By Filip Weymans
LABELEXPO 2022 was an enigmatic blend of label all-stars, package printing MVPS and vibrant entrepreneurs. With all these powerhouses coming together under one roof, it was definitely an event to talk about.
We could sample the latest trends and get glimpses at upcoming innovations. Amongst many eye-opening observations, here are some that particularly piqued interest.
Is the flexo press dead?
The absence of flexo presses at LABELEXPO 2022 was striking. Rumor has it, flexo press distributors were plagued by supply shortages. But if they faced shortages, digital press providers would have too. It just doesn’t add up.
So why did flexo presses leave the stage? Perhaps because, eventually, digital solutions will take over the label printing reign.
No need to throw your flexo presses out of the window (yet). Simply put, digital and flexo shouldn’t be thought of as competitive technologies. On the contrary, digital presses offer excellent opportunities for flexo printers to complement, optimize and eventually grow their label printing business.
Is EP catching up with Inkjet… and why should you bother?
For years Inkjet was seen as the child prodigy in the label industry. Experts predicted that it would occupy a large share on the market.
As the wheels of time turn with exciting developments at every stage, inkjet technology failed to keep innovating. Simultaneously, toner tech thrived. The power dynamic shifted. LABELEXPO 2022 made that abundantly clear.
Bad news? Not entirely. The clever balance between EP and Inkjet levels up our business and makes it stand out from other types of packaging systems. Whether it’s inkjet or toner, each technology has its unique strength. Chosen wisely, they give your end-use applications a competitive edge.
The rising stars of Xeikon label tech
The unveiling of Xeikon’s latest innovations at LABELEXPO 2022 needs an obvious special mention. In case you may have missed it, here’s a quick refresher:
The demand for durable food-safe labels is high. To meet the market’s needs, Xeikon presented its new TITON toner. This technical masterpiece provides additional protective layers for heat, sunlight, water, scratch and scruff resistance. It’s the most food-safe technology in the digital landscape today.
Xeikon’s second golden egg cracked the code to integrate metallic toners into the regular printing process without label converters. As a result, our new high-quality silver and gold toners not only polish your presses productivity, they also dramatically reduce costs.
Nowadays, tactile effects on labels are a must for beer, beverage, food, and Health & Beauty markets. That’s where our new haptic printing process comes in. It helps you make significant time savings by avoiding any modifications to the prepress files.
Last but not least, can you imagine a label press enabling label converters to step up their productivity whilst remaining fully flexible for all their customers' needs? Everything is possible with our newest showpiece offering a fully hybrid digital solution that helps you develop a more profitable and sustainable future-proof business.
www.xeikon.com
