Visitors to Labelexpo Europe 2025 can expect to see press technology reaching new levels of performance across conventional, digital and hybrid configurations, along with tighter integration with digital workflows.
Importantly, from this year, Labelexpo is officially adding folding carton and flexible packaging print and converting to the show, focused on inline flexo and offset and digital press technology.
This convergence of printing technologies between labels, flexible packaging and folding cartons is matched by a growing interest in all three technologies from visitors to Labelexpo. Visitor registrations for Labelexpo Europe 2023 showed 25 percent of all show visitors marking an interest in folding cartons and 40 percent in flexible packaging.
Flexo trends
Nowhere is this convergence between print technologies and new package printing applications more apparent than in flexography.
The show builds on the trend towards wider "mid-web" press widths between 26-30ins (670-850mm). This wider format is optimized for cost-effective printing of shrink sleeves, in-mold labels, wraparound labels, flexible packaging and lightweight folding cartons.
Examples of mid-web presses at Labelexpo Europe 2025 include the Omet X7, Mark Andy Performance Series S9, Lombardi Invicta i1, Spande AC and Nilpeter FA-26. Bobst and MPS promote their mid-web technology, although without a press on the show floor.
Flexography has seen astonishing advances in automation both in mid-web and narrow-web formats. Advanced narrow web flexo presses at the show include the Nilpeter FA-17, Spande S7, the launch of Lombardi’s new Synchroline, and presses from Bengraphic, Label Source (showing a machine configured for non-stop operation), Label King, Hontec, Multitec, Zonten and Weigang.
Modularity is another key narrow web flexo press concept, allowing the rapid exchange of plug-and-play print and converting units. Omet’s new sleeve-based K6, launched at the show, is a good example of this kind of modular construction.
Flexo presses are also being integrated into digital networks, both for real-time machine monitoring and for use as training and optimization tools.
Hybrid presses
A range of hybrid flexo + UV inkjet press configurations can be explored at Labelexpo Europe 2025.
Hybrid presses can make use of an almost unlimited combination of digital and conventional print, decoration, and converting units. An example on the show floor is the 9-color 420mm-wide Durst KJET, incorporating the company’s LED-UV inkjet print engine, four flexo units, two multi-purpose lamination units, turn-bar and semi-rotary die-cut.
Other hybrid presses at the show include Mark Andy DSHD HighSpeed 1200, printing 1200DPI at a record-breaking 146 m/min (480 ft/min), Label Source, Zonten and Lombardi.
Arrow Systems brings a hybrid water-based inkjet press to the show, with its Memjet-based ArrowJet Bolt Hybrid Pro M incorporating inline priming and varnishing at speeds up to 150m/min.
Gallus is keeping its new technology launch under wraps until the show, but it is expected to be built around its ‘System to Compose’ hybrid technology combining the Gallus One digital press and Labelmaster flexo platform. Bobst promotes its latest hybrid technology at the show.
Another way to ‘Hybridize’ a flexo press is to add press-wide print bars, either for White, spot colors or for jetting cold foil adhesives and varnishes for textured effects.
Among the print bars demonstrated at Labelexpo Europe 2025 are the Domino K600i and Jetron PB400, a newly launched unit with print speeds up to 75m/min.
Fujifilm launches a digital metalization module built around its Samba 42k printbar integrated with am Actega Ecoleaf unit.
CI technology
Although there are no CI flexo presses on the show floor at Labelexpo Europe 2025, several CI suppliers have booths at the show to promote their presses to label converters looking to scale up their production of filmic labels and flexible packaging.
Giave is claiming a breakthrough technology with its Gialux LED-UV CI press, which has a more compact footprint because it does not require a drying tunnel. Comexi promotes the latest upgrade to its established F4 Origin CI press.
