72 | Labelexpo Mexico 2023Strong debut in Mexico for Labelexpo The inaugural Labelexpo Mexico 2023 featured 145 exhibitors and nearly 6,000 attendees. James Quirk reports he inaugural Labelexpo Mexico 2023 exhibition, held at the World Trade Center in Mexico City on April 26-28, welcomed 5,878 visitors from 46 countries and 145 exhibitors. TThe strong turnout – and positive feedback from visitors and exhibitors alike – vindicated the organizer’s decision to hold its frst machinery show in Latin America, after running Label Summit conference and table-top events in the region since 2005. Feedback from the show foor was uniformly positive, with exhibitors frequently describing how the event had exceeded their expectations. Not only were visitor numbers strong, at nearly 6,000, but there was a signifcant attendance (around 20 percent of the total) from outside of Mexico, including Central America AstroNova’s QuickLabel brand showcased the newly released – Guatemala and Costa Rica in particular – as well as Argentina, QL-E100, an introductory, compact and portable color-label Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. printer. Additionally, QuickLabel showed the QL-120X, and the The positive atmosphere on the show foor was a testament QL-300, the frst-ever 5-color label printer (CMYK+W). The to the current sense of optimism in the local market, which is TrojanLabel T2-C, claimed to be the frst high-capacity label press benefting from trends such as nearshoring – the infux of foreign with a footprint compact enough for a table-top, was also on companies setting up manufacturing operations in Mexico in order display.to serve the US market more easily. Numerous converters cited this Bobst, which celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Mexico as a key factor in recent growth. Both local and export markets for offce last year, made its frst Mouvent digital press sale in the tequila are also growing strongly – particularly in the US where the country last year, and Bobst’s head of narrow and mid web Matteo spirit is soaring in popularity. Cardinotti says further sales are taking place this year. ‘The A report by Mordor Intelligence estimates a 5.5 percent CAGR shortage of fexo press operators means that digital is a solution,’ in the Mexican label market between 2021 and 2026, while local he says. ‘Inkjet can compete with fexo better than other digital association Canagraf says that label converter numbers have risen technologies.’ Regional marketing communications manager Tove in the past decade from around 300 to 450-550. Dahlstrom said the event had exceeded expectations: ‘It’s a really Tasha Ventimiglia, Labelexpo Americas group director, says of good show, surprisingly so given it is the frst edition. The audience the show: ‘We saw the trends driving the growth of the Mexican is very qualifed and we have received lots of leads.’label industry. For example, the tequila market is booming not just Dilli showed its Neo Picasso inkjet press in Mexico for the frst in Mexico but in the US as well, with lots of highly embellished time. The South Korean manufacturer appointed Grupo Zur as labels from challenger brands appearing on store shelves. And a its agent in the country last year. ‘There is lots of potential in the lot of foreign investment is happening in Mexico, mostly due to Mexican market for digital printing,’ says Jin-Kyu Jeong, overseas its strategic position to serve the US market, with international packaging solution team manager. ‘The Latin American region is a companies like Tesla and others building plants in Mexico, creating new focus for the company.’further opportunities for local label converters.’ Domino focused on promoting its K600i inkjet print bar, which Labelexpo Mexico 2023 event manager Mirco Mazzarella adds: can be retroftted onto existing presses to add variable data ‘This was a fantastic debut event and I would like to thank our printing capabilities. Senior account manager Gary Peterson says: exhibitors, visitors and staff onsite for helping to make this frst ‘We do a lot of business in sectors such as tequila, agriculture and Labelexpo Mexico an astounding success. Our suppliers were very fruit where there is a need for variable data such as tax stamps. impressed by the quality and number of converters, particularly Nearshoring is creating a lot of opportunities in the Mexican from outside Mexico, and we had a few suppliers commenting on market.’the number of fexible packaging printers in attendance. Over 70 Durst showcased its Tau RSCi UV inkjet press, which is available percent of exhibitors rebooked for Labelexpo Mexico 2025, with in web widths of 330mm, 420mm or 510mm. It is designed to the majority of those upgrading their space.’ be able to handle medium- to long-run jobs as well as short-run. The Tau RSCi is equipped by default with a chill roller and jumbo Printing technology winders to guarantee material fexibility and maximum ease of use.The show featured a wide range of working machinery, with Epson demonstrated its L-6534VW inkjet label press, which Nilpeter demonstrating its FA-17 printing shrink sleeves, and digital enables reliable and repeatable high-speed printing at up to presses on display from Mark Andy, Epson, Konica Minolta, Durst 164 ft/min for jobs up to 13.39in in width. The new generation and Pulisi. PrecisionCore linehead center drum system is a space-saving, labelsandlabeling.com