Labelexpo Asia 2017 presented the Digital Trail and Smart Zone features for the first time. Taking place in Halls E1 and E2 of the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) from December 5-8, highlighted were the latest advances in these technologies and their respective applications for label and package printing.

Featuring HP, Domino, Fuji Xerox and Xeikon, the Digital Trail demonstrated the benefits of adopting a digital printing operation. Visitors saw several new major presses launched for the Asian continent as part of the Trail, including HP Indigo’s WS6800 digital press, the Durst Tau 330E UV digital inkjet press from Fuji Xerox, Domino’s N610i digital color press and Xeikon’s 3500 press.

The Trail involved live press runs and offered a comprehensive overview of color management, origination and prepress, workflow, print quality, speed ability and finishing solutions using digital technology. Visitors were also to collect samples, and those completing the Trail will be entered into a competition prize draw to win an Apple Watch.

Located in Hall E2, exhibitors, including DPS Innovations, Shanghai Jion Point Information Technology, ST, Thinkgo Technology, Visualnet and Voyanic, took part in the Smart Zone and displayed some of the newest active and intelligent label and packaging applications available to the market. Visitors saw a variety of products, such as RFID/NFC labels, 3D holograms, nano materials and special inks, which have all been designed to improve customer engagement and appeal, increase security or help prevent fraud.

Labelexpo Asia is aimed at printers/converters, label, packaging and graphic designers and technicians, brand owners and industry suppliers. Showing the most up-to-date presses, ancillary equipment and print materials, the event hosts over 300 leading manufacturers like Avery Dennison, Bobst, Codimag, Lintec, Omet, UPM Raflatac, Wenzhou Rhyguan Machinery Co, Zhejiang Weigang and Zhejiang Zhongte Machinery.

“Short print runs are here to stay, as is the increasing role of packaging being used in customer marketing,” said James Samuel, events portfolio director, Labelexpo Global Series. “These trends are making digital printing, along with smart and interactive solutions, massive growth areas for the global label industry. Both are developing extremely quickly, so for printers thinking about investing in updating their plant or expanding their product offering, the show’s feature areas will give them a useful taster of how these versatile technologies can add real value and competitive edge to their businesses.”