Gulf Print & Pack hosts first virtual industry round table

Aimed at keeping the region’s industry connected in the months leading up to the show, the first session, Label and package printing in the MEA region - new technologies and overcoming the challenges, took place on Wednesday, October 14 and examined the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the region’s industry. This included how individual businesses had been affected, the lasting changes, how the industry has identified new markets and opportunities, label and package printing trends in the region, and sustainability.

Six panelists representing leading MEA suppliers included Roger Nicodeme, general manager, Heidelberg Gulf; Shyam Babu, director, Nilpeter Middle East; Hassan Kittaneh, MD, Multisystems Technology (LabelGraff); Pankaj Patel, CEO, PrinTech Middle East (Omet & Prati); and Jay Chawda, MEA strategic consultant – Labels Division, PrinTech.  They were joined by Vinesh Bhimani, owner of printing company Kimoha Entrepreneurs and Andy Thomas-Emans, strategic director, Labelexpo, who chaired the session.

The next session will cover the commercial and wide-format printing industry. Future discussions will build on the key trends outlined in the first session, such as: smart use of digital print technologies; security printing; digital inkjet for packaging; sheet-fed digital labels; and print automation software.