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the just-in-time/last minute delivery of labels required by leading brand manufacturers, and the effects of shorter runs coupled with multi-versioning of a central standard label. Some highlights:
• Faster ink curing is a requirement today, and UV curing is today a popular choice – although with issues in food packaging and sustainability arenas. LED UV curing looks to be the answer, according to the panellists – but it is still almost double the price of conventional UV curing systems.
• Laser diecutting was also said to be making a niche for itself, where fancy label shapes on a variety of substrates are a requirement. Again, it is expensive – but many conventional presses today are already sold with the capability.
• The fact that label converters are today expanding their portfolio to include, as well as self-adhesive labels, sleeves, in-mould labels, sachets/pouches, and even cartons also expands the capability requirements for label presses. For example, web temperature and tension need to be monitored carefully when printing unsupported films or thin – 20-23 micron – self-adhesive films.
An area where real disruptive potential is developing is direct inkjet print on to packaging. It will, the panel said, require a degree of standardisation of substrate shape and size (in itself a limitation), and perhaps offers the best opportunity in the labelling environment in the medium term as an element in combination print.
All in all, the panel discussion evidenced a real sense that the world of label printing is moving forward amicably on two, parallel, fronts – ever-more capable conventional roll-to-roll presses, and the ‘new kid on the block’, digital label presses.
A DIFFERENT WAY OF VIEWING THE FUTURE!
A paper with a less friendly, more challenging title closed the formal conference agenda. Dr Marc de
Vos, director of the think tank Itinera Institute, Belgium, with a doctorate in law (Ghent) and a Harvard master’s degree in law, took as his theme ‘Why the Crisis is Deeper than You Think, but the Future is Brighter than You Fear’. In the face of what most people consider to be, perhaps, ‘the worst financial crisis of all time’, he urged delegates to take a different viewpoint. His
wide-ranging paper included a number of highlights. ‘Debt’, he said, ‘is not a crisis – it’s a condition, and our economy is addicted to debt!’ In fact, he showed, our history, and on-going issues, are proof of this premise. He discussed in a refreshingly- different manner Europe’s current problems, emphasising that ‘it’s the whole of Europe that’s at stake, not just the currency!’
He looked at globalisation – and pointed out the failings of the current status – ‘nobody’s the pilot, and there’s no cockpit either’ – despite the G20 and other talk-shops.
Dr de Vos challenged delegates to look, too, at the effects of technology transfer to other developing regions of the world, particularly China. ‘We are’, he said, ‘selling out to the devil’, and in the process preventing the European economy from growing as it could. Geopolitical factors like this, he commented, have major implications.
OPPORTUNITIES
There is real light on the horizon, however, Dr de Vos showed. Thanks to the lucky ‘baby boomer’ generation, who are now enjoying 15-18 years’ active life after retirement (much longer than previous generations), a huge new, wealthy consumer market is opening up. But at the same time, ‘the bill for baby boomer welfare is increasing by one third – more than 30% of the population will be over 60’. Their needs will have to be paid for – but, as there will be less younger people around to do so, we will once again be creating national debt.
The green economy (which, he said, ‘has to happen, or mankind’s finished’); the new and growing high-technology healthcare equipment market; 3D printing; and the enormous potential in the remaining emerging nations – representing some 55 million people – were also highlighted as real future opportunities.
Having explored the past and present, Dr de Vos advocated optimism for the future. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘It’s terrible the state we’re in – but we’ve seen worse and got over it. It’s not a matter of ability. It’s a matter of WILL.’
CLOSING ADDRESSES
It was time for the FINAT President to close the conference; and Kurt Walker, while acknowledging the synergies between FINAT and VskE, at the same time recognised the significance of the wider FINAT family, represented by the strong delegate turnout at what was one of the largest FINAT congresses ever held.
Looking back upon the 2013 event, FINAT’s MD Jules Lejeune said that he took away a strong message: ‘Our speakers in Munich have emphasised that, as an industry, we are widening our horizons, embracing new technologies, and opening up new end-use markets for labels. That’s a positive message – and I can assure all FINAT members that both the national associations and FINAT will be working to ensure a successful future outcome for our vibrant industry.’
This is an extract of the FINAT-VskE Congress report. The full report can be found on the FINAT website.
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FINAT YEARBOOK 2014 |