China calls for the printing industry to move away from solvent-based technologies

Labelexpo Asia 2015 attracted a record breaking attendance of 22,104 visitors; an increase of 3.2% on 21,416 in 2013 where the focus included the move into flexographic press platforms, in line with the Chinese government’s commitment to a sustainable future for print.

In line with this theme, packaging supplier OMET demonstrated its XFlex X4 UV flexo press which combines shaft driven with servo-drive technology while Iwasaki showed an innovative intermittent flexo press system.

This year's edition also explored how to increase profits through sustainability with keynote presentations by Sharon Xiao, of Greater China of UPM Raflatac and Mingming Sun, senior officer of WWF China’s sustainable paper and palm oil program.

Both professionals shared guidance on how to improve operational efficiency and identified environmentally sound products such as the 'FSC Forests For All Forever' branding which can help create environmental awareness with consumers.

Environmentally sound products ​

Other stand out sessions included overviews of the latest available technologies as well as the event’s first ever converter panel discussion.

Senior level converters from the Asia-Pacific region included speakers; Ajanta Packaging’s Shailesh Nema from India, Alex Tan of Singapore-based Orient Quality Print, QLM Label Makers’ Peter Woods from Malaysia and from China; Yi Sun of RAKO Group and Henrich Quek from Top Print Labels.

Fielding numerous questions from the audience, the panel were straightforward and open in discussing their own experiences and sharing best practice advice with their printing colleagues.

A focus on how the Chinese market is developing...​

The 300 industry suppliers exhibiting at the show announced strong sales and the generation of well qualified leads from right across China and South East Asia.

There were also numerous new product launches which provided a reflection of how the Chinese market is developing in response to and in line with global market trends and newest technological advances and associated applications.

Digital advancements was a key trend as was anti-counterfeit solutions with AVT citing that it had received its highest number of inquiries for verification and track/trace vision systems and exhibitors like Univacco debuting sophisticated anti-counterfeit systems.