Labelexpo Asia 2023 is gearing up for its 20th-anniversary celebration at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) from December 5 to 8. Anticipating a turnout of 20,000 visitors and over 350 exhibitors, both domestic and international, the event will occupy an expansive 30,000 square meters at the SNIEC exhibition center.
Attendees at Labelexpo Asia can look forward to witnessing the convergence of labels and flexible packaging, labels, and folding cartons, cutting-edge advancements in RFID technology, material innovations, and intelligent manufacturing-related technologies and products.
In collaboration with the China Packaging Federation, Labelexpo Asia 2023 will host the International Label Printing Summit, fostering a platform for shared learning across the label and packaging industry.
The Smart Label Trail will be a highlight of the event, emphasizing Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology trends and practical applications. Given that China accounts for around 80% of the global market share in ultra-high frequency RFID labels, the summit will provide valuable insights for converters looking to establish their own RFID converting operations. In 2021, China produced a staggering 16.8 billion ultra-high frequency labels.
A noteworthy focus will be on short-run flexible packaging, presenting new business opportunities for label converters. The introduction of the Digital Pouch Factory zone at Labelexpo Asia 2023 will showcase the complete process of prepress workflow, printing, lamination, and manufacturing of flexible packaging products, including pillow-type packaging and standup pouches. The Digital Pouch Factory will feature an HP Indigo 25K mid-web digital press, a Zhoutai AMD350LMSC solventless lamination machine, and an AMD350LMSC bag-making machine, complemented by workflow software from Hybrid.
Labelexpo Asia 2023 will showcase China’s evolving conventional press technology suppliers, with a significant shift from narrow web letterpress to intermittent offset technology in the last decade. The move towards flexo presses is strongly endorsed by the Chinese government as an eco-friendly alternative to solvent-based print technologies. Exhibitors like Weigang, with its latest flexo press, demonstrate the industry’s response to the skilled labor crisis, offering sophisticated, fully servo-driven machines with high levels of automation.
Zhejiang Hongsheng Machinery, in its 11th year in machine manufacturing, will unveil its first inline flexo press, the HSR-340, accommodating widths from 340 mm to 650 mm and boasting speeds of up to 200m/min. Hontec, on the other hand, will feature its FlexiCon 8-color inline flexo press designed for printing on shrink sleeves and standard label materials.
The event will also showcase intermittent offset press developments, particularly popular in export markets like Europe for high-quality print and inline embellishment applications. Wanjei’s WJPS-450 shaftless offset press, Shanghai Labelmaster Machinery’s LM350 intermittent UV-offset press, and Zonten’s ZTJ-330/520/680 intermittent offset press are among the notable entries.
Digital printing will be a significant focus, with Chinese suppliers introducing sophisticated UV inkjet presses and incorporating digital print engines into hybrid presses. Weigang’s WG S350, Flora’s J-350 Pro, and Pullisi’s DPIM-330F are some examples, each offering unique features and capabilities.
Global suppliers such as Konica Minolta, Durst, and HP Indigo will also be present, showcasing their latest technologies. Konica Minolta, for instance, will unveil the AccurioLabel 400, a toner-based print engine with enhanced capabilities.
HP Indigo will host a special event on December 6, featuring an online demonstration of its new HP Indigo 200k mid-web press, an upgrade to the established 25k press designed for flexible packaging and shrink sleeve applications, promising increased speed and productivity.
