Label Print: A Market Niche for Printers?

Market and Research consultants have recently presented a study that estimates the label printing market to grow at a 4.9% CAGR. By 2027, global sales volume in label printing is expected to reach $58.8 billion. This growth potential has led many manufacturers of printing presses to increasingly develop new machines and technologies for label printing. At global exhibitions in 2023, three trends were discussed: automation, cooperation, and environmentally friendly and safe printing.

Automation in label printing is currently a popular topic in the printing industry. With increasing pressure on margins, high costs for raw materials and labor, and increasingly small-scale print jobs, companies have little choice but to automate their processes. In addition to process optimization, software is the focus of automation solutions. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly helping to make processes faster and easier. For example, Theuer.com has created a module that enables fully automated production planning in label printing but also other segments of the industry.

Collaborations for label printing are becoming more common as complex workflows in this field are rarely optimized with products from just one manufacturer's line-up. For instance, eProductivity Software recently announced that ePS Radius ERP is now compatible with HP Indigo systems; through integration between Packaging Suite and HP Indigo PrintOS allows full automation from order placement through job costing, planning stages up until prepress work and scheduling.

Environmentally friendly labels are gaining importance within packaging print due to powerful machinery such as EFI Nozomi family being used extensively within food sector among others; Fujifilm introduced CuremaX IDFC - a new high-gloss LED UV ink specifically developed for food & pharmaceutical packaging direct contact applications claiming minimal migration risk suitable narrow-web labeling including self-adhesive films without backing material or wet item bags & shrink sleeves.

Future labels & packaging should be easily recyclable made from renewable sources; Xeikon partnered with Sappi August 2023 developing such media using Xeikon TITON technology protecting products without need primer or varnish post-printing while announcing vegan eco-toner Cheetah series.