Labelexpo Asia 2013 sets records

Some 21,416 visitors attended Labelexpo Asia 2013, an increase of 18.8 percent over the last instalment in 2011, from 87 countries, a figure itself up 11 percent, to see nearly 300 exhibitors across 8,500 sq m of net space. This means the show was larger by 10 percent versus the last edition, and also experienced its highest ever onsite level of space rebooking for 2015.

Exhibiting suppliers included Avery Dennison, Epson, Gallus, Lintec (Suzhou) Tech Corporation, Omet, Nuova Gidue, UPM Raflatac, Xeikon, Zhe Jiang Wei Gang Machinery Co. and Zhongtian Machinery Works Co. More than 70 running machines were demonstrated.

New products unveiled for the Asia-Pacific region included Screen’s Truepress Jet L350UV digital label press, Avery Dennison’s TurnLock laminating system and Brotech's new turret rewinder with automatic core take-off. Nuova Gidue’s M3 digital flexo press was reported as a major attraction with packed demonstrations.

A two-day conference program ran alongside the exhibition and covered digital printing, beverage labeling and innovation. The opening keynote was delivered by Jukka-Pekka Haapanen, vice-president, Asia Pacific at UPM Raflatac, who gave an overview of the latest global trends and market forecast.

John Davy, show director of Labelexpo Asia, said: ‘This has been the perfect way to mark the show’s 10^th anniversary with Labelexpo Asia 2013 being the biggest, busiest and best edition to date.

‘We’ve had fantastic footfall with exhibitors reporting plentiful and strong sales leads while the exhibition floor and conference sessions have been packed for the duration of the event.

Labelexpo Asia 2013 took place at the end of a calendar year that has included the largest Labelexpo Europe, as well as successful conference and summit events around the world, including the inaugural Packprint Summit in Miami at the start of November.

The 2014 Labelexpo Global Series calendar includes summits in Africa, Indonesia and Colombia, where Label Summit Latin America is headed for the first time, as well as Labelexpo Americas 2014 and Labelexpo India 2014.

Labelexpo Asia returns to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre on December 1-4, 2015, and Davy added: ‘We have managed our highest ever rebook with 50 percent of space already confirmed for 2015, which is highly unusual for Asian exhibitions.

‘This year’s success is a key indication that China’s economy is showing clear signs of recovery and is picking up pace. With so many market leading suppliers and manufacturers on board, there can be no doubt in the minds of the Chinese converting industry that this is the must-attend show for the label and package printing industry.’