brings leading suppliers under one roof – half of whom may not be present at a smaller event. It also provides a platform for networking. Now, if you look at the Indian printing industry, it is continuously growing and the printers there are looking to invest in the latest technologies. Labelexpo Europe, therefore, continues to attract the top 70 per cent of printers from India, and this is true for most developing markets.

SA: Are there any first time exhibitors at this year’s show?

RP: Yes, quite a few. These include ink supplier Radior; prepress specialists MDC Daetwyler and Screen Europe; Shanghai Xinmin Taiyo; EMIS – a supplier of technology for personalisation, postpress, and industrial marking; Axode for vision systems; and MS Stutz, the agent for South African press manufacturer Pacom.

SA: Given the current economic climate, are manufacturers taking smaller floorspace?

RP: Despite the recession, we expect the same amount of machinery to be brought to Brussels. Many innovations and launches have been planned for the show. Companies like Nilpeter, Gallus, MPS, Mark Andy and Omet are all planning to launch new presses.

SA: How is the show reacting to the surge in digital printing?

RP: We have already doubled the number of exhibitors in the digital sector to 20 at this year’s event. The show is being expanded to include an additional hall dedicated to digital printing. The Digital Printing Experience will include live demonstrations as well as interactive seminars and panel discussions. Suppliers will showcase the latest technology covering the entire workflow from digital prepress software to finishing equipment.

SA: What future do you see for digital printing?

RP: Digital printing will not be exclusive but rather supplement conventional presses in most print shops. Traditional methods such as offset are still important, especially in niche sectors like wet glue labels for wine bottles. Although today digital printing is being used primarily for short run jobs, suppliers in the sector are already reacting to the market demands. The HP Indigo WS6000, for example, is an industrial press that has taken digital printing to the next level. Digital will not be master of all trades, but will offer top quality label printing with the possibility of special effects such as embossing, hot foiling and screen printing.

SA: Has the recession negatively affected the green agenda? How prominent will it be in Brussels?

RP: This Labelexpo Europe will include a ‘Green Park’ where visitors will be able to see the latest environmentally friendly and sustainable technology. I believe, ‘being green’ can also help a converter become more competent. To qualify for ISO1401, for example, one does not just need to take care of environmental issues; it also entails becoming more efficient as a business. My message to all label converters is to look at their business as a service and offer ‘extras’, rather than just label manufacturing.

SA: What’s the next step for the Labelexpo shows?

RP: The Labelexpo summit in Sao Paulo has evolved over the years – about 50 leading suppliers were present at the tabletop exhibition at the last event. We will continue to grow the summits further and are planning to introduce a Labelexpo Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa next spring.

SA: How do you see the future of the label industry?

RP: The industry has a fantastic future – it is a key element of packaging and one of the most dynamic areas of print. In the UK, 14.8 m2 of label is used per head of the population, while in India it’s 1.8 m2. Given that, the industry has enormous potential for growth. Moreover, new legalisation expects brand owners to provide a lot more information on labels, and in many languages. Braille labelling is another trend to watch for. This will help the volumes grow further.