FINAT invites members to open LAB meeting at ELF 2015

Tarsus and FINAT united in the Labelexpo Advisory Board -  exhibitors, visitors and show organisers collaborate on quality and show innovations

While registrations for FINAT’s new European Label Forum in Amsterdam next June are gaining momentum, industry stakeholders are already looking ahead at the next edition of the world’s leading trade exhibition for the label industry. Labelexpo Europe, to be held from 29 September – 2 October at the Brussels Expo, is again set to overtake all previous editions since 1991 in terms of size, exhibitor numbers and visitors, from a still growing number of nationalities world-wide, entering through the gates. To make sure that quantity does not compromise quality, show organisers Tarsus and their long standing partner association FINAT have strengthened their partnership via the enlarged Labelexpo Advisory Board (LAB).

The 2015 edition of Labelexpo Europe will be the 13th edition since the launch of the Labelexpo Europe – FINAT partnership, and during that period, the show has grown, from an emerging niche event on the printing industry trade show calendar, into a leading global event, encompassing a growing number of features, geographies and segments in the labels and package printing domain.

Labelexpo Europe growth: mirror of a dynamic industry

A look into the FINAT archives reveals that since the turn of the Millennium, Labelexpo Europe has grown from around 25,000 square meters covering 5 halls, housing some 400 exhibitors and about 20,000 visitors from just over 100 countries (2001 edition, held just after 9/11), to a size of 31,000 square meters, with 600 exhibitors spread out over 7 halls and almost 32,000 visitors from 145 countries world-wide during the latest edition held in 2013.

Show improvements: keeping abreast of the volume
While these impressive numbers reflect the dynamic growth and innovative capacity of the label industry supply chain, they also bring with them the growing challenge to keep abreast of more qualitative aspects such as visitor and exhibitor (pre-)registration, stand and restaurant catering, visitor information, power, climate control, security, internet connectivity, floor mapping, on – and offloading logistics, storage, visitor transportation, parking, opening and closing hours as well as planning of side events and features to enhance the show experience.

Labelexpo Advisory Board: bringing together the show’s stakeholders

With these challenges in mind, an enlarged Labelexpo Advisory Board was installed at the end of 2012. The Labelexpo Advisory Board is part of the Labelexpo agreement between Tarsus and FINAT and aims to provide a sounding board for the show organisers to collect input for continuous improvement from exhibitors and visitors. In its enlarged composition, the ‘LAB’ brings together representatives from the exhibitor community, visitors and the Labelexpo show management.

While FINAT Board representatives on the LAB look after the interests of the show’s principle target group (the label converters), the composition of the exhibitor faction on the LAB is such that each of the exhibitor stakeholder groups is represented proportionately in terms of segment and geography. The present composition of the LAB is as follows:

• FINAT Board: Kurt Walker (President), Andrea Vimercati (Past President) and Jules Lejeune (Managing Director)
• FINAT Member Exhibitors: Lars Beck (Kocher + Beck), Marco Calcagni (Omet), Ralf Drache (Herma), Marcus Greenbrook (GEW), Niklas Olsson (Flint Group) and Filip Weymans (Xeikon)
• Management of Labelexpo: Lisa Milburn (Managing Director), Michael Hatton (Marketing Director), and Claire Comery (Operations Director).

See also http://www.finat.com/en/Groups/Labelexpo-Advisory-Board.aspx,  

Achievements so far
Since its installation two and a half years ago, the LAB has met 6 times to discuss progress on priority areas of improvement and this already lead to some important measures and achievements. To name a few:

• A checklist of areas for improvement was drafted and a list of key performance indicators for 2013 was agreed with Labelexpo;
• Show results were jointly evaluated in FINAT together with a stakeholder group of FINAT exhibitor members at an open ‘Labelexpo Forum’ in Amsterdam (October 2013);
• On-line satisfaction questionnaires were held among exhibitors and visitors under the auspices of FINAT;
• Feedback from the Forum and surveys was discussed at the LAB meeting in November 2013;
• Priority areas of improvement were defined for 2015;
• The LAB were consulted on Labelexpo preliminary findings as to possible alternative venues for the show after 2015.

New developments for 2015
What does all of this mean for the upcoming edition of Labelexpo Europe next September? At the last LAB meeting held early this year, among other things the following developments and improvements were discussed:

• The registration area in Hall 5 will move to Hall 4 with a lounge, champagne bar, Visit Brussels location, phone charging station, internet points etc.
• Labelexpo will repeat the Pack Print workshop which will be located in Hall 8.
• Labelexpo will introduce a new “Smart Packaging Lab” & “Packaging Design Studio” to attract more brands & designers, and to create an interactive platform on the show floor.
• Labelexpo will have a dedicated police/security office to report any issues.
• The Awards evening will take place on site in Hall 10.
• The show will stay open later (until 18:00) on the first day to allow for extra visiting time.
• Labelexpo will be providing golf carts to transport visitors and exhibitors between the furthest halls.
• The transportation zone will be located outside Hall 11 and taxi drop offs will also be in this location unlike in the previous edition of the show.
• Enhanced catering solutions including champagne bar, Belgian beer garden, carvery, mobile coffee points etc.
• Stand catering will be improved with the team in Brussels chasing exhibitors for 30 minute time slots for delivery window.
• Enhanced Wi-Fi – new antennae have been installed in each hall in addition to extra bandwidth. The connection will be consistent (i.e. will not drop between halls) and on site technicians will be on standby throughout the show to assist with any problems.
• Parking - purchased passes will be sent out in advance (with 3 ½ week cut off). Small vehicle off-loading passes will be in downloadable pdf format.
• Labelexpo will be providing additional stewarding at the airport and at midi station wearing brightly coloured show t-shirts.
• The new lead retrieval system piloted at Labelexpo Europe 2013 will be fully available for 2015 edition.

Commenting on the achievements of the LAB in its new enlarged composition, FINAT President Kurt Walker comments: “Since its establishment in the late 1980s/early 1990s, Labelexpo has become part of the label industry’s heritage. Labelexpo Europe is ‘our show’, and we have a joint responsibility to make sure that we continue to raise the bar together. I am convinced that the constructive collaboration that is taking place inside the LAB will help to achieve our common goals.”

Lisa Milburn, managing director of the Labelexpo Global Series: “It is a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside FINAT. We have enjoyed a close relationship for a long time and this has unquestionably been integral to Labelexpo’s continued success. By striving for continuous improvement and combining our knowledge and expertise, our partnership with FINAT is good news for the whole label industry and a very effective safeguard against complacency.”

Invitation to the label community and FINAT members: the LAB welcomes your input and feedback
On the occasion of The European Label Forum (see www.EuropeanLabelForum.com), in Amsterdam, prior to the annual FINAT General Assembly on 11 June, there will be an open meeting of the LAB, to which also non LAB members and stakeholders are kindly invited. This meeting will be held on 11 June, from 15.30 – 16.30 hrs. at the O7 (next to the Moevenpick where the ELF will be held). Further information will follow shortly.

The members of the LAB welcome your input and feedback. For this purpose, FINAT has installed a special email box on its website domain: Labelexpo@FINAT.com. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for improvement before 1 June 2015!!