Labelexpo might have been a good opportunity for printers aspiring to produce labels, but the show has been postponed until September next year. The cancellation came very late in the day and has been blamed on further uncertainties caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the show was already suffering through the absence of some stalwarts of the labels sector, including Gallus, with HP Indigo due to have a reduced presence. And while there are no Russian press manufacturers, Chinese manufacturers by and large would not have been there.
The decision annoyed several participants that had timed product announcements to coincide with the event and many manufacturers schedule dealer meetings alongside the exhibition. Both Durst and Xeikon have been swift to promise open houses on the days these should have taken place and Gallus has said it will continue with plans to hold an event the day before Labelexpo should have opened.
For an engaged label converter this would have meant travel from Germany to Austria and then to Belgium, rather than a visitor coming to one location with a range of technologies on show – the very definition and advantage of an exhibition.
