Leading industry experts look at the key challenges and talking points likely to dominate the label and package printing industry in 2024.

All4Labels Global Packaging Group

Paola Iannone, vice president of marketing and communications

If we had to identify three key packaging features for 2024, they would be sustainability, connectivity and personalization with digital printing.

The new year will see many new sustainable labels and packaging solutions, exploiting the latest technologies. Trends will include reused, recycled and recyclable materials, with improved access to recycling streams and also operations focused on renewable energy, for lower CO2 emissions and less production waste.

Meeting end-users’ sustainability needs also demands constant re-thinking under a more inclusive spotlight, opening the path to new levels of diversity and social responsibility, with packaging fully aligned with customers’ values.

Connectivity using QR or RFID tags adds features and functionalities that enhance product compliance. It also provides access to online information and manuals. Brands can leverage interaction opportunities, even with voice messages and augmented reality experiences, for increased consumer engagement and brand loyalty. Intelligent solutions also provide brand protection, confirming authenticity, supporting tracking, and protecting against counterfeiting.

Personalization via artificial intelligence and digital tools will open up new horizons. Variable data management and effective use of AI will enable unique tailor-made solutions, with optimized packaging using appropriate sizes, layouts, and forms - cutting material use, transport needs, and even costs.

Avery Dennison

Jeroen Diderich, senior vice president and general manager for materials group, North America

As we enter 2024, the economic landscape remains dynamic, showing signs of recovery in the back half of the year. While technology and innovation offer avenues for growth, challenges such as inflation, geopolitical tensions, and shifting labor market dynamics demand careful navigation. We remain optimistic for a stronger 2024 and are using the coming year to focus on three main priorities- improving the customer experience, advancing sustainability practices and helping implement RFID technology.

We expect 2024 to witness a continued shift towards sustainability as businesses increasingly prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. In the US, we continue to see more regulations being introduced along with retailers and brands looking to measure and improve their carbon footprint. It will be increasingly important for the industry to utilize tools to measure carbon footprinting and work together to develop a path to net zero. 

As brands look at improving inventory accuracy, RFID technology adoption will offer exciting possibilities at every step of the value chain across industries. Avery Dennison is also embracing digital tools to deliver account management and support that provide an unmatched customer experience and deploying digitization and AI to enhance our industry-leading supply chain and operations.

Bobst

Patrick Graber, marketing director for narrow and mid web solutions

Global forecasts predict that growth in labels and packaging will taper off to some extent in 2024. Elevated interest rates and government funding cuts, coupled with persistent political and economic turbulence, are the main drivers of this slow-down. Nevertheless, specific sectors like security and brand protection will grow, driven by emerging legislation and brand owner demands.

Skilled workforce shortages are moving companies to implement more automated equipment and workflow solutions, intensifying competitive pressure. This will severely affect smaller label printing companies, as they grapple with the resulting cost challenges and difficulty in finding and retaining experienced staff. Consequently, we expect that the strong consolidation in the sector will continue in 2024.

To maintain competitiveness, printers must optimize their production floor and use resources effectively. Strategic future-proof investments in all-in-one production lines and flexo presses with higher levels of digitalization and automation, like the Bobst Digital Master platform and Master M6 press line, are key to improving efficiencies, delivering high quality, and meeting ever shorter deadlines. Proven waste reduction initiatives within production processes and eco-friendly labels will be more important than ever to support brand owners’ sustainability goals and comply with legislation.

In-line flexo with oneECG technology for extended color gamut printing is emerging as favorite choice for short-run flexible packaging, clearly dominating over digital alternatives in terms of cost-effectiveness and productivity. Meanwhile, UV inkjet, known for its high quality and exceptional speed, will continue its upward trajectory as adoption grows and new applications are addressed. Finally, printers embracing fully connected workflows will reap the benefits of end-to-end process control, a critical trend in label and packaging production.

Mark Andy

Tom Cavalco, executive vice president

As SKUs continue to rise and run lengths decline the demand for fast set-up times increases, label converters will need to be agile with their production capability, whether with traditional flexo or digital technology, but most likely with a combination of both – so what better than a hybrid?

With more than 300 hybrid installations worldwide, Mark Andy is in the unique position of having a press suitable for all sectors of the label market from the Digital Pro PLUS to the sophistication of the Digital Series HD models.

In the 13in (330mm) web width sector that typifies label converting, predictions are that the sales of digital presses will rival those of flexo presses in 2024 and beyond. This is attributable to both a change in market demand and the ongoing development of digital technology.

A consequence of this will be the move of pure flexo lines into wider web widths and more sophisticated lines that will allow the single-pass production of flexible packaging, shrink sleeves and folding cartons.

Growth areas will include the expandable Digital Pro PLUS that allows converters to extend capacity as their business grows, as well as RFID, more automation to address the declining skill levels across the industry, and computer technology like Mark Andy’s sMArt link and ProWORX.

MPS Systems

Tim Klappe, managing director for Asia Pacific

The GDP growth in Asia Pacific is expected to be lower in 2024 than in 2023. However, the interest rates are coming down and the exchange rates in Asia are expected to become stronger. That makes it easier to invest. The growth forecast for the label business in Asia Pacific remains really good. This is driven by the general economic development of the countries in the region, e-commerce growth and therefore logistics labels and short run labels with many different designs (SKU’s), need for ant-counterfeit labels and sustainable labels plus stricter regulations concerning labeling. On top of this, we see more label printers delving into realm of flexible packaging. The reason is the shorter runs in flexible packaging and the possibility for narrow web presses to print flexible packaging at a lower cost than CI presses and gravure presses for runs below ca. 25,000 meters. With the further development of sensor technology and AI, we see more and more label printers embracing the possibilities this gives to them in evaluating and improving performances of their equipment. This is an area where MPS invests heavily in as we believe that this is the technology that will change the way production is managed.

All and all, our expectation is that 2024 will be a good year for label printers and manufacturers. Maybe with a slow start, but with a fast race at the end of the year.