What's New

Labelindustry exhibition

The event, making its Barcelona debut at the Fira Gran Via, 16-19 September, will showcase how other markets such as beauty and personal care sectors have long relied on short-run, embellished carton production using hybrid workflows to create rigid boxes, sleeves and gift packaging often produced in line with hot foil, embossing and die-cutting in a single pass.

Sustainability regulation, SKU proliferation and rising energy costs have brought these capabilities to the forefront for a much wider audience; especially label converters looking to diversify.

Will Parker, senior packaging executive and Labelexpo ambassador, said: "From the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to the UK's Plastic Packaging Tax and Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, the policy backdrop across Europe is clear: fiber-based packaging is favoured.

"It's not just legislation; consumers are increasingly driving the shift. Gen Z and millennial shoppers expect recyclable, plastic-free and mono-material formats, not only for environmental reasons but for brand credibility. This is reshaping packaging decisions in food, pharma, cosmetics and e-commerce. As brands pivot, converters who can deliver recyclable cartons quickly and efficiently stand to gain a competitive edge."

He said label converters have the technology to excel in the folding carton space: short-run agility, inline print expertise, embellishment workflows and increasingly, automation and MIS integration.

"Platforms from Canon Edale, Gallus, MPS, OMET, Mark Andy and Bobst; suddenly the leap into cartons becomes less of a jump and more of a step sideways. These inline systems allow converters to print, embellish, crease, die-cut and strip cartons in a single pass, offering unmatched efficiency in short-to-mid runs. Whether it's food-to-go trays, pharma cartons or luxury sleeves; inline workflows reduce changeovers, cut waste and simplify logistics."

He said traditional sheet-fed carton production, especially for short or variant-heavy runs often involves multiple stages, machines, operators and logistics all of which increase power usage, CO₂ output, and material waste.

In contrast, inline production offers:

• Lower power consumption per unit

• Less overproduction (ideal for SKUs with expiry or version control)

• Streamlined handling and fewer process steps

• Faster time-to-market with reduced carbon footprint

"Where the growth is happening, markets with high SKU complexity and demand for speed are ripe for inline carton production: Pharma & Nutraceuticals, Beauty & Skincare, Pet Care & Wellness, Food-to-Go & QSR, and D2C & e-commerce. The key across all is high complexity and low volume; a sweet spot where label-style workflows meet carton performance."

With brands demanding greater responsiveness, versioning and sustainability credentials, Parker said a hybrid production approach positions sheet-fed houses to grow share, reduce waste and improve margin without compromising quality.

"The inclusion of folding carton technology this year underscores a market that's shifting beneath our feet. It's not labels or cartons; it's labels and cartons, often printed on the same press."