Market trends

Andy Thomas-Emans: Lights out?

Akanksha Meena — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:15:28 +0000

Interactive technology 15 September 2025

Andy Thomas-Emans: Lights out?

Labelexpo Europe 2025 will see suppliers talking about the future of ‘lights-out’ manufacturing, and not only in digital, but also in flexo production.

Labelexpo Europe 2025 will be an exciting show for those with a keen interest in smart automation.

We have reached a point where flexo technology has reached something of a plateau in terms of speed and basic automation.

We have seen full integration of servo motors into flexo presses, even in ‘entry level’ machines, allowing automation of key press parameters like tension control, registration and print pressure, along with the ability to store and recall these parameters.

Automated sensing and closed-loop pressure adjustment is also being applied to die-cutting. Narrow and mid-web press speeds are unlikely to increase significantly due to the need to run multiple processes and properly cure/dry the running web.

The next major leap forward is integrating these technologies into smart automation networks, driven by machine learning and sector-specific AI datasets.

Nilpeter is now talking openly about its ‘Darkroom’ project for flexography, and during a recent fascinating day spent at the company’s demo center, we discussed how that might develop.

Nilpeter already has its ‘Digital Shadow’, a virtual, real-time representation of the press, which means the press can be remotely monitored and even stopped and started remotely. Add to that the ability to carry out a completely automated job change while the press is running, with zero operator intervention, and we can see that, although it is the same FA-17, its smart automation capabilities have advanced dramatically.

When we look back at Labelexpo Europe 2025, I believe we will see it as a pivotal event

Where might robotics come into the equation? LemuGroup, also nominated for an Innovation Award in the first L&L Label Awards, has already demonstrated automated end-of-line automation, taking inspected rolls from turret rewinds, packing, stacking and labeling transit boxes.

But what about the press itself? Could a robot remove a complete flexo printing or converting group and replace it with a pre-loaded group while the press is running?

Meanwhile, smart, AI-driven inspection technology is driving forward, as we will see at Labelexpo, with the ability to predict issues in print and converting and suggest troubleshooting steps.

But as discussed with Nilpeter CTO Carsten Clemensen, the next stage is for the cameras to directly and autonomously control press settings in real time. These cameras would need to be compact and cheap enough to fi t into every print and converting unit of the press and converting line with sufficient resolution and networkable, adaptable intelligence.

Interestingly, Clemensen’s last job before joining Nilpeter was MD at B&R, a division of industrial automation specialist ABB, which already develops AI-driven camera systems for other industrial segments. So, he speaks with some authority here.

Not so sci-fi

The idea of a ‘lights-out’ flexo operation would have sounded like science fiction just a few years ago, but all the technology elements are in place in different parts of the high-tech industrial landscape.

These same advances will also apply to converting machines. We have already seen how ABG, Cerm and Screen came together at Mercian Labels in the UK to automate a fully servo-driven ABG Digicon with all programming carried out remotely via JDF/JMF. This meant the only operator intervention was loading the flexible die. And at the last Labelexpo Europe Automation Arena, Grafotronic demonstrated how camera systems can monitor die-cutting and slitting quality. When linked to print inspection, this allows fully checked rolls to be packed for a customer or put into stock without the need for an extra step of moving to an inspection-rewinder.

The final link in the chain is integration of the press or converting line into wider factory networks, working closely with pre-press and MIS specialists to allow the press to seamlessly deliver real-time production, quality assurance and machine monitoring data to a network and to be able to download new jobs directly from the MIS.

This latter stage is important to prevent the need for an operator double-keying jobs at press side, which is currently the way flexo presses are set up.

In the future, label converters will not only be concerned with gathering real-time production data, but also the energy consumption and carbon footprint for every job that runs through the press, including measurements for substrates, inks and coatings. Labelexpo Europe visitors can see how this works in practice at the Label Trail feature, where CarbonQuota is working with partners Xeikon, Esko, Cerm, GM and Kurz to demonstrate the collection and reporting process for carbon emissions.

When we look back at Labelexpo Europe 2025, I believe we will see it as a pivotal event. Not only because of the move to Barcelona, and not only because the show stretches out in a natural evolution toward short-run flexible packaging and folding cartons, but because it addresses absolutely key issues for the long-term sustainability of the converting industry.

How can we function without a regular supply of skilled machine operators coming into the industry? How can we leverage AI and automation to reduce waste, increase efficiency, increase machine uptime and satisfy the demands of end users for real-time information on sustainability metrics?

I look forward to seeing you in Barcelona!

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Andy Thomas

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Skyline Printing pushes digital transformation

Adyasha Sinha — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 02:55:56 +0000

Digital printing 10 September 2025

Skyline Printing pushes digital transformation

Learn how Skyline Printing has fully automated its labels workflow, from receiving artwork through printing to converting and shipping.

In 2024, Skyline Printing undertook a hugely ambitious digital transformation project that was completed in just five months. This project established a fully automated process chain for its label production, giving the company a new competitive edge and driving growth in the package printing market.

Skyline Printing was established in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, in 2006, and has since been focused on producing packaging and decorative printed materials. Its business covers decorated boxes, paper cards, shopping bags, festival cards, self-adhesive labels and various exquisite gift boxes. The company currently has 106 employees and a workshop area of 7,500sqm. In 2024, turnover was close to 100 million RMB (17m USD), with the label business accounting for 25 percent of total output, with a strong development momentum.

History
Ren Weifang, the founder and general manager of Skyline Printing, has a rich and rather extraordinary educational and professional background.

In 1984, he was admitted to Zhejiang University, a famous university in China, to study radio engineering. When talking about his choice of major, Weifang recalls, ‘At that time, neither I nor my parents had a clear understanding of different majors. My father was a film projectionist then and knew something about diodes, so he suggested that I choose the radio major.’

After graduating, Weifang was admitted to Fudan University to pursue an MBA. During his studies, he discovered a strong interest in macroeconomics and corporate management, firmly believing that a market-oriented economy was the inevitable path for China’s economic development.

Not long after, he switched to working in a private enterprise, overseeing administrative, human resources and information. He quickly progressed to become the general manager of a branch of the company. During this period, he first became aware of opportunities in the printing industry.

Applying his commercial and educational experience to understanding the development trajectory of China’s printing industry, Weifang quit his stable job in 2006 and founded Skyline Printing.

“During printing, the equipment reads the order number, receives production commands, adjusts parameters, and starts printing. The same in the finishing process, where die-cutting machines cut precisely based on online data”

In its early days, Skyline mainly focused on producing decorated boxes. To ensure product quality and production efficiency, the company invested in equipment from global brands such as KBA and Roland sheet-fed offset presses, which quickly made the company stand out in the market.

Around 2016, Weifang set his sights on the label business. He explains, ‘Through frequent contacts with customers, we quickly realized that although the size of the label printing industry is much smaller than that of all packaging products, it has great development potential and a good profit margin. Moreover, the purchase cost of production equipment for label products is much lower than that for packaging production. More importantly, our existing packaging customers also strongly demanded label products.’

Skyline Printing then invested in two Zonten intermittent offset printing presses, an HP Indigo 6K digital press, and several Reborn digital die-cutting machines and created a separate label division.

Digital empowerment
‘During our initial entrepreneur phase, we were fortunate enough to ride the wave of the rapid development and high profit margins in China’s printing industry,’ Weifang recalls. ‘The company experienced explosive growth. However, a few years later, the overall economic growth rate in China slowed down, and the printing industry entered a new stage where sluggish growth was the “new normal”.’

Printing is an asset-heavy industry, and market competition has become increasingly fierce with the economic downturn. Coupled with the continuous increase in labor and materials costs, many companies’ profit margins have shrunk significantly.

Adds Weifang, ‘With the continuous improvement in automation and the intelligence level of equipment, competition among enterprises is becoming more and more severe. The key to breaking through this dilemma lies in strengthening internal production and process management, improving production efficiency, and reducing production costs, to build the company’s core competitiveness.’

Digitalization is the top choice for achieving this goal. ‘During my previous job, I directly experienced the benefits of digitization and information management. That’s why I have always spared no effort to invest in the digitalization of Skyline Printing.’

Zonten intermittent off set presses

As early as the second year after the company’s establishment, Skyline Printing made an investment in an advanced MES (Manufacturing Execution System) and implemented a lean management system, laying a solid foundation for the company in the era of fierce competition.

The pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of the printing industry in China. In 2023, Skyline Printing invested in building a ‘5G +’ digital printing factory, where industrial sensors and 5G data gateways work together to collect real-time energy consumption data during the production process accurately.

Skyline Printing continued to push ahead with its digital transformation through 2024.

Weifang explains, ‘Digital printing orders are short-run and need quick turnarounds. Time and efficiency matter a great deal. We’ve been pondering how to boost production efficiency further. Can we come up with a solution that streamlines the whole process, from ordering, scheduling, printing, to finishing, ensuring seamless digital information flow? This will eliminate the time-consuming and information errors caused by manual transfer between processes.’

But putting ideas into practice is always much harder than coming up with them, as Weifang soon found.

‘Take choosing an ERP system provider as an example. It must link up with all our pre-press, printing and post-press processes. But the truth is that each equipment supplier has different interfaces, and data formats are not uniform. This makes integrating processes tough.’

Fortunately, Skyline Printing’s digital transformation plan received full-throated support from its suppliers.

‘Take Esko and HP, two international leading suppliers in this industry. Their tech engineers and service staff made multiple trips to Skyline Printing’s factory for an on-site investigation. These two companies not only shared successful digital transformation case studies, but also actively teamed up with our local suppliers, Tuxian (ERP supplier), and Reborn (digital die-cutting supplier),’ shares Weifang.

Starting in June 2024, the technical team at Skyline Printing collaborated closely with their suppliers. They repeatedly tested and optimized technology, solving data-connection issues one by one. Within five months, they had successfully achieved full process automation over the production of label products and significantly contributed to the company’s overall digital transformation.

“Within five months, they had successfully achieved full process automation over the production of label products and made a significant contribution to the company’s overall digital transformation”

In the new system, as soon as a customer places an order, key details like quantity, materials, colors, processes and delivery details go straight into the ERP system, automatically generating a unique order number. This number is like a ‘production ID’. Staff use it to quickly prepare materials and plan production, getting things rolling smoothly.

After layout in the Esko system, design files transfer seamlessly online to the different printing processes without manual operation.

During printing, the equipment ‘reads’ the order number, receives production commands, adjusts parameters and starts printing. The same is true in the finishing process, where die-cutting machines cut precisely based on online data.

‘The first order completed by this system really made us feel the power of digitalization and gave us a great sense of accomplishment,’ Weifang says proudly. ‘This achievement has not only significantly improved our production efficiency but also enhanced the stability of product quality. Errors and costs caused by manual intervention have been greatly reduced.’

He also reveals that the company’s production efficiency has increased by at least 30 percent using the new system, with even greater potential for the future.

Personnel management
Weifang has always regarded talent as the core of any company’s success and has established a comprehensive system for talent cultivation and promotion. New employees are provided with a systematic training program covering professional skills and ethics to help them quickly adapt to the working environment. In daily work, they take part in a mentorship system, where experienced seniors provide one-on-one guidance to help new employees steer clear of avoidable mistakes.

Meanwhile, the company has a clear and transparent promotion pathway, depending on job performance and professional abilities. This fully stimulates employees’ work enthusiasm and creativity, allowing every employee to find their own path for growth within the company.

In addition to cultivating talent, Skyline Printing also emphasizes retaining talent. The company offers a highly competitive salary system, ensuring that employees are duly rewarded for their efforts.

Skyline Printing has set up multiple WeChat groups where the production progress of each department can be announced in real time. During the production process, responsibility for each link in the chain is clearly assigned to specific individuals, and the completion of job tasks is reported promptly.

All this detailed data serves as an important base for performance evaluation and a bonus at the end of the month. This has created a positive working atmosphere in the whole company.

Moreover, Weifang highly values employees’ emotional well-being. He actively encourages a work-life balance, striving to create a harmonious and healthy workplace where employees can fully tap their potential.

Thanks to its comprehensive management and assessment system, Skyline Printing has a ‘hands–off’ management structure. This approach motivates employees and allows Weifang more time to follow his other passions. He climbs mountains twice a week and regularly takes on challenging journeys, such as to the South Pole, the North Pole, Europe and America. He uses these rich experiences to fuel his management understanding.

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Yolanda Wang

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Japanese market sees growth despite global headwinds

Selah Zighelboim — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 19:33:51 +0000

Market trends 05 September 2025

Japanese market sees growth despite global headwinds

Each year, The Label Shimbun analyzes a broad range of proprietary data for its annual survey of the Japanese label market. Here is a summary of its latest findings.

In 2024, the Japanese label industry shipped labels to the value of 4.3 billion USD (629.2 billion JPY), up 2.4 percent from the previous year, marking the highest level of growth in the last five years. Food retained the largest share by end-use segment, accounting for 31 percent, or approximately 1.3 billion USD (195.5 billion JPY).

Despite the ongoing stagnation of consumer spending caused by price increases across all sectors including food, the market grew thanks to successful price adjustments implemented by label converters. Shipment volume remained flat year-on-year.

Labels accounted for 12.9 percent of the overall printing market in 2024, a 0.2 percentage point increase from the previous year. Non-adhesive labels, like shrink sleeves and in-mold, saw no significant change in market share, while growth in pressure‑sensitive labels helped support the overall growth of the industry sector.

“The market is expected to remain flat in volume terms, requiring a shift from volume-based growth to profit-oriented strategies”

In the wider packaging market, flexible packaging expanded its share significantly, representing 19.4 percent of the printing market, while corrugated board and paperboard accounted for 15.6 percent and 9.9 percent respectively. These gains, however, were primarily driven by price hikes rather than volume growth, as underlying demand showed only a slight improvement.

The label shipment volume for 2024 was flat at 2.49 billion sqm, remaining nearly unchanged from the previous year.

Volume growth slows

While the value of label shipments increased due to price hikes, label volume rose only slightly by 1 million sqm year-over-year. As material costs remain high and consumer spending slows, label converters face ongoing challenges in growing volumes. The market is expected to remain flat in volume terms, requiring a shift from volume-based growth to profit-oriented strategies.

In the food sector, pressure-sensitive labels dominate, while the beverage and alcohol segments rely more on non-adhesive formats. Due to their multi-layer structure and integrated post-press processing, the inherently higher unit cost of pressure-sensitive labels results in higher shipment value.

Future growth for converters will depend on how they add value to pressure-sensitive labels through enhanced functionality and services.

Label types

While price hikes for pressure-sensitive materials had mostly
stabilized by 2023, film-based substrates for non-adhesive labels saw multiple rounds of price increases in 2024. As a result, average selling prices for non-adhesive labels rose significantly.

At the same time, the impact of rising raw material costs that
began in 2021 continued to affect pressure-sensitive labels, leading converters to persist in price negotiations with customers. These efforts contributed to an overall upward trend in label pricing.

In terms of label type, pressure-sensitive formats accounted for 80 percent of total shipment value in 2024, while non-adhesive labels represented the remaining 20 percent. Shrink labels, the most common non-adhesive format, are predominantly used in the beverage and alcohol segment.

However, adoption is also expanding in food, personal and
home care, cosmetics and pharmaceutical and medical sectors, often replacing other label formats.

Durst and Grafotronic at the Japanese Label Forum in 2024

Trends among converters

Japan is home to approximately 2,800 label printing companies, many of which are small to medium-sized, family-owned businesses. These firms are vital in supplying label products essential for both commercial and consumer applications.

In 2023, Japan’s economy showed signs of recovery as society emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, achieving record GDP growth.

However, the country also experienced its highest inflation in 41 years, leading to significant macroeconomic shifts. Despite the strong GDP numbers, actual economic sentiment remained weak.

For pressure-sensitive labels, material price increases continued into 2023, following earlier hikes in 2022. That year also saw electricity and fuel costs rise, further pushing up variable manufacturing costs. In response, label converters negotiated with customers to adjust label pricing to sustainable levels.

In terms of annual revenue distribution, companies with less than 685,000 USD (100 million JPY) in annual sales saw widespread growth, with many surpassing the threshold and joining the next revenue tier.

As a result, this segment’s share fell by 3.5 points to 44.3 percent.

All other revenue categories recorded year-on-year increases, indicating a gradual shift toward higher-revenue structures within the industry.

The Label Shimbum, a specialized industry newspaper focused on the Japanese label sector, recently published the 19th edition of its annual data book, ‘Japan’s Label Market 2025.’ First launched in 2007, this publication has become a widely referenced resource both in Japan and internationally among label and packaging professionals.

Food labeling

In the food labeling segment, Osaka Sealing Printing holds
the dominant position with a 33 percent market share. As a major domestic player, the company not only manufactures pressure‑sensitive materials in-house but also provides label printing services. In recent years, it has expanded into film-based applications such as shrink labels and flexible packaging. The company offers a complete one-stop labeling solution, including applicator systems.

In February 2025, Osaka Sealing launched ‘Yudemo,’ a heat-resistant thermal label designed to improve processing efficiency for brand owners. The label targets applications where durability in high-temperature environments is essential.

Fujiseal supplies its core product, shrink labels, to various
food applications, including plastic condiment containers. The company continues to grow its lineup of full-wrap shrink sleeves that extend over the cap, contributing to enhanced food safety.

Nozaki Insatsu Shigyo produces point-of-purchase and product labels and is also engaged in bag-making for food applications using water-based flexographic printing.

Toppan Infomedia launched an eco-friendly linerless labeling system in July 2024. The company targets brand owners in segments like energy drinks and condiments, where glue-applied labels have traditionally been used, offering alternatives that help improve production efficiency.

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Yukiko Suzuki

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ABG launches new flex pack division

Adyasha Sinha — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 11:29:34 +0000

A B Graphic International (ABG) has launched ABG Flex Pack to expand its expertise in lamination and finishing into this high-growth sector. ABG has many years of experience in the field, manufacturing thermal laminators, pouch finishing systems such as the Digicon 3000 and shrink sleeve machines that are installed in markets worldwide. ABG Flex Pack now consolidates this expertise into a dedicated division to deliver complete, end-to-end packaging technology.

ABG Flex Pack combines three key pillars of innovation. First is the launch of a new ThermoLam product - a compact, modular thermal laminator that improves on previous models with better ergonomics, easier roll handling from the front and an optimised footprint for maximum efficiency. Second is the addition of a pouch-making machine through an exclusive partnership with Galaxy Packtech, which provides converters with access to proven, high-performance technology. And finally, a third innovation is on the horizon, which is set to enhance the appeal and functionality of flexible packaging further. Together, these innovations offer a comprehensive, end-to-end process for the rapidly growing flexible market.

Galaxy Packtech, a family-run business with 24 years of experience, boasts over 1,500 installations worldwide and employs more than 100 experts, making it a global leader in pouch and bag-making machines. Its modular, solutions-focused equipment combines maximum performance, even in the most challenging conditions, with cost-effective, user-friendly designs, giving converters the flexibility and reliability needed to succeed. Through the partnership, ABG wants to help its customers diversify in a changing market space with a partner they recognize, understand and trust.

ABG will provide exclusive distribution and service for Galaxy Packtech across Europe (including the UK and Ireland), the US, Australasia, Japan and Israel.

Gaurav Sharma, chief marketing officer at Galaxy Packtech, said: 'We chose to partner with ABG because of their reputation for innovation, high standards and comprehensive service support. We are both family-run businesses with similar values and goals. Together, we’re able to bring converters flexible packaging technology that combines Galaxy’s technical excellence with ABG’s market reach and end-to-end expertise.'

'What makes this launch so significant is that converters can now come to ABG for a truly end-to-end technology, from coating and lamination through to pouch production and beyond, all from one supplier,' added Matt Burton, ABG’s global sales director. 'By combining our new ThermoLam product with Galaxy’s world-class pouch-making systems and adding further innovations to follow, ABG Flex Pack provides converters with more capability, efficiency and the ability to diversify into one of the most dynamic packaging markets in the world.'

ABG Flex Pack features prominently on Galaxy Packtech’s stand 5E48 at Labelexpo Europe 2025, taking place from September 16-19 at Fira de Barcelona - Gran Via, Spain. There are live demonstrations of Galaxy’s high-performance pouch-making machines throughout the show. ABG experts are also available on its stand to discuss applications, integration and service support.

Visitors can also experience ABG products across a wide range of categories, including booklets, shrink sleeve, embellishment, laser cutting, inspection, converting, non-stop technology and more, by visiting ABG’s stand 3E41 in Hall 3.

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IM Group moves IEC+ operations to its headquarters

Adyasha Sinha — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:05:22 +0000

IM Group has consolidated the operations of IEC+ from Parma to the group’s global headquarters in San Gillio, Turin. This strategic move is part of IM Group’s continued commitment to delivering greater efficiency, faster lead times, and optimized cost structures to all its clients in the ink, paint, coatings and chemical industries.

By aligning IEC+ more closely with IM Group’s global headquarters and strengthening a strict production integration with partner IEC Plant Engineering Malaysia’s production facilities, the group has ensured a streamlined model that enhances both productivity and competitiveness.

IEC+, a specialist in process equipment for dispersion, grinding, and mixing, will continue to focus on engineering studies, turnkey technologies, technical design, automation, planning, sales service and customer support.

Customer service remains guaranteed by the IEC+ team, ensuring that all stakeholders continue to benefit from the same trusted expertise and responsiveness as before.

By centralizing operations and reinforcing production synergies across Italy and Malaysia, IM Group is positioning IEC+ to scale more effectively, innovate more dynamically, and serve clients worldwide with even greater agility in the design and manufacture of high-quality process technologies.

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By centralizing operations and reinforcing production synergies across Italy and Malaysia, IM Group is positioning IEC+ to scale more effectively.

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Simply Inkjet and Focus Label form partnership

Adyasha Sinha — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:12:00 +0000

Focus Label Machinery, headquartered near Nottingham, UK, and Simply Inkjet, based in Castleford, UK, have formed a strategic partnership to deliver technology for the water-based labels and packaging market.

This collaboration unites expertise and innovation to provide the most sustainable and cost-effective labeling technology.

Founded in 2019 by Simon Cooper, former managing director and part-owner of The Lettershop Group, Simply Inkjet brings advanced water-based inkjet technology to the partnership. Focus Label Machinery, with over four decades of global leadership in the label industry, serves both the apparel and converting sectors.

Since 2015, Focus has pioneered hybrid inkjet technology, developing a robust transport system integrated with UV inkjet to create a one-pass production press with flexo, UV inkjet and complete finishing capabilities. Through this partnership with Simply Inkjet, Focus now incorporates pigmented water-based inkjet technology, establishing the most commercially viable model for digital labels. This is achieved through its ability to prime in-line or off-line, enabling regular coated and uncoated commercial stocks, which ensures customers avoid costs that are two to three times higher.

James Thomas, head of sales and business development at Focus Label Machinery, stated: 'We have worked closely with Simon Cooper and his team over the past six months to bring this innovative technology to our markets. This is a transformative moment for both companies, and we are excited to unveil this technology at Labelexpo in Barcelona this month.'

Simon Cooper, managing director and co-founder of Simply Inkjet, added: 'Partnering with Focus Label Machinery, with their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and deep expertise in narrow web labels and packaging, opens significant growth opportunities for our business. We are enthusiastic about the potential of this collaboration.'

Cooper further noted: 'With Focus’s UK-based manufacturing capabilities, they are well-positioned to support our expanding operations across various sectors by engineering print engine chassis for our systems.'

This partnership prioritizes user-friendly technology, incorporating Simply Inkjet’s ‘first copy good copy’ innovation for faster, highly efficient printing. With low energy consumption and printing widths exceeding one meter, this water-based inkjet technology offers unmatched sustainability compared to toner-based and UV printing technologies, minimizing environmental impact through energy-efficient processes and eco-friendly materials.

Focus Label Machinery and Simply Inkjet showcase their technology at Labelexpo in Hall 5, Stand G58.

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Siegwerk strengthens its GICC in India

Adyasha Sinha — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 11:23:20 +0000

Siegwerk has planned an investment of approximately 39.7 million USD to expand its operations across India over the next three years. The move positions India at the heart of Siegwerk’s global growth and innovation strategy and reinforces its commitment to building a 'Viksit Bharat' through advanced manufacturing, sustainability and talent development.

As India rapidly ascends to become one of the world’s largest consumer markets, Siegwerk’s investment will directly support the country’s dynamic and diverse packaging needs. The funding will be channelled into scaling Siegwerk’s global innovation and capability center (GICC) in India, a strategic hub for end-to-end innovation. It will also bring in world-class R&D infrastructure to develop high-performing products, delivering high standards in safety and circularity. Siegwerk’s India GICC will serve as a unified platform for global R&D, combining innovation, regulatory compliance, digital operations and customer support to accelerate the development and delivery of high-performance, sustainable inks.

The expansion includes national distribution center in Tauru and Siegwerk’s 14 color matching centers (CMCs) cum warehouses covering pan India, giving unmatched service levels to our customers. These facilities now offer improved production capacities and faster turnaround times, alongside advanced safety and inventory systems. They also support Siegwerk’s comprehensive portfolio of solvent and water-based inks for all packaging applications – flexible packaging, sheet-fed, narrow web, paper and board – formulations known for high color strength, fast print speeds and recyclability.

The investment is future-oriented, aiming not just to meet current regulatory benchmarks but to go beyond compliance by pioneering next-generation products. These safe and sustainable inks anticipate the needs of tomorrow’s packaging industry. Siegwerk has been a long-standing champion for safety and a pioneer in phasing out carcinogenic and unsafe substances like mineral oils and toluene.

The multi-city expansion includes a strategic mix of new infrastructure, facility upgrades and digital integration across Siegwerk’s existing footprint. With strengthened operations in key hubs and upgraded capabilities feeding into the GICC, the company is adding to its 1000+ workforce across India. This reflects Siegwerk’s long-term commitment to India and its vision to build a locally anchored, innovation-driven manufacturing base. Siegwerk has also expanded and upgraded its blending facility in Pune with advanced automation, reinforcing its long-term commitment to creating a future-ready, efficient and sustainable supply chain in India amid growing demand for water-based inks.

Speaking about the significant investment and confidence in the Indian market, Ashish Pradhan, president, Siegwerk Asia, said: 'India remains at the forefront as a vital growth market for Siegwerk, and we are committed to strengthening our presence here through strategic expansions across geographies. The Siegwerk India GICC will soon be a key pillar of our international growth strategy. By blending infrastructure, R&D and sustainability through a world-class GICC, we’re building for the long term, for our customers, our communities and India’s future. More than a facility, it reflects our commitment to sustainable innovation and India’s industrial transformation.'

Backed by Siegwerk’s strong foundation in finance, research and global delivery ecosystem, the India GICC is well-positioned to support the country’s manufacturing infrastructure growth. With strong government support and access to India’s deep talent pool, the GICC marks a forward-looking investment aimed at strengthening Siegwerk’s global leadership in responsible innovation and operational resilience.

Manjusha Singh, CEO, Siegwerk India, added: 'This investment is not just about expansion, it’s about shaping the future of packaging in India. We’re developing innovative capabilities to pioneer safe, mineral oil-free inks that exceed compliance standards. The India GICC is a catalyst for deepening our R&D, advancing responsible manufacturing and strengthening India’s role in our global value chain.'

Siegwerk’s expanded distribution network, upgraded production units and renewed focus on service excellence are designed to fuel consistent business growth of 8-10 percent annually, while also aligning with global sustainability standards. The company’s focus goes beyond physical infrastructure. With significant investments also being made in workforce training, digital tools and sustainable practices, Siegwerk aims to create a future-ready ecosystem that supports both customers and broader industry goals.

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Siegwerk strengthens its GICC in India

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Invests approximately 39.7 million USD to accelerate R&D, manufacturing and sustainable innovation.

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Saudi Arabia’s labeling industry on the rise

Akanksha Meena — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 09:53:49 +0000

Market trends 29 August 2025

Saudi Arabia’s labeling industry on the rise

Saudi Arabia’s labeling and packaging industry is undergoing a rapid transformation.

Saudi Arabia’s labeling and packaging industry is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by technological innovation, evolving consumer expectations and the nation’s Vision 2030 roadmap.

Saudi Arabia’s packaging market size reached 11.2 billion USD in 2024, according to a report by IMARC Group. The market is expected to reach 16 billion USD by 2033, with a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.02 percent during the forecast period between 2025 and 2033.

The industry is seeing rising interest in labels and packaging, with an appetite for specialty applications and a growing interest in sustainability.

‘Saudi Arabia, being one of the biggest nations in the Gulf, is booming with many labels and packaging requirements,’ says Manu Muraleekrishnan, regional business manager for Middle East, West and East Africa at Nilpeter. He notes that the market is now mature enough to embrace technical advancements. ‘We’re seeing growing demand for specialty shrink sleeves, anti-counterfeiting security labels and lenticular labels,’ he adds.

Khalid Aziz Shah, general manager at one of the leading converters in the region, Raqam International, echoes this observation. ‘In self-adhesive labels, we’re seeing more upgrades in cosmetics and detergents labels with screen and foiling effects,’ he says.

Additionally, in-mold labeling (IML) and shrink sleeves are gaining traction, while BOPP and wraparound labels remain strong, typically printed in standard three to six-color formats.

Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative and upcoming global events are expected to drive substantial growth. Vision 2030 is a government-led initiative to drive economic, social and cultural diversifi cation in Saudi Arabia. It is focused on transforming the country by diversifying the economy, empowering citizens and attracting global investment.

‘The country is preparing for World Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, which will attract millions of travelers,’ says Muraleekrishnan. ‘This will directly impact industries like automotive, healthcare, hospitality, food and beverage, which rely heavily on labeling and packaging. The 2030 vision looks very promising for the kingdom.’

Shah agrees that government support and large-scale development projects set the stage for growth. However, he adds: ‘Since the labels industry is mostly in the private sector, it hasn’t yet received as much direct attention or promotion as it should.’

The World Expo and FIFA World Cup will directly impact industries that rely heavily on labeling and packaging. The 2030 vision looks very promising for the kingdom

While global markets push toward greener technologies, Saudi Arabia is in the early stages of its sustainability journey. The industry stakeholders, including leading label converters and end users, are discussing sustainability, and there is an interest in reducing waste and carbon footprint. However, Shah notes that it is a new concept in the region, and there are cost concerns.

Label trends

According to Shah, label materials such as semi-gloss, thermal, PP, PE and BOPP dominate the market, making up 80 to 90 percent of print jobs. ‘Customers and designers are most familiar with these materials,’ he says. ‘But if they explore new and unique substrates, it could signifi cantly upgrade branding and create new trends.

As a converter, we’re always excited about innovation.’ New technologies are entering the market, though customer education remains a hurdle. ‘More sophisticated combination printing machines are now available, capable of producing high-end labels. However, due to traditional market habits, it’s sometimes hard to explain the long-term value of increased market share versus short-term cost per label,’ says Shah.

Digital printing is gradually gaining ground in Saudi Arabia and is growing, especially with combination presses for short-run jobs in both roll and sheet formats. Still, ink costs remain a barrier to faster adoption.

Market challenges

Despite Saudi Arabia’s business-friendly policies, challenges persist, particularly pricing. ‘Unhealthy pricing is one of the biggest issues. There are only a few ways to solve this issue and one proven solution would be to form a local printers’ association, like in Europe, and agree on price brackets for each product category. No printer should sell below or above that range. This is the need of the hour to have sustainable growth for everyone,’ Muraleekrishnan explains.

The future

As the Saudi market evolves, there is optimism about new applications and technologies. Shah notes that holographic labels are growing globally and gaining appreciation. ‘We’ve introduced hologram labels to the market, and we’re hopeful they’ll see stronger adoption among brands,’ he says.

As Saudi Arabia advances towards Vision 2030, its labeling industry is exhibiting potential for growth. From embracing specialty applications and new materials to preparing for large-scale events, the region is poised for long-term development.

However, tackling challenges such as pricing, sustainability and education will be key in supporting the industry’s progress.

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Akanksha Meena

Global Brands Editor

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Epson India raids sellers of counterfeit products

Adyasha Sinha — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 07:48:26 +0000

Epson, together with the Mumbai police, has conducted a raid to seize Epson ink bottles and related packaging materials. The raid targeted manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit products, leading to one of the largest seizures in recent times.

Counterfeit printing supplies pose a serious threat to both consumers and brands. For customers, these counterfeit goods often deliver poor performance, damage devices and raise safety concerns. For businesses like Epson and its channel partners, counterfeiting undermines trust, erodes brand reputation, and causes significant revenue loss. By working closely with law enforcement to curb this illegal trade, Epson is safeguarding customers’ interests, protecting its dealer ecosystem, and reinforcing its commitment to providing only genuine, high-quality products.

The operation resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of counterfeit goods valued at approximately 50,000 USD. The raid uncovered 3,758 Epson-packed ink bottles, 6,080 Epson ribbon cartridges, and 12,467 refilled ink bottles, along with 14,366 empty plastic bottles. In addition, 49,750 Epson ink bottle outer boxes, 9,945 ribbon cartridge outer boxes, 35,430 Epson holograms, 11,380 Epson price tags, 31,400 Epson bottle shrink sleeves, 14,600 Epson QR code unique labels and 11,070 Epson picture mate stickers were seized.

From the premises, authorities recovered 12 non-genuine ink barrels, each measuring 20 litres, along with sealing, vacuum, and ink bottle sealing machines, as well as an inkjet printing machine used in the counterfeiting process. The vehicle used for transporting and distributing the counterfeit goods was also seized.

According to Epson India, counterfeit products not only mislead customers but also erode the trust placed in its brand. This raid reflected the scale and seriousness of the counterfeit trade in the print industry and underscored Epson’s relentless commitment to fighting it.

The company appreciated the swift and decisive action taken by the Mumbai Police and confirmed that it would continue to work closely with them to eradicate more such illegal activities. Epson India reported: 'Protecting our customers, safeguarding our partners’ business and upholding the integrity of our products remain our top priorities.'

Epson reaffirms its commitment to stringent enforcement of its intellectual property rights and to ensuring that customers continue to receive only genuine, high-quality Epson products.

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Epson India raids sellers of counterfeit products

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The operation resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of counterfeit goods valued at approximately 50,000 USD.

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The operation resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of counterfeit goods valued at approximately 50,000 USD.

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