Labelexpo Global Series to launch Digital Summit

The organizer of the Labelexpo Global Series of exhibitions and summits has announced the launch of the Global Digital Label Summit. The first event will take place on March 23-24, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain.

The Summit's creation follows the inundation of requests to Labelexpo organizers to provide a forum where the present and future of the digital processes can be discussed.

The Labelexpo team aims to bring experts from multiple fields – technology developers, suppliers, printers and end-users – to share their knowledge and achievements at one event. To this end, the Summit is planned to focus on everything that digital processes incorporate, from pre-press to digital workflow.

The Global Digital Label Summit will have a strong educational element with a table-top exhibition and conference. The conference will have case studies on digital processes from industry leaders; it will explore new technology and applications for digital printing of labels, tickets/tags and flexible packaging; it will also assess opportunities for combination printing. End-users will be invited to talk about their digital requirements and expectations for the future developments.

The plans for the exhibition side of the event include hosting representatives from a broad range of digital technologies. These will include machine manufacturers of liquid-toner, dry-toner and inkjet technologies as well as material suppliers, pre-press origination, digital plate-making and die-cutting, digital proofing and all ancillary-related products.

Emphasizing the significance of this event Mike Fairley, the world leading consultant on labels and packaging, said: ‘Recently our industry has seen the move of digital printing technology from niche into mainstream to join flexo, UV flexo, offset and letterpress processes. Digital has become an integral part of today's label and packaging production and is now accepted by leading brand owners and print buyers worldwide. This event is undoubtedly a showcase for the future of our industry.’

Roger Pellow, Labels Group managing director, said: ‘Digital printing has existed for over 20 years, but it is now a reality for the label industry. Currently some 14 percent of all new narrow web press installations are digital, with this figure expected to rise to between 20 and 30 percent over the next five to 10 years. For the future of printing technologies, digital printing will play a key role. The Summit will be a must-attend event for any converter who wants to learn about the opportunities of digital printing and network with their peers, experts and end-users.’