Barcelona’s Fira Gran Via exhibition centre will be knee deep in label production all this week, as the much-anticipated Labelexpo Europe 2025 opens its doors and a record number of more than 650 exhibitors power up for the show, over half of which are looking to print and ‘finish’ labels live on their stand.
Labelexpo Europe 2025 opens its doors this week with a record number 650 exhibitors, a number of whom will be printing and ‘finishing’ labels live on their stands
Andy Thomas-Emans, Strategic Director, Labelexpo Global Series, says: "Labelexpo has always been the definitive platform where the latest industry breakthroughs have been showcased. This year, we're seeing sustainability and automation join forces as the primary drivers of innovation. Automation technology, increasingly powered by AI-driven machine learning, is transforming production while positively impacting sustainability."
Highlights of this year’s show include new developments in flexography, hybrid presses rotary and semi-rotary offset, flexible packaging, folding cartons, and digital press technology. A new-to-show Pulse Arena provides a stage on the show floor for education and networking, addressing the industry's current pressing challenges with daily presentations from leading industry experts, including a keynote address from Sustainability thought leader, Dr. Leyla Acaroglu. Whilst the Label Academy will deliver specialized master classes on ‘Folding Cartons for Label Converters’ and ‘RFID Technology’.
The Label Trail, developed by industry leaders Avery Dennison, CERM, CarbonQuota, Esko, Grafisk Maskinfabrik, KURZ, SCRIBOS, and Xeikon, will provide an end-to-end exploration of modern label production, focusing on carbon measurement, sustainability, and smart packaging solutions.
Additionally, ETI Converting, Martin Automatic, Lundberg Tech, and LemuGroup are collaborating to showcase a fully operational automated production line running live, producing real labels for European converter Mirmar. Connecting the technology, two webs will be fed into ETI Converting’s Cohesio via Martin Automatic’s dual MBS butt splicers, enabling adhesive coating, laminating, and die cutting. Matrix waste will be handled by Lundberg Tech’s MatrixCompactor 200, while finished rolls will be rewound and palletized using LemuGroup’s GTU turret rewinder and UltraCompact robotic system. Andy Thomas-Emans adds: “Running a real production line in such a demanding environment as a trade show is a huge challenge, but offers an opportunity to demonstrate the level of integration, automation and reliability that the industry is capable of delivering, regardless of pressure. This collaboration is a live reflection of exactly what the industry needs: reliable, non-stop unwinding, coating and laminating, finishing, and end-of-line automation, as one seamless process.”
A key anchor to the show is its strong focus on Sustainability. Earlier in the year, Labelexpo Europe 2025 itself announced an exclusive partnership with DMP Europe to divert printed materials away from landfill by transforming label matrix waste generated at the show into reusable items such as industrial bumpers and pallets, creating a truly circular solution. Jade Grace, Managing Director, Labelexpo Global Series, says: “We’re particularly proud of the operational commitments through initiatives like Better Stands – an initiative from our parent company, Informa Group PLC, incentivising exhibitors to utilize recyclable materials to build their stands - and the partnership with DMP Europe; both of which transform what would be waste into valuable resources. These efforts represent Labelexpo Europe 2025’s vision for a truly circular label and the wider outer packaging embellishment industry, where innovation and environmental responsibility work hand in hand."
