The UK’s largest packaging event returns to Birmingham’s NEC tomorrow with more on offer than ever before, spanning everything from 3D printing and prototyping to laminating and colour management.
In a constantly evolving market, Packaging Innovations, Label&Print and Empack 2017 provide the perfect platform for buyers to stay ahead of the latest trends, technologies and innovations. This year the event, which encompasses five shows under one roof, will have a particular focus on branded and inspirational packaging.
Innovative Showfloor
Leading suppliers and innovative products, as always, are at the heart of the show, with many exhibitors using the event to launch new products and services to the dedicated audience of key decision makers and buyers.
Domino Printing Sciences will debut its AX-Series of continuous ink jet printers. This includes the Ax150i, an entry level printer suitable for all budgets, and the Ax350i, which combines a remote user interface with high printer speed and quality. Also, part of the new AX-Series, the Ax550i is a printer suitable for harsh environments with 316 marine grade stainless steel and IP66 sealed electronics.
HP will be at the show to discuss its range of presses. These have been designed for high-quality printing applications such as labels and shrink sleeves, flexible packaging, folding cartons and more. The range includes the HP Indigo WS6800 Digital Press, HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press and HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press.
EPSON’s portfolio of inkjet printers includes the ColourWorks C3500 which brings high-quality colour and on-demand versatility to labels, tags and tickets. It also achieves high-quality print speeds of up to 103mm/sec and features individual pigment ink cartridges. The Epson GP-C831, an industrial-strength Micro Piezo inkjet label printer, and ColorWorks C7500, a high-speed colour label printing, will also be on display.
Durst Phototechnik AG will showcase print samples and applications for its Tau 330 and Tau 330E UV inkjet label presses.
Colour mismatch can be a major problem, incurring delays and reprint costs. To help avoid this, X-Rite Pantone has developed the eXact Xp handheld spectrophotometer, a colour measurement and management solution. It is a scalable platform that can be field upgraded as needs change, from a densitometer to an advanced spectral measurement instrument.
Dantex is demonstrating its PicoColour high-quality digital press while Xeikon will be focusing on its Xeikon CX3, a digital press for labels and packaging. The five-colour digital label press features a top speed of 98 ft/min, full rotary printing and a print resolution of true 1200 x 3600 dpi.
The PDC Europe stand will feature its new HORIZON sleeving machine. This allows horizontal sleeving for body labelling, tamper evidence, multipack and flat container sleeving.
QuickLabel, will be exhibiting its new range of colour label printers for in-house production. This includes the new QL-800 high speed, wide format colour printer which prints labels 54mm to 214mm wide at 1600 dpi.
Handisc Limited will be using Label&Print 2017 to showcase its range of dynamic label printing technology. This includes printers, presses and finishers which cover a variety of production requirements. There will also be a range of self-adhesive labels on display at the show from the likes of Hamilton Adhesive and The Label Makers.
Unmissable Content
The show is packed with content that provides visitors with invaluable opportunities to learn and interact with the most influential names in the packaging industry. New for 2017, The Inclusivity in Packaging Feature brings leading experts together to examine how packaging can be more inclusive at the design stage to better meet customers’ needs and maximise appeal. Hosted by David Wiggins of DRW Packaging Consultants, visitors will be shown how to measure the impact their design decisions have on the consumer and how to develop a business case for implementing improvements.
Also launching is The Ideas Factory, which will enable visitors to gain fresh ideas and inspiration by learning from leading experts from non-packaging based companies such as British Gas, Mintel, Cambridge University, Blippar and Knowledge Transfer Network. This will allow cutting-edge techniques and knowledge from other industries to be applied to the packaging sector.
In a first for the show, Campden BRI, the UK’s largest independent food and drink research body, is hosting a series of intimate, topical sessions for the FMCG industry. Topics will cover an array of subjects, from packaging defects and labelling updates, through to contact materials and openability. Campden BRI will also be hosting a competition for attendees, to see if they can guess the ‘foreign body’.
The final new addition for 2017 is The Pentawards Display, which will see the 2016 Diamond, Platinum and Gold Pentawards winners showcased live on the showfloor. The display will be made up from the awards’ five main categories – beverages, body, food, luxury and other markets – and will include packaging from brands such as Dominos, Marc Jacobs and Sony.
There will be additional showfloor entertainment in the form of The Drinks Symposium which will see innovative new drinks brands, Asterley Bros, Brighton Gin and Gigglewater explain the stories behind their new products. They will discuss how, in today’s crowded marketplace, original thinking, a unique story and imaginative packaging can enhance a new product’s desirability and create a strong brand identity.
Also returning is The Pharmaceutical Symposium, where an array of global leaders will examine the core issues and trends from the industry. Greg Anderson, Device Director at GSK, will explore ‘Medicine manufacturing industry partnership – Opportunities to engage for the packaging technology sector’, while Sanjay Patel, Global Innovation Connector at Coca-Cola, will look at ‘Can employing FMCG innovation tools deliver novelty and thus improvement in patient treatment adherence?’.
The BIG Print Debate will tackle the big issues and trends currently facing the print industry, while visitors looking for specific one-to-one expert advice on any packaging challenges can head to The Packaging Consultancy Clinic, which is being hosted by the Packaging Society.
Whether it’s reducing waste through smarter packaging, finding more energy efficient solutions or finding more recyclable materials, companies with an environmental agenda, will see how some of the sector’s brightest talents are helping to achieve sustainability targets during The Ecopack Challenge. This Dragons’ Den style session will feature three short-listed companies demonstrating their environmentally responsible packaging ideas to a panel of experts and show visitors. The winner will have the opportunity to develop their idea with Marks & Spencer.
Networking
As well as unrivalled show content, features and exhibitors, attendees will have the opportunity to network with over 6,000 industry peers. Don’t miss the official Networking party, which take place at 17:00 on 1 March.
Registration is now open. To register for free, please visit www.easyfairs.com/PIUK, www.easyfairs.com/EmpackUK and www.easyfairs.com/Label&PrintUK or via the show team on +44 (0)20 8843 8800 or PackagingUK@easyfairs.com.
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