The 13th edition of Label Summit Latin America concluded on a high note last week, with over 80 international exhibitors and 621 attendees. Held at Cartagena’s Hotel Las Americas Convention Center in Colombia, it is the region’s premier trade event and is dedicated to learning, connecting and networking for label printing professionals.

The two-day expo and conference program lined-up 81 international exhibitors, including Avery Dennison, ARclad, Armor, Bobst, Epson, Esko, Flint Group, Fujifilm, Gallus, HP, Mark Andy, MPS, Nilpeter, Omet, Sun Chemical, UPM Raflatac and Xeikon. A combination of an informative panel discussion, technical and practical presentations attracted delegates from across the continent with senior professionals coming from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

A total of 15 conference sessions covered topics ranging from industry trends, innovative technologies to flexible packaging, product design and branding. The conference was opened by Georges Gravanis of Avery Dennison Corporation. His keynote presentation examined the macro factors facing the pressure sensitive label industry and highlighted issues including sustainability and commercial growth. The latest in technological advances was also widely explored. New applications in digital printing were shared by Alejandro España of Grupo Ercus and HP’s Alexander Mercon, while Juan Pablo Patino Arevalo of Nilpeter and Impresos y Acabados’ Luis Fernando Herrera Salinas looked at conventional and hybrid printing processes. The first day closed with a round-up of the latest niche technologies with presentations on digital print finishing and ERP software in workflow automation.

Other program highlights included accurate color management across different substrates by Jorge Munoz of GMG Americas and an overview of in-mold labeling and technology by Alex Cruz of YUPO and Maya Pack Group’s Cristian Reyes Vera. Germark’s Iban Cid gave a detailed insight into smart products like RFID and augmented reality that can increase consumer uptake and sales with case studies on Munich Sports and Actimel. Carolina Alzate Álvarez, co-founder of imasD shared her expertise in creative packaging design excellence with a client case study from La Reina. The Summit ended with beer sampling and an interactive workshop where delegates heard about the beer brewing and label design process from Arfroni Alonso Arango Vásquez of Bavarian-owned brand Club Colombia, Hernán Saldarriaga Londoño of converter Etipress, David Freyre of label designers imasD and substrate supplier UPM Raflatac.

Tasha Ventimiglia, Americas event director explains: “This year’s Label Summit Latin Americas has provided another fantastic platform for delegates to expand their horizons, learn from other organizations and share best practices. Both the exhibition and conference sessions were packed, as the Latin American market is buoyant and attendees were hungry for information. The Summit gives an invaluable opportunity for label and packaging printers to widen their commercial networks and engage with other like-minded professionals to explore new and better ways of working. We thank everyone who participated in Cartagena and look forward to bringing the Summit to Espacio Riesco, Santiago in Chile during May 16-17, 2017.”