Labelexpo’s flagship exhibition will be held from 16 to 19 September, clearly labeling its intention to be the ‘labels, flexible packaging, folding cartons’ show. After its beginnings in London and forty years at Brussels Expo, this is the first time that Labelexpo will take place at Barcelona’s Fira Gran Via, for reasons that are not all that clear. Officially, the move to Barcelona was announced two years ago with the reasoning that larger halls were needed in light of the exhibition’s expansion plans and to allow the participation of a growing number of players in packaging converting.
At the time, Labelexpo Global Series’ managing director Jade Grace explained, “The benefits for both our exhibitors and visitors in moving Labelexpo Europe to Barcelona are clear. We have reached maximum capacity at Brussels Expo, and Barcelona Fira heralds the next phase for Labelexpo Europe’s growth. The bigger halls promote an easier flow of visitors around the show and the infrastructure lends itself to the technical needs of our exhibitors.”
However, the inclusion of flexible packaging and folding carton in its portfolio only follows a general trend in the industry and is in no way a guarantee for the show’s “growth.” Over the years, Labelexpo’s very strength has been its compact and focused formula, with a complete range of narrow-web and ancillary technologies actually running at the show. For professional visitors, the exhibition’s relatively small size allowed for an excellent overview of the various developments within the few available days.
Whereas Labelexpo’s visitor numbers have indeed been growing quite steadily every two years, its volume of exhibitors has remained more or less the same over the past two decades. Labelexpo 2023, the last one at Brussels Expo numbered almost 36,000 visitors, from around 25,000 twenty years ago. It numbered 637 exhibitors, as compared to the 500 to 600 of the pre-pandemic editions. So far, some 630 exhibitors made reservations for Barcelona, including a seemingly growing number of trade press (105!) and trade association representatives.
This said, Barcelona Fira is four times larger than Brussels Expo. Participants will have a lot of space to walk around, and the show will certainly be as good as it has always been, or even better. However, some of the usual exhibitors from India still seem to be reluctant to book a booth at this show, so there will be around 25% less than last time. The ones who will be in Barcelona are listed below.
Exhibitors from India
Acme Rolltech – Stand L54
Anilox rolls and roll cleaning systems
Capri Coating Solutions – Stand C39
Pressure sensitive label stock and release liners
Centroiid Plastopack Industries – Stand 4G71
Specialized in wraparound and shrink label films
Chiripal Poly Films – Stand 4E36
Pressure-sensitive, linerless, self-wound, wraparound and in-mould label materials as well as release liners, tapes and silicone release coatings
Cosmo Films – Stand 3D105
Pressure-sensitive, linerless, self-wound, wraparound, in-mould and shrink label materials as well as metalized substrates
Galaxy Packtech – Stand 5E48
Pouch and bag making machinery
Garware Hi-Tech Films – Stand 4E59
Metalized substrates, release liners and shrink films
Holostik India – Stand 4F45
Active and intelligent packaging, barcode systems, holograms and optically variable devices (OVD)
IEEC Power Electronics – Stand 3A02
Corona and flame treaters
MLJ Industries – Stand 3A81
Label stock, release liners and polycoated cup stock
Monotech Systems – Stand 5E50
Inkjet presses, cold foiling and track and trace sytems
Multitec Aids – Stand 3D108
Flexo and hybrid presses
NBG Printograhic Machinery – Stand 4B23
Narrow and wide web flexo presses
Rational Business Corporation – Stand 4G63
Pressure-sensitive, linerless and self-wound label papers and tapes
Resource Engimech – Stand 5C09
Flexo and gravure presses, coating and laminating machines, roll handling, web guiding and tension control systems, splicing and finishing equipment and slitters/rewinders
Shree Lamipack – Stand L53
Pressure-sensitive label stock, release liners, tapes, RFID tags, EAS tags, barcode ribbons, barcodes scanners and thermal receipt printers
Stic-On Papers – Stand L48
Pressure sensitive label stock
Note: Nessan Cleary and Naresh Khanna will cover Labelexpo in Barcelona for Packaging South Asia.
