Editor’s welcome | 9L&L looks back (L&L issue 2, 1989)P12 L&L investigated a P24 Mike Fairley visited P29 L&L published a P50 Mike Fairley visited SLC Roll Label Computer Fasson research and comprehensive preview Rafatac’s headquarters in Estimating System. It production operations in the article for Labelexpo USA Finland. The company was provided the frst complete United States to investigate that was taking place in celebrating more than 15 solution to the calculations its advanced laminating line Chicago in May. The event years since delivering its frst required in roll-label at the Fort Wayne plant and had over 2,000 visitors pressure-sensitive materials estimating and operated on assess how the company pre-registered in March and to a customer and already industry-standard computer was meeting developments was set to be an outstanding then held a major share of hardware (IBM PC). The in the laminate and label event in the world of labels, the European and worldwide estimates were produced user market and had with a wide range of new laminate market with exciting in less than a minute in up continued its progress in product launches and developments and capacity to fve different quantities quality performance, process services on show. investments taking place. and then printed in letter improvements and reducing form through a word overall wastage. See our online archive at processing program. labelsandlabeling.com/magazine/archivesSame StormEditor’s notef you read nothing else in Europe this fall, in a show “If I’ve learned anything about this issue of the magazine, that will highlight the latest (though I hope you’ll read in automation, among other Ithe label industry, it’s nothing it cover to cover) I suggest trends. As Andy Thomas-Emans spending some time with our details on page 19, an if not resilient”global market reviews. Automation Arena promises This annual round-up from that have darkened our skies in resilient. In fact, during most to highlight the technology our team of international recent years, don’t seem to be economic downturns, the advancements that can help editors and correspondents clearing anytime soon. label market still thrives. This label converters chase what was paints a vivid picture of the Managing a manufacturing tough-as-nails industry can described to me as a ‘tenacious global state of affairs in today’s facility during the height of weather adversity better than pursuit of effciency’ and ease label market. the Covid-19 pandemic almost most. It’s proven time and one of its most intractable Although the label and looks like child’s play compared time again that it’s a market problems – labor.packaging industry operates on to the forces label business that sees opportunities in It will be fascinating to watch a global scale, it was clear to me owners are up against today. I challenging times, and I expect as the industry responds to from reading these dispatches wish I could report that a tight that to continue. the challenges it faces with that the problems are strikingly labor market, stretched and In fact, there are some technological advancements similar whether you’re in Delhi fragile supply chain, price hikes, exciting technological and continued resilience.or Detroit, Bangkok or Bogota, and limited material availability advancements on the Venice or Vancouver. We may are yesterday’s problems, but I horizon, as conventional be in different boats, but we’re fear that business owners must press manufacturers tell us all weathering the same storm. weather this storm a bit longer. on page 90 in an article that I’ll be honest, I wish there However, if I’ve learned explores the future of fexo. was some better news from this anything about the label Conventional technology will Chelsea McDougallspecial feature, but the clouds industry, it’s nothing if not make a return to Labelexpo Group managing editor Jan - Mar 2023