At Labelexpo India 2024, Weldon Celloplast demonstrated its diverse offerings for the label industry. Harveer Sahni, chairman, Weldon Celloplast, elaborated on their showcase, which spanned a complete range of solutions from tooling, inspection systems, and finishing machines to innovative digital printing technology.
“While we may not have a physical machine at the stand, our portfolio speaks for itself,” Sahni explained. Among their products, a standout was a compact table-top digital label printing machine tailored to meet the needs of various players in the market. “This lab-sized printer offers CMYK plus white printing on uncoated media, including paper, films, and aluminum,” he said. Unlike earlier tabletop printers that required specialized coated materials, this toner-based system prints directly, reducing dependency on pre-treatment processes.
Key deals and industry trends
Sahni revealed that the exhibited digital press was sold during the event. Additionally, Weldon Celloplast closed deals for two Omet presses. “While we cannot disclose customer names until installations are complete, these orders reflect a growing industry shift towards digital and advanced label printing solutions,” he said.
He noted that brand owners showed significant interest in their digital solutions at the exhibition. “For test marketing, brand owners prefer smaller machines as they eliminate lengthy processes like pre-press, plate making, and die cutting,” Sahni said.
Despite concerns about lower footfall at the event, Sahni found the visitors to be more focused and serious. “This year, we have seen fewer people, but those attending are dedicated professionals with clear objectives,” he observed.
Challenges and opportunities
Sahni highlighted the resilience of the label industry, which continued to grow even during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he pointed out increasing challenges. “The market has seen consistent diversification – self-adhesive labels were disrupted by shrink sleeves, and now digital is making its mark,” he remarked.
Competition, particularly from smaller players entering the market with used equipment, has intensified. “Earlier, you could count the number of label printers on your fingers. Now, printers have sprung up in Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities. This has led to intense price competition, with brand owners often pushing for rate reductions due to multiple suppliers,” he explained.