Labelexpo Europe moved to 2023

Tarsus, the organizer of the Labelexpo Global Series, has announced that Labelexpo Europe 2022 has been rescheduled, with the event now taking place 11-14 September 2023. The organizing team has decided to move the event dates in light of the significant supply chain pressures the European label industry is currently experiencing, coupled with the fast-evolving situation in Ukraine.

The decision comes from close consultation with exhibitors, associations, and the wider industry, with many directly impacted by the shortage of components and materials. These shortages, triggered by the pandemic, have been escalating over recent months, with long lead times now disrupting the supply chain in Europe. With the event set to take place in just under two months, the lack of forwarding visibility led the event team to reschedule in the best interests of the label community.

Labelexpo Europe is also considering the supply chain issues

Lisa Milburn, Labelexpo managing director, explained, “Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge the support we have had from the industry with many committing to Labelexpo Europe despite the issues many of them are currently dealing with, we know the decision to reschedule the show will be as disappointing for them as it is for us. This has been a very difficult decision for us to make. We have been working tirelessly to overcome the supply chain issues and produce the show the industry needs, especially in light of the challenges of the past two years. Unfortunately, these issues have proven to be insurmountable at this stage, so we feel that rescheduling is the responsible decision.”   

Jules Lejeune, managing director, Finat, also commented, “Finat fully understands and supports the decision that has been taken. Given the existing shortages of chips and components, the current shortages of paper and other consumables to produce labels, and now the major geopolitical uncertainties caused by the situation in Ukraine, there are simply too many hurdles to overcome. Finat remains a proud supporter of the world’s leading trade exhibition for the label and package printing industry. We admire our longstanding partner Labelexpo for taking this tough decision and putting the industry’s interests first.” 

Given the rescheduling of Labelexpo Europe, the next major global event for the package printing industry will be Labelexpo Americas which will take place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Chicago, 13-15 September 2022. Other upcoming Labelexpo events this year include Labelexpo Asia (28 June-1 July), Labelexpo India (10-13 November), and Labelexpo South China (7-9 December).

Our view

For most of South Asia, Labelexpo Europe this year and so early after some semblance of normality was a bit of a non-starter anyway. We wrote last month that it was unlikely that more than three or four Indian exhibitors and or more than 50 label converters would have gone.

In addition, Bobst and Heidelberg Gallus were missing from the floorplan and HP which is usually quite big in Brussels had taken only a small space. Thus Labelexpo India from 10 to 13 November 2022 gains some interest. It is also likely that many of the Indian label players will take some space at the Printpack India exhibition in Greater Noida in end-May.