Two thousand fifteen was an active and interesting year for the label printing industry. And with the year drawing to a close, the time is right to reflect on some of the highlights, events and stories that captured our attention.

Major M&As
Mergers and acquisitions are usually big news in our industry, and there was no shortage of these stories in 2015 on both the converter and supplier side alike. In the early part of the year, it was the converters making the headlines, with more than one occurrence of businesses coming together and forming a label and packaging “Group.”

In February, Andover, MA-based Reid Label and Nameplate, also known as Reid Label and Digital Graphics, acquired Vermont-based New England Label, formerly-owned by Willington Nameplate, of Stafford Springs, CT. The acquisition of the 20-year old flexographic label printer strengthens Reid’s presence in the region, while extending its digital capabilities to New England Label customers for quick-turn, high quality labels. At the time of the announcement, Steve Dunlevy, Reid’s president and CEO, said, “Our growth plan has been through a mixture of organic sales and external acquisitions and we will continue to actively pursue these types of transactions & synergistic partnerships over the coming years.” The New England Label Group, a management company, was formed to facilitate future acquisitions and manage the individual entities. Key personnel involved in Reid’s future growth are Dunlevy’s two children, Kara and Ryan Dunlevy.

In April, Texas-based TVC Label and MEI Label of Tulsa, OK rebranded and changed its corporate identity to Infinite Packaging Group. The name change symbolizes the intention to expand the core label business and develop a broader platform of products, something that has become thematic of the label industry as converter’s strive to become “one-stop-shops” featuring both analog and digital printing technologies and offering products that go beyond PS labels. With the announcement, CEO Lynn Higgs talked about the company’s future, which involves new plants, new and wider presses and new talent. He said, “We are very excited about this rebranding initiative and the benefits it will create for us as a company and for our clients. It is imperative that our businesses work and operate as one team to deliver the highest value to our clients.”

Fortis Solutions Group had a very active winter and spring of 2015. The company began as the result of merging Labels Unlimited and A&M Label, initially bringing printing operations in Virginia, Michigan and Tennessee under one name while expanding into new markets with both digital and flexo capabilities. But Fortis wasn’t done making headlines yet. In June, the company announced the acquisitions of Ohio-based Kopco Graphics and Color Craft Label based in Memphis, TN. At the time of the announcement, Fortis president and CEO John Wynne, Jr. said, “We are excited to acquire these two industry leading companies which will further propel the opportunities we have to serve both our existing and prospective clients. It is a transformational day for the company and we are delighted to welcome the Kopco and Color Craft employees to the Fortis organization.”

These aforementioned new “Groups” weren’t the only ones making M&A news. The year 2015 also so acquisitions from Fort Dearborn, I.D. Images, Inland, Tapp Label, Western Shield, and Resource Label. And it should come as no surprise that label industry giants CCL and Multi-Color were also very active with M&A activity, making several announcements with a focus on continued global expansion.

Suppliers make a splash
Label industry suppliers also made some M&A headlines in 2015.

In June, Bobst Group acquired majority shares of Nuova Gidue, thus enlarging the Bobst portfolio and establishing its presence in the narrow web labels and packaging market.

In October, RotoMetrics acquired MLC, a leading rotary tooling supplier in South America. The move expands RotoMetrics’ manufacturing capability to five continents. At the time of the announcement, Robert Spiller, president and CEO of RotoMetrics, said, “MLC offers the opportunity for RotoMetrics to better serve Latin American customers from a strong operating platform strategically located in the region.” RotoMetrics now has a strong foothold in South America and makes the company the largest die supplier in Brazil.

Perhaps the most notable acquisition on the supplier side came in November with the news that Flint Group acquired Xeikon. One of the largest suppliers to the printing and packaging industry worldwide, the move signifies Flint Group’s belief that digital printing will continue to play an increasingly important role in the package printing industry.

“This acquisition represents an excellent opportunity for Flint Group, propelling the organization further into the digital solutions market, where we will continue to deliver on our long term strategy of driving growth through product innovation, focus on developing markets and portfolio expansion,” said Antoine Fady, CEO Flint Group. “Xeikon have a proven history of delivering exceptional value through high-quality, high-productivity, innovative and sustainable solutions for their customers, which fits seamlessly with our own long-term vision for our business.”

Commented Wim Maes, now President of Flint Group’s new Digital Printing Solutions division, “Xeikon has shown that dedication to the digital label, folding carton, commercial and document printing market segments has paid off in terms of market share, customer satisfaction and financial contribution. This next chapter in our more than 20-year existence opens many opportunities for Xeikon as a company, as well as for our customers, employees, partners and stakeholders.”

Speaking of Xeikon…
While L&NW doesn’t have an official awards program, if we were to have a Marketing Campaign of the Year Award, this year it would go to Xeikon. In 2014, the digital press manufacturer announced Cheetah technology. At 98 fpm, the press is the fastest in the Xeikon portfolio and it’s dedicated to PS label printing. In the run up to Labelexpo Europe, the company over the course of the year continued to install several Cheetahs at beta sites throughout the world – including two in the US at AccuLabel in Indiana and Action Packaging in Connecticut.

The big show in Brussels served as the official launch of the Cheetah press, which had a name change to the Xeikon CX3. Prior to the show, the company hosted a series of events promoting the Cheetah, including a VIP press event at Belgium’s Planckendael Zoo. Planckendael Zoo is home to one cheetah, Pocco, who is now sponsored by Xeikon.

Early in 2015, Patrick Van Baelen, vice president of worldwide marketing at Xeikon, said: ‘With the release of our Cheetah digital press and our Year of the Cheetah campaign, this sponsorship provided an excellent opportunity to not only give additional visibility to the fastest digital press in its class, but to do so while benefiting the world population of cheetahs, the fastest animal in its class. As a company, we are focused on delivering environmentally friendly solutions to the printing and packaging industries. We are pleased to support the Planckendael Zoo and CRC as they work to accomplish their objectives of social engagement, respect for nature, innovation and research.”

In addition to zoo activities, Xeikon also hosted another successful Xeikon Café, and the company even sent through mail Cheetah-themed shoelaces and an opportunity to get a pair of Cheetah running shows at Labelexpo, where they could be put to use by booth visitors having a simulated race against an actual Cheetah. Also, upon arrival at Brussels Airport, right after going through customs Labelexpo visitors (and everyone else arriving in Brussels) were greeted by Xeikon signage promoting the Cheetah. Now that’s marketing!

Speaking of Brussels…
The event of 2015 was clearly Labelexpo Europe, which shattered previous records in both visitor and exhibitor attendance. Not surprisingly, digital printing was the hot topic, with nearly 60 exhibitors showcasing digital printing equipment – there was seemingly something for every budget and scale.

Labelexpo Europe 2015 served as the launch for several digital printers presses. Notably, many came from longtime flexo or offset press staples. Mark Andy, Nilpeter, MPS, Gallus and Omet all featured label presses with digital capability that integrates with flexo. Meanwhile, there were inkjet presses galore at the show with several manufacturers reporting keen interest and sales.

As the calendar turns and we say goodbye to 2015, it will be interesting to observe and report on another year in this healthy and vibrant sector of the printing industry.