With a rich history that spans more than 90 years, TLMI is continuing to grow and evolve to better serve the label and package printing industry.  TLMI, the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute, has long offered some of the label industry’s most prominent events, but there are a host of other resources that await members.

TLMI, a member-driven organization, has diligently worked to provide members with content that will help improve their businesses. The webinars touch upon subjects from technical advancements and sustainability to regulatory affairs – and how the latest laws and regulations will impact labels and packaging.

Current membership is about 270 companies, split almost evenly with 50% converters and 50% suppliers. TLMI’s membership represents approximately 65% of the North American market. Converters and suppliers both benefit from membership, with several distinctions for each group.

“For our converter members, the No. 1 benefit from TLMI is the Management Ratio Study,” explains Dale Coates, VP, Member Operations & Engagement, TLMI. “Participants receive a financial performance report card to help them measure their performance against their industry peers and competitors. This study is underway now, and we are offering sessions to help new participants get involved and all participants get the most from their data.”

“A lot of people are not even aware that we also do a study that is converter-only called Quarterly Trends,” adds Coates. “This is one study that you must participate in to receive the data. It’s managed by Industry Insights and completely confidential.”

Esteban Garcia, business development manager for the Americas, CERM, has seen the label and package printing industry through the lens of both a converter and supplier – giving him perspective on the value of TLMI.

“I’ve been in the industry for over 22 years now, so I’ve experienced TLMI from both the supplier and converter side,” explains Garcia. “I’ve been very engaged, trying to take advantage of all the benefits TLMI has to offer, and it’s been a good opportunity for myself, as well as the organizations I’ve been a part of.”

From an event standpoint, TLMI hosted six events in 2024 while meeting members at 10 industry events. TLMI also hosted 28 webinars, with more than 1,000 attendees.

According to Andre Blais, national account manager, Gallus, a Heidelberg Group Company, the best thing members can do to experience the benefits of membership is get involved. “We strongly encourage member participation,” says Blais. “Many current members are not getting involved and wonder why they are not getting the value out of their membership. There is a lot to look forward to with TLMI. We offer networking, sharing ideas, market research, awards that feature the best of the best, the Eugene Singer Awards, the Calvin Frost Sustainability Awards, Converter of the Year, Supplier of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year, and more. These are exciting times for 2025.”

For Nye Hornor, president, Amherst Label, an Inovar Company, there are significant benefits awaiting prospective members. As Blais notes, the most value will come from participation.

“I feel that any new member will get value from being part of this organization,” Hornor says. “The largest benefit in joining TLMI is that you are surrounded by some of the smartest folks in the industry, who are all working toward making our industry better. When you attend the TLMI Meetings, you always leave with value to bring back to your organization.” 

“We encourage people to participate to get the most value from TLMI,” Hornor continues. “The TLMI Gurus give you technical assistance, you can see quarterly trends of what is happening in the industry, and you get face time with suppliers and converters who are the decision-makers that can help you with your business. It is truly a great organization that supports each other like family.”

TLMI’s work can be seen in action during the annual Committee Summit, which took place most recently December 4-5, 2024, in Clearwater Beach, FL, USA. The committees, which cover numerous topics, are led by members and comprised of both converters and suppliers working to advocate for the industry. One such committee works with regulatory issues that are impacting print, as well as the materials used. The TLMI Regulatory Affairs Committee (RAC) works to inform and represent the membership. The TLMI Workforce Committee addresses one of the leading challenges in the industry by providing hiring resources, education, and scholarship opportunities. The TLMI Technical Committee delivers technical webinars and newsletters, and the recently launched TLMI Gurus, where members are helping members by answering their technical questions. TLMI also has multiple Sustainability Committees to help members manage and recover their matrix and liner waste and to educate members and their customers on changes in requirements as they relate to sustainability. 

“The committees within TLMI are critical to the growth and support of the organization,” comments Hornor. “These folks volunteer their time and expertise to help our membership have access to support from a technical side, legislative arena, as well as support for sustainability and workforce. These committees have set goals and provide the plan to the Board of Directors. Everyone knows they are making our industry and organization better.”

The efforts of the committees are far-reaching, as well. “TLMI is not just about labels,” states Blais.  “We are also very involved with flexible packaging and shrink sleeves.  As the current membership are leaders in the industries, TLMI has access to industry updates/changes and enables everyone who is a member to be up to date on current trends.”

As has been seen with the work of the committees, TLMI has evolved to best serve the needs of its members and the industry at large. “Community, insight, and advocacy drive all TLMI activities with the mission to make the industry stronger by helping to make your company stronger,” remarks Coates. “Our membership is changing. The total number of companies we count as members has declined thanks to significant M&A, but the impact of our membership on the printing industry has grown as our members have expanded their capabilities beyond label to all types of printed packaging. TLMI is constantly redefining and refining our offerings to meet the changing needs of our diverse members.”

TLMI is anticipating a significant 2025. Next up on its agenda is the TLMI Prospective Member Webinar, being held January 28 at 12 p.m. ET. Those interested in attending can register at this LINK.

TLMI will also welcome the return of printTHINK Summit, a technical conference and networking event co-located with Amplify print in Rosemont, IL. This meeting is being held June 11-12, and attendees will have access to the TLMI Technical Conference, as well as the Amplify exhibitor hall. Topics to be covered at printTHINK 2025 include RFID label production, choosing the right digital technology, updates on sustainability and AI, and more.

Label Leaders of Tomorrow (LLT), the TLMI peer group of up-and-coming industry leaders, will hold its third in-person event this summer, too.

Plus, TLMI has launched the Liner Recycling Initiative (LRI) with the help of Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) to define opportunities for generators of paper release liner waste to divert liner from landfill. Sponsorship opportunities are available for this project. Head to www.linerrecycling.com for more information. 

“In 2025, members can look forward to building new relationships,” says Hornor. “TLMI membership is inviting to all. You will have the opportunity for some fun on the golf course, a game of pickle ball or Label Leaders of Tomorrow activities – on top of absorbing the delivered content at the business meetings. I feel that any new member will get value from being part of the organization.”