Organiser Tarsus has told exhibitors that the show will now take place in September 2023. 

The popular expo usually takes place in a September timeframe, in Brussels. The move to spring came as a result of the show cancellations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Printweek has been informed that in the last couple of weeks an unnamed person, claiming to be an exhibitor, had been running an anonymous email campaign urging other exhibitors to ask Tarsus to postpone the show. 

Printweek also understands that exhibitors have been told the decision was made because of the combined effects of the pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and the logistical issues currently being experienced by many businesses. 

The ongoing strike at UPM's Finnish mills, including UPM Raflatac, has resulted in a materials supply crisis for European label producers. Exhibitors may well have struggled to secure the required label stocks to demo their machinery, and label printers could have reacted badly to seeing scarce materials being used at an exhibition. 

Exhibitors including Canon, Konica Minolta, Mark Andy, Avery Dennison, UPM Raflatac and Omet had taken substantial stand space for 2022, although HP – the biggest exhibitor at the last Labelexpo Europe in 2019 – just had a small presence.

Bobst and Heidelberg’s Gallus business did not appear on the floorplan.

It's understood the organisers will issue an official statement later today (1 March).

Updated at 5.15pm, 1 March: Tarsus has now issued a statement on the situation which lists the rescheduled show date as 11-14 September 2023.

In a statement it said: “The organising team has made the decision to move the event dates in light of the significant supply chain pressures the European label industry is currently experiencing coupled with the fast-evolving situation in Ukraine.

“The decision comes on the back of close consultation with exhibitors, associations and the wider industry, with many directly impacted by the shortage of components and materials. These shortages, triggered by the pandemic, have been escalating over recent months with long lead times now disrupting the supply chain in Europe.

“With the event set to take place in just under two months’ time the lack of forward visibility led the event team to reschedule in the best interests of the label community.”

Labelexpo managing director Lisa Milburn said: “Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge the support we have had from the industry with many committing to Labelexpo Europe in spite of the issues many of them are currently dealing with, we know the decision to reschedule the show will be as disappointing for them as it is for us.

“This has been a very difficult decision for us to make, we have been working tirelessly to overcome the supply chain issues and produce the show the industry needs, especially in light of the challenges of the past two years. Unfortunately these issues have proven to be insurmountable at this stage so we feel that rescheduling is the responsible decision to make.”

Jules Lejeune, managing director of pan-European label association FINAT, also commented: “FINAT fully understands and supports the decision that has been taken. Given the existing shortages of chips and components, the current shortages of paper and other consumables to produce labels, and now the major geopolitical uncertainties caused by the situation in Ukraine, there are simply too many hurdles to overcome.

“FINAT remains a proud supporter of the world’s leading trade exhibition for the label and package printing industry. We admire our longstanding partner Labelexpo for taking this extremely difficult decision, and for putting the interests of the industry first.”