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PROFILE NEWS

How digitalization & automation

are driving innovation in labelling

L tions that directly threaten the profitability of their busi-
abel converters face challenges from many different direc-

nesses. However, despite pressures on price and severe labor
shortages, combined with the need to adapt quickly to new
market trends while delivering high quality labels, there are
still opportunities to grow for those ready to embrace the world of
digitalization, automation and connectivity, writes Patrick Graber,
BOBST Marketing Director, Narrow-Mid Web Printing & Converting.
Following a contraction of the label market in 2023, volumes returned
to more normal levels in 2024, according to Smithers: “The Future of
Printed Labels to 2029”. Even better news, the report predicts a com-
pound annual growth rate (CAGR) in value of 4.6% which is equivalent to
4.4% in volume terms. But competition is fierce, and costs are rising,
meaning converters must implement solutions that simplify label produc-
tion to capitalize on this growth and safeguard dwindling profit margins.
Mitigating the skills drain
Label converters operate in a dynamic market that requires a high level
of agility to respond to brand owners’ demands for rapid turnaround,
shorter run lengths, and excellent quality. However, the industry faces a
growing shortage of skilled operators and a knowledge transfer gap due to Increasing sustainability with oneECG
fewer young people entering the field. Without experienced staff to run
the presses and operate the finishing machines, the industry must look to We are now witnessing a rising interest in oneECG, BOBST’s proprietary
technology to maintain standards. One of the major pain points com- solution for extended color gamut printing. Through the digitalization of color
pounded by the skills drain is ensuring color consistency – not only over information (following a very similar process in digital printing which by
time but also across different printing technologies and applications. default utilizes ECG), converters can ensure highest color repeatability
Meanwhile, the increasing emphasis on sustainability, including waste between jobs and between flexo and digital technologies, faster and more effi-
reduction and the use of new eco-friendly materials, adds a significant
dimension to an already complex situation. ciently. oneECG for inline flexo not only improves productivity by 67%, but it
We are seeing the industry addressing these issues from a product and also has a positive impact on sustainability, reducing setup waste by up to
process point of view. The main trend can be observed in digital printing 65%, as well as lowering energy consumption and ink waste. Converters look
with a move towards automated inline processes. Here, end-to-end or ‘All- to oneECG not only to reduce their environmental footprint but also to
in-One’ workflows are gaining ground. Already in use by most medium to
large converters, these advanced integrated solutions are capable of pro- streamline operations. In combination with automatic job change, flexo
ducing ready-to-ship labels in one pass with a single person operating the machines like the BOBST MASTER M6 become not digital, but highly digital-
entire line. ized. Implementing oneECG in narrow-mid web flexo is particularly effective
for applications such as shrink sleeves and other flexible packaging. These are
Digitalization on the flexo front
areas where job lengths are reducing but not to the point where digital tech-
Narrow web flexo technology is also being further optimized by incor-
porating higher levels of automation and digitalization to improve effi- nology is cost-effective.
ciency and minimize waste, regardless of the machine operator’s skills or Label production in the future
qualifications. It is important to note that flexo remains the primary tech-
nology for label production in the short to medium term, accounting for Looking ahead, we foresee that labels will increasingly be produced in a
nearly 40% of the market volume in 2023 according to Smithers. single pass due to the trends discussed above. BOBST’s inline flexo & All-in-
Operating old flexo presses is an art in itself, so with the number of One presses are designed to be future proof ensuring that our customers stay
experienced operators falling rapidly, companies must move to more auto- ahead of the curve and can adapt to the evolving market needs with confi-
mated solutions to ensure output quality. BOBST is already well regarded dence. Further ahead, smart factories are on the horizon. While for the
for its highly automated inline flexo presses with innovative features such moment the concept of fully automated label production is visionary thinking,
as DigiFlexo and DigiGap ensuring automatic register and pressure adjust- we are closing the gap step by step. Technology has reached a high standard,
ment, automatic job change, and high-performance semi-rotary die-cut- the next level in innovation lies in optimizing the processes, streamlining
ting with automatic die-plate change, amongst others. operations and connecting the dots between different workflow steps.

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