As LOUPE India 2026 prepares to make its debut, the event marks a broader focus on label printing, mid-web flexible packaging and in-line folding carton converting. In this interview with The Packman, Jade Grace, managing director of LOUPE Global, discusses the event’s objectives, emerging technologies, sustainability and the opportunities for Indian converters.
Mahan Hazarika: LOUPE India 2026 marks the first LOUPE event in India, following its evolution from Labelexpo India. What does this transition represent for the Indian label and package printing industry?
Jade Grace: This transition matters, but I want to be precise about what it actually represents. Labels remain the beating heart of LOUPE – that hasn’t changed and won’t change. Where Labelexpo was built squarely around narrow-web label printing, LOUPE widens that view to include mid-web flexible packaging – think shrink sleeves and pouches – and in-line folding carton converting.
This isn’t a jump into the entire flexible packaging or carton world. It’s a deliberate, focused step into the parts of those sectors that sit closest to label converting, where the skills, equipment, and workflows genuinely overlap. For India, that reflects exactly what we’re seeing on the ground: label converters are being asked by brands to do more – shorter runs, faster turnaround, more formats – without straying from what they do best. LOUPE India 2026 (formerly Labelexpo India) is built to support that shift, not to redefine converters as something they’re not.
Mahan Hazarika: How does LOUPE India 2026 differ from previous editions of Labelexpo India in terms of its scope, industry focus, and visitor experience?
Jade Grace: Beyond the shift in focus we’ve just covered, what really sets LOUPE India 2026 apart is the experience we’re building for visitors. Expect more live demonstrations on the floor and a stronger lineup of exhibitors than previous editions – giving converters exposure to new technology and more suppliers to connect with under one roof.
One session I’d point converters towards in particular is FlexPack Unpacked – a dedicated luncheon designed specifically for senior decision-makers in the converting industry. It’s a chance to step away briefly from the show floor, sit down with peers, and have a focused conversation about where mid-web flexible packaging is heading and what it means for their businesses. We’re also having a luncheon for women in print. This initiative brings together women across the label and package printing industry to connect, learn and build the kind of network that helps careers and businesses grow.
Mahan Hazarika: What are the key objectives for the inaugural LOUPE India event, and how does India fit into LOUPE Global’s broader international event strategy?
Jade Grace: Our goal with this first LOUPE India is simple: bring converters, suppliers, and brand owners together on one platform that opens up real commercial opportunity.
India matters enormously to LOUPE Global’s global strategy. As stated already, we see mid-web technologies familiar to label converters disrupting the wide web flexible packaging industry on the one hand, and the industrial sheetfed folding carton industry on the other. This will happen at different speeds and in different combinations in different geographical markets, but each will learn from the others.
In India, label converters diversified into folding cartons before this was a general trend elsewhere, and there is much that can be learned from the experiences of converters like Pragati Pack. Conversely, label converters in Western markets moved first into flexible packaging, creating a whole eco-system of mid-web flexible packaging presses, mid-web laminators, materials, coating suppliers at Labelexpo shows. Now, at this LOUPE India show we see mid-web flexo flexible packaging presses making a major impact for the first time, building on the extensive experience developed by label converters in Western markets.
Mahan Hazarika: What can visitors expect to see at LOUPE India 2026 in terms of technologies, equipment, materials, and solutions for label and packaging production?
Jade Grace: This is a really exciting show for new technology launches in the South Asian market. We expect to see the launch of new presses from Gallus and Domino specifically targeted at region along with Xeikon’s Ecolyne toner press, with its lease/purchase model.
As mentioned above, mid-web flexible packaging forms a powerful element at LOUPE India 2026. Multitec shows it S3S, a 670mm-wide 8-color press, and Webtech launches its 720mm-wide Aeroflex S5, both designed specifically for flexpack and shrink sleeve applications. Alongside this are a range of materials suppliers demonstrating flexible packaging as well as label substrates, including Cosmo Films, Addon Filmtech, Chiripal Poly Films and Prakash Shrink Pack.
There is much else of interest on the narrow web flexo side, showcasing automation and digital integration. This includes a Spande S5 press hosted by local agent Provin Technos and further machines from Multitec and Webtech.
Digital makes a strong showing, with presses on the show floor from leading suppliers including HP Indigo, showing the 6k+ for the first time in India, Konica Minolta with its AccurioLabel presses and Epson with the L-6534VW digital press.
Other suppliers exhibit the full range of coating, materials and security solutions, including RFID.
Mahan Hazarika: How do you assess the current development of India’s label and packaging industry, particularly in terms of market growth, investment, and technology adoption?
Jade Grace: India’s label and package printing industry is in a genuine growth phase. According to Mordor Intelligence, the Indian print label sector is now worth over USD 2.4 billion and growing at more than 13% a year – figures that align with reporting from Labels & Labeling. That growth comes from rising domestic consumption, booming e-commerce, and tighter tracking regulations in sectors like food and pharmaceuticals.
The strongest momentum right now sits in FMCG, food and beverage, pharma and healthcare, personal care, and logistics – driven by more SKUs, stricter safety compliance, and the rapid growth of last-mile delivery.
Mahan Hazarika: What opportunities do you see for Indian label and packaging converters as they respond to changing brand requirements, shorter production runs, customisation, and demand for higher-value applications?
Jade Grace: There’s real opportunity here for converters willing to move into short-run, customised, higher-value mid-web flexible packaging. As brands launch more SKUs, refresh designs faster, and expect quicker turnaround, converters can put their existing digital and in-line flexo or offset skills to work on shrink sleeves, pouches, sachets and form-fill-seal films. This suits challenger brands and fragmented demand particularly well – across food, personal care, healthcare, and e-commerce – where being agile counts for more than sheer volume.
Converters can stand out further with value-added finishes, smarter formats, advanced barrier materials, recyclable structures, and post-consumer recycled content. The prize is a profitable, premium niche in flexible packaging – but it means deepening know-how in materials, barrier performance, migration rules, sealing, laminations, and web tension.
Mahan Hazarika: What level of international participation are you expecting at LOUPE India 2026, and how will the event connect Indian visitors with global technology suppliers and industry experts?
Jade Grace: We have a strong international turnout this edition – especially from equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and technology providers who see India as an exciting growth market. The event is built to connect Indian visitors directly with global expertise, while making sure every solution on show genuinely fits local needs.
India matters so much to the international industry because of the sheer scale and speed of its growth – fuelled by consumer goods, e-commerce, and increasingly sophisticated local manufacturing. What’s especially notable is how global innovation is being adapted specifically for Indian production environments, demand patterns, and price points.
Mahan Hazarika: Sustainability continues to influence packaging development and manufacturing decisions. What developments in materials, printing, finishing, and production processes do you expect to be particularly relevant to visitors at LOUPE India 2026?
Jade Grace: Indian label converters are increasingly expected to comply with a widening range of sustainability mandates and legislation. Converters supplying brands which export to the EU, for example, will come under the reporting obligations of the EU’s PPWR framework.
Suppliers are responding at LOUPE India 2026. As an example, CapriCoating Solutions will feature PCR content label materials. Moves towards more energy efficient and lower carbon footprint LED-UV curing features prominently. Flint Group demonstrates its EkoCure Dual Cure technology, engineered to support the transition from mercury to LED curing.
The emphasis on reducing waste can also be seen in the growth of digital embellishment at the show and foil saving systems on cold foil applicators, such as the Distorun technology showcased by Kurz.
On the flexible packaging side we see specialist films built for better recyclability, growing use of post-consumer recycled content, and barrier coating innovations that protect products without extra lamination layers. UPM promotes its barrier coated paper-based flexible packaging.
Mahan Hazarika: How is LOUPE Global working to ensure that its events address practical sustainability challenges faced by converters, rather than focusing only on technology showcases?
Jade Grace: We want converters to see real solutions to real problems, as well as the new kit which addresses those concerns. That means treating sustainability as part of everyday operations.
Across our shows, we’ve introduced a dedicated sustainability ambassador to give the industry practical insight and guidance. A great example was The Label Trail at LOUPE Americas 2026 (formerly Labelexpo Americas) in Chicago – an exhibitor-led journey following a sustainable label from job specification right through prepress, automated carbon footprinting, printing, embellishment, and finishing, while also covering smart packaging, traceability, and compliance.
We’ve also rolled out matrix recycling across LOUPE events, helping exhibitors divert label matrix waste from landfill and incineration. And every LOUPE Global show takes part in Informa’s Better Stands program – part of our broader commitment to cutting exhibition waste and building more sustainable events.