LABEL PRINTERS
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label converters to produce high quality pressure sensitive, in-mould, wet glue and wrap around labels. Pressure sensitive label converters utilising a narrow web press can jump start their 100% digital shrink sleeves journey by using the PWFS to cater for the needs of small brands, short runs, campaigns and more. This process is a good fit for producing shrink sleeves without investing in coating process equipment to achieve a low friction surface.”
convergence with point-of-sale (POS) receipt printers, adds Dayle Guy, business development manager at Epson. “Although 18 months ago, you’d think these are very different industries, they’re now converging because of sustainability,” he says. “It’s all about the retail and hospitality industries trying to reduce packaging and rather than having a box, having a bag and printing the labels that are needed. “That label could be a black and white thermal one or a full colour product label. We’re starting to see people want to do that because of legislation and consumers are demanding more information on what is in their food. So those two worlds are starting to converge.” Food and hospitality demands Dayle adds that demands from food and hospitality are also driving the development of apps to go with printers. He says that there are apps in development from a range of companies, and the one that makes an easy-to-use app that allows hospitality users to produce different colour labels for different applications from, will have the next big thing. “During 2023 we will likely see the first major application releasing that feature.” Meanwhile, pre-printed coloured labels are beginning to become more commonplace, with some larger businesses using them in kitchens and having them linked to their POS. “People are putting a green label printer on the salad counter, for example, and a red label printer on the hot counter so they can track orders as they move through the kitchen. This has also been adopted by smaller businesses very quickly and that’s going to accelerate this year along with the convergence of colour.” Dayle adds that the flexibility of the colour label printers makes them accessible and means labels don’t have to be pre-printed, so they can start including bespoke labels on products. “It’s very easy, very accessible,” he says. “That’s what colour label technology brings to smaller businesses, it’s the same technology that’s inside the printers you would use in the in the factory, but now it’s plug and play and it’s smaller than your home printer.” As Dayle notes, one driver for on-demand labels and colour label printers among some smaller businesses is Natasha’s Law – the regulation that requires all food outlets to provide full ingredient lists with clear allergen labelling on pre-packed for direct sale foods (PPDS). PPDS is food that is prepared, prepacked and offered or sold to consumers on the same premises. The law is named after teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse,
Sustainability agenda Eli adds that sustainability will continue to
remain top of the agenda for brands and print businesses alike. “It is no longer just a trend, but a requirement,” he says. “Consumers are beginning to build brand loyalty through social activism: 80% believe that brands should help make people’s lives better, and 75% of millennials and Gen Z will only engage with brands that protect the earth. Therefore, as organisations accelerate their sustainability initiatives, print businesses across labels and packaging, corrugated and commercial must be looking at their business and workflow processes holistically, to ensure that they’re delivering end-to-end solutions with a lower environmental impact. “That includes everything from the materials they offer and where they source it from, right through to the print technology they use, including inks and plates, and how they deal with waste.” There will also be growth in demand for label printers from smaller businesses, he adds. “We have seen among smaller businesses that they now desire the same access to technology as the larger businesses,” he says. “Having the ability to digitally print provides these smaller businesses with agility to adapt to a variety of new jobs which may come their way, whether these are short or long-run production requirements. “This demand looks poised to continue, as the industry grows, expanding to reach new customer bases and as new applications and technologies become available. Smaller businesses are aware that they’re able to capitalise on this
Dayle Guy Business development manager Epson
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People are putting a green
label printer on the salad counter, for example, and a red label printer on the hot counter so they can track orders as they move through the kitchen.
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epson.co.uk
Epson CW C4000e Series
growth and it seems likely that the desire for the increased flexibility, and efficiency (both in cost and time) will continue to drive smaller businesses to demand digital technology for the label printer market.” Convergence and colour Two other areas of the sector that are set to develop in 2023 are colour labels and increasing
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