At Labelexpo India 2024, tesa, a global leader in adhesive tape solutions, showcased its innovative flexographic tape solutions tailored for the narrow-web industry. The stand served as a platform to highlight products designed for plate mounting, splicing, and gripping applications, as well as to foster collaborations with customers and industry partners.

Ghanshyam Pandey, country sales manager – print & packaging solutions, tesa India, shared insights into the company’s offerings, emphasizing their ability to enhance process efficiency in both production and printing. “Our focus is on providing solutions that not only meet our customers’ immediate needs but also boost their operational performance,” Pandey explained.

Innovations in flexographic tapes

Tesa Tapes introduced a range of mounting tapes featuring exceptional ease of application and removal. Pandey said, “Our tapes are designed for easy mounting and demounting without damaging the plates. They also facilitate precise repositioning, ensuring accurate registration and print quality.”

Highlighting their latest innovation, he added, “We’ve recently launched a medium-hardness tape that aligns perfectly with lean production systems. It’s versatile and addresses the requirements for various print motifs, ensuring high-quality results.”

Market trends in narrow web printing

Discussing market trends, Pandey observed a shift toward shorter print runs and the growing adoption of digital printing for ultra-short runs. “While digital printing is gaining traction for specific applications, flexographic printing remains dominant for longer runs,” he noted.

Stephanie Lee, regional marketing manager at tesa elaborated, “The industry is focused on process improvement and cost efficiency while striving for superior print quality. Our solutions align with these goals, supporting the market’s evolution.”

Digital printing: complementary, not competitive

Addressing the perceived competition between digital and flexographic technologies, Pandey reassured, “India is a vast market with immense potential. Digital printing is more of a complementary solution, catering to short-run jobs, while flexo continues to dominate longer runs. This dual approach ensures a balanced market with ample opportunities for both technologies to coexist.”

Exhibition experience and industry collaboration

Reflecting on their participation at Labelexpo India 2024, Pandey expressed satisfaction, highlighting meaningful interactions with existing and prospective customers, trade shops, and distributors. “This exhibition provided an excellent platform to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and discuss ways to improve efficiency across the value chain,” Lee added.

“We are here not just to supply tapes but to partner with our customers in achieving their aspirations,” Pandey concluded.