This article first appeared in the June 2025 issue of ProPack.pro, authored by Andy Thomas-Emans.

Labelexpo Europe 2025, held in Barcelona from 16-19 September, will now include folding carton technology alongside labels and flexible packaging.

This looks like a big change for the show, but in fact is more of a natural evolution based on inline and digital technologies which look set to disrupt the traditional folding carton industry in much the same way they did with flexible packaging.

As part of this move, Labelexpo has announced a strategic partnership with Brunton Business Publications, publisher of ‘industry bible’ Folding Carton Industry magazine. Folding Carton Industry has a comprehensive website ThePackagingPortal. This partnership will allow Labelexpo to communicate directly with the folding carton industry and brings on board the industry expertise of its managing director, Dan Brunton.

Labelexpo has constantly adapted to new package printing technologies. The early Labelexpo shows, starting in 1980 in Brussels, focused on what was then the new technology of self-adhesive labels converted inline on narrow web presses. As labels expanded into new formats, such as shrink sleeves, wraparound and in-mold labels, Labelexpo adapted to showcase these technologies.

The next big evolution for Labelexpo was the addition of flexible packaging, which happened around a decade ago with the launch of the 30-inch wide HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press.

Flexo press manufacturers then developed wider ‘mid-web’ presses in the 26-30-inch range better adapted to handling these larger packaging formats.

Label converters who diversified into flexible packaging – typically stand-up pouches – found this opened up new market opportunities which strengthened their label businesses. We are now seeing a similar convergence of print technologies between labels and folding cartons with the potential to open up new markets for label converters and other market disruptors.

Folding cartons are today overwhelmingly printed on sheetfed presses followed by further off-line operations such as creasing and die-cutting, hot stamping and embossing. These multiple process steps add to lead time and create a lot of work-in- progress (WIP) as pallets are moved between workstations. The technologies which could revolutionise this traditional workflow are core Labelexpo technologies: inline flexo and rotary offset, digital and hybrid.

Labelexpo could speed the adoption of digital printing for folding cartons, just as it did for labels and flexible packaging. The addition of folding cartons to Labelexpo is also likely to galvanise developments in short-run converting systems and digital embellishment.

We should also not forget that by far the biggest volumes of wet glue labels and in-mold labels are printed on sheetfed offset presses. One result of bringing folding cartons into Labelexpo will be an increased focus on the high levels of automation on these presses as well as new in-line coating and foiling systems.

As well as overlapping print technologies, there are wider themes which unite labels, flexible packaging and folding carton converters at Labelexpo.

Sustainability is a key one, driven by the EU’s looming PPWR initiative. Labelexpo Europe 2025 will examine these trends at a feature area on the show floor, with daily presentations and interactive exhibits.

Automation is another common theme. Labelexpo exhibitors are already demonstrating process automation software and robotics systems, particularly focused on end-of-line material handling. The addition of folding cartons will no doubt expand this area of the show.

What might persuade a folding carton converter to visit Labelexpo? I suspect the same reasons flexible packaging converters now visit the show: a general interest in visiting co-suppliers; and a general interest in new print and decorative technologies.

Also, with the entry of Private Equity finance into the packaging sector we are seeing more big groups which include labels, flexible packaging and folding carton operations.

This is reflected in a growing visitor interest in both flexible packaging and folding cartons. At Labelexpo Europe 2023 over 25 per cent of visitors registered an interest in folding carton technology and 40 per cent in flexible packaging.

This demonstrates that Labelexpo has transformed into a package printing show, albeit with labels at its core.

Labelexpo Europe 2025 will take place in Barcelona from 16-19 September 2025.

Andy Thomas-Emans is the strategic director at Informa Markets’ labels & packaging group.