The Brussels show, which attracted 28,500 visitors last time in 2011, has also attracted just under 600 exhibitors, up from 550 last time. This year will also see a record number of new product launches, reported managing director at Labelexpo Global Series Lisa Milburn.
Milburn attributed this show-on-show growth to global rather than European growth in label printing. She said: "Labelexpo Europe has become our global show, which means global growth affects us. Growth in India is about 10% per year, which is huge if you look at the global economy at the moment. Europe’s growth is only about 2%, but then you have 10%-12% in South America. We bring people in from all those different countries."
Milburn also attributed this growth to the show’s continued highly specialised focus. "Because it’s so niche and dedicated to label convertors, people don’t have to walk round 20 halls for two weeks; they’ve got all of the technology they want to see concentrated and all very relevant to them," she said.
Key launches at the show will include world premieres of digital presses from Screen, Epson, HP Indigo and Heidelberg, new web offset presses from Omet, MPS and DG Services, and new flexo presses from Nilpeter, MPS and Nuova Gidue.
Focus on digital technology is significantly increased this year, with a hall dedicated to just this sector. Also new is an HP and partners-dedicated ‘Print Your Future’ hall showcasing the innovations possible on various Indigo presses.
Other features at this year’s show will include an Inkjet Trail, featuring six inkjet manufacturers producing the same print products for visitors to compare, Package Printing Workshops hosted by Xeikon and Nuova Gidue, and a half-day Digital Masterclass.
Entrance to the show costs 50 euros (£42) if registering before 18 September, and 75 euros (£64) afterwards. Visit www.labelexpo-europe.com.
