Labelexpo Americas saw 17,407 attendees and 455+ exhibitors gather in Chicago
The organisers of the Labelexpo series of events reports that visitor numbers were up by a healthy 8.5% at the 2016 US edition in September. The show has also grown to its largest size in history with over 455 exhibitors filling the halls at the Donald E Stephens conference centre on the outskirts of Chicago.
Digital technology made up a significant part of the show with many new product launches and introductions to the US market following drupa in June. Mark Andy launched its second digital press, the entry-level Digital One toner-based machine, while Durst had added flexo modules from Omet’s XFlex X6 press to the Tau 330 to form a new hybrid press. HP Indigo launched its 8000 double-engine press, a Digital Combination Press concept and its Pack Ready technology; Xeikon formally introduced the CX3 press to the US market, along with a new Laser Die-cutting Unit, and EFI had a new upgraded version, with low migration inks and higher resolution, of the Jetrion 4950LXe on stand. On the Fujifilm stand, FFEI presented the Graphium press with a new thin film kit and orange ink as an option. This was also the first presentation of Nilpeter’s Panorama pressline in America.
Show features included The Digital Finishing Experience, which showcased how to take advantage of short run opportunities in label and packaging personalisation, seasonal variations and product fragmentation. Daily presentations were held throughout the three days with demonstrations of Delta ModTech’s Spectrum Finishing System and folded cartons on the Xeikon FDU.
Feedback from exhibitors were positive. Filip Weymans, VP Marketing, Xeikon, said, ‘Xeikon remains a fan of the Labelexpo platform as an important forum to show and teach the label printing market how digital print is opening up new possibilities for label converters. The Americas edition brings in a great variety of visitors out of North and Latin America. When talking to them we learn a lot on how they are trying to get their heads around digital printing.’
Paul Teachout, vice president of sales and marketing, Nilpeter USA Inc, said, ‘We found the level of attendance made in-depth customer interaction possible, and had many interested and relevant – mainly North and South American – visitors stop by our booth. Many expressed an upturn in the business, which bodes well for the coming year.’
Tasha Ventimiglia, Labelexpo Americas event director, concluded, ‘The label and package printing industry is really galvanised at the moment and we saw that very clearly at Labelexpo Americas with a record number of product launches being unveiled on the show floor.’
