Package printing will be a core subject at Labelexpo Europe as the show prepares to return to Brussels this fall. Set to be the biggest ever edition in its 35 year history, Labelexpo Europe 2015’s show floor and feature areas will firmly put the spotlight on the lucrative commercial opportunities package print production offers.

Taking place at Brussels Expo in Belgium from September 29 to October 2, the show is aimed at trade professionals including label and package printers, brand owners and designers. Visitors to the show will be able to see and source the latest label and package printing solutions from over 600 exhibitors.

Leading industry suppliers will be there in force with exhibitor highlights including Soma Engineering showing a working press for the first time. Soma will display its mid web Optima CI press platform to present a completely new concept in flexographic printing presses to the label and package printing industry. More commonly perceived as a wide web press manufacturer, Soma has developed the Optima as a mid-web CI press optimized to run labelstock paper and film packaging materials, and to bridge the gap between narrow and wide web printing for products such as shrink sleeves, retort stand-up pouches and sachets, in-mold and wraparound labels, as well as paper sacks, cups and plates.

Soma’s Optima will be running live job demonstrations throughout the show. The press being displayed will be equipped with eight printing stations and will feature fast web changeover, intelligent impression adjustment to reduce start-up waste and Soma’s new, award-winning print cartridge system for spot colors, which offers printers a means of significantly reducing ink costs on printing jobs where expensive colors, special effect and metallic ink formulations are required.

In addition, the award winning REVO team – consisting of Nuova Gidue, Flint Group, Apex International, AVT, DuPont, Esko, UPM Raflatac and packaging converter Adare Group – will bring new technology to Labelexpo Europe demonstrating how low migration UV flexo inks can be used to convert flexible packaging. Currently, most food-grade flexible packaging is printed with either solvent or water-based flexo inks or with solvent gravure. UV has been considered problematic because the photo-initiators can migrate if not fully cured. The REVO team claims to have developed a technology to guarantee that every meter of film within a roll has been fully cured, and that brand colors are consistently matched by a seven-color process ink set. 

Covering an unprecedented eight halls, Labelexpo Europe will also host an array of educational feature areas. The Packprint Workshop will give practical insight into how printers can diversify and grow their business with press demonstrations by Xeikon using its 3500 for digital folding cartons and Nilpeter showing its FA* flexo press for flexible packaging capabilities.

The Smart Packaging Lab will focus on opportunities in intelligent and active packaging, while the inaugural Packaging Design Studio will give show-goers a chance to network with some of the industry’s leading creative designers.

HP Indigo and partners will present their package printing solutions with the return of the Print Your Future feature area. Visitors will be able to see a wide range of applications, including flexible packaging, shrink sleeves and labels alongside new advanced color management tools and inks. Both the HP Indigo 20000 and WS6800 Digital Presses will be on display.

Lisa Milburn, managing director of the Labelexpo Global Series, says: “Package printing is now central to the label printing community and Labelexpo experience. With 53% of our total exhibitors showing products for flexible packaging and 32% featuring products for folding cartons, Labelexpo Europe offers all printers the most extensive showcase of package printing solutions available. Nowhere else will print industry professionals find such a comprehensive range of suppliers and technologies which will help gear up their business, improve profitability and add value for their customers.”