Packaging
VISITORS DESCEND ON SHANGHAI FOR LARGEST EVER LABEL SHOW IN ASIA
Friday 11. December 2009 - Labelexpo Asia confirmed its status as the leading label event in Asia last week when the show welcomed a record 16,601 visitors (compared to 14,004 in 2007 an increase of 18.5%) The rate at which the label industry in Asia is continuing to grow was clearly reflected in the size of this years show, which took place at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.
Catering solely for trade professionals, this years show demonstrated a high quality of visitors who were able to see 130 pieces of working machinery, which included 60 working presses. Labelexpo Asia 2009 clearly showed how the exhibition is gaining maturity and gradually establishing its own niche in the industry.
Visitors came from 78 countries, with over 10% of people from outside China. Large delegations were welcomed from countries including: India, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.
Exhibitors were almost exactly split between Chinese and international companies. They include UPM Raflatac, Avery Dennison, (Shanghai Xinmin) Taiyo, Omet, HP, Lintec, Basch Group, Dow Corning, Qingzhou Ekofa, Xeikon, DuPont, RotoMetrics and Erhardt+Leimer.
The conference sessions that ran across the first three days of the show were very well attended, with over two hundred delegates gathering to hear from industry experts. On the first day UPM Raflatac gave the keynote speech entitled “Globalization and opportunities beyond the recession”, with presentations following over the second two days from EFI Jetrion, HP Indigo, Xeikon, Coco Chen and Avery Dennison.
Labelexpo Asia also played host to a very important meeting which brought together a number of the worlds label and printing industry associations to discuss the global trends and challenges in the industry today. Associations present were: FINAT, the Label Manufacturers Association of India (LMAI), the Label and Tag Manufacturers Association of Australia (LATMA), the Self Adhesive Label Manufactures Association of New Zealand (SALMA), the Japan Federation of Label Printing Industries (JFLP) and the label division of Printing and Printing Equipment Industries Association of China (PEIAC).
Commenting on the success of the show, Wu Wenxiang, Honorary Board Director of PTAC, said, “With China entrance into the WTO, and with the Chinese reform and opening-up policies over the last few years, we have started to move into a new stage of history. In order to fulfill the overall revitalization of the Chinese printing industry, we should stress the importance of foreign exchange and communications, keep pace with the time, and make full use of advanced technologies from abroad. Labelexpo Asia has created a platform for label and flexo equipment manufacturers, suppliers, converters as well as brand owners to do this. I believe that whether they are an exhibitor or a visitor, they will get plentiful opportunities from the event.”
Mr Tan Junqiao, of PEIAC, commented, “The exhibition was a great success. The new technology and new equipments on display were gratefully welcomed by visitors to the show.”
Agreeing with him, Yin Deming, President of the Shanghai Printing Industry Association said: “Labelexpo Asia is a distinguished global show for label industry. It shows us current international label printing technologies, new craftworks, advanced equipment and materials. This show provides a wonderful platform to combine products being put on display, business trading and networking. This show proves that all these work very well together. I would like to give all my best wishes for Labelexpo Asia in the future.”
Roger Pellow, Labelexpo Managing Director, said, “This year Labelexpo Asia has really proved that the show has come of age and become an important niche within the printing industry, which has been reflected in the high level of attendance. The show has once again shown the enormous scale of opportunities that exist for the labeling industry in the Chinese market. All four days proved to be highly effective for both exhibitors and visitors, who benefited from doing business, sharing knowledge and making valuable new contacts. I would like to thank everyone involved with Labelexpo Asia. The visitors, exhibitors, media and associations have all contributed to make this the most successful event that we have had in this region.”