When the seasons changed from winter to spring, the nicer weather brought with it an influx of industry events. From Labelexpo Mexico to Dscoop Edge St. Louis World Expo, label converters and suppliers have both experienced busy calendars.

The number of events has more or less remained the same from a year ago, but there is one stark difference: the presence of running equipment. The world returned from the pandemic without a great glimpse of the latest supplies, equipment and services the industry has to offer. That is no longer the case.

Labelexpo Americas 2022 featured quite a bit of live product demonstrations, albeit with strictly digital technology on the label press side. The latest events have ramped up the presence of equipment. Labelexpo Mexico featured exhibits from many of the industry’s leading suppliers, while Dscoop featured a diverse Solutions Showcase, with the North American debut of the HP Indigo 200K digital press to finishing demonstrations from suppliers such as ABG and Grafisk Maskinfabrik (GM).

Major events have coincided with countless open houses, too, which have been a departure from pandemic-related activity. Suppliers are once again opening their doors to the industry, taking guests under the hood to see how the latest technology can boost their business.

The return to business as (mostly) usual is where L&NW comes into play. While our annual International Buyers’ Guide has always been a vital resource, the return of products to various show floors across the globe make this resource a must-read. Whether you’re looking for platemaking equipment (also explored in-depth on page 48) or water-based inks or digital printing presses – and everything in between – we have you covered.

Unlike past events, the newest technologies will help solve a crisis that was not as readily apparent years ago: the workforce. The new products exhibited by the companies in our Buyers’ Guide will help label converters deliver for their customers, even when there is an employee shortage. Companies ranging from printing press manufacturers to converting and finishing machine suppliers have optimized their equipment, resulting in fewer people needed on the shop floor.

Not only will these suppliers help you with this seismic technological shift, we have tackled this issue on page 61. Manufacturers are not the only ones striving for solutions to the workforce dilemma. In fact, associations, like TLMI, have prioritized the next-generation of employees – and will continue to do so with hiring kits, scholarship funds, and various other resources.

When you hit the road for the next tradeshow or open house, make sure you’re equipped with the knowledge of which suppliers are offering the newest cutting-edge technologies. When the industry gathers in September in Brussels for Labelexpo Europe – for the first time in four years – let L&NW be your guide.


Greg Hrinya, Editor
[email protected]