The Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) welcomed  the printing industry to Pittsburgh, PA, USA, for FORUM INFOFLEX, which took place May 4-7, 2025. The event provided a detailed conference session, an extensive tradeshow floor, and ample networking opportunities.

More than 1,000 attendees arrived at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for a tradeshow that included more than 180 exhibitors. Meanwhile, more than 35 speakers took part in the conference schedule.

The event kicked off on May 4 with a dedicated label session. Tasha Ventimiglia hosted a panel discussion on “The Label Landscape” with Elizabeth Yerecic Freedman, executive vice president of sales and sustainability at Yerecic Label, and John McDowell, president at McDowell Label, A Resource Label Group Co.

Educational keynote

From an educational standpoint, FTA offered an in-depth keynote session that featured a comprehensive, forward-looking analysis of industry trends, technological innovations, and market dynamics. Sean Smyth, analyst and consultant, Smithers, focused on the global flexographic printing market while exploring opportunities in segments such as labels and packaging. According to Smyth, the value of printed flexo totals $121 billion in North America.

“When you have packaging in supply chains, you don’t have famine,” remarked Smyth. “Printing is still less than half of the packaging market – labels, corrugate, flexible packaging, rigid plastics, and more. Flexo accounts for 17% of the total world’s packaging. Flexo accounts for 42% of all printed packaging in the world.

“2023 was a bad year for the flexo industry in North America because it declined,” added Smyth. “But right now it’s coming back to more normal times. We’re producing somewhere around 27 million tonnes of flexo output in North America. There’s a significant amount of flexible packaging, labels, and corrugate.”

Flexo has seen major advancements in its technology. In addition to press’ capabilities, the industry has seen growth in screening, plates , along with sleeves, anilox rolls, inks and more. On the other hand, digital printing is worth $22 billion globally. “Digital is still a very small portion of the market, but it’s growing,” stated Smythe. “It’s radically changing flexo, and it’s radically changing offset and gravure printing. If you’re a flexo converter and you’re not looking into digital you’re missing out, because it can be a complementary technology.

“We think over the next five years we’re going to see significant growth across all areas of flexo, but it won’t be plain sailing,” he continued. “It will continue to change. Digital is going to grow its share, but it can be complementary and it can be hybrid.”

Smyth addressed the megatrends impacting the label and package printing, as well. These include sustainability, digitization, changing demographics, regulations, tariffs, and more.

“The biggest trend is sustainability,” stated Smyth. “Sustainability is important no matter what the government does, because that’s what people want for their children and their children’s children. We’re seeing regulations around packaging waste and the rise of EPR.”

From a demographic standpoint, the number of single-person households has grown. That will necessitate a surge in packaging demand, with more retail outlets seeking short-run flexo and digital printing.

Due to the uncertainty around tariffs, prices are expected to rise, too. Inks will become more expensive, as most pigments are made in China. There will be more expensive foreign machinery – along with more expensive domestic machines due to components like steel.

“You’re going to have to live with more expensive inks and more expensive machinery, because they use imported components,” said Smyth. “If you’re a converter, some of the material you print onto is imported. There will be some impact.”

Automation and digitization will change the printing landscape, specifically with regards to flexo. “We’re seeing a changing way of the way you produce goods,” Smyth added. “We’re moving and developing systems that will work with fewer people. Your flexo press is talking to the manufacturer who is servicing it. You’re seeing proactive rather than reactive maintenance, and the net result is you’re going to get more out of that equipment.”