New Label Academy guide sets out flexible packaging opportunities for converters
Global on-the-job education resource for the label and package printing industry, the Label Academy, has published a new guide covering all aspects of flexible packaging, in response to this sector’s huge predicted growth and the opportunities it will create for narrow- and mid-web converters.
Illustrated Flexible Packaging: A technical guide for narrow- and mid-web converters is the latest addition to the Label Academy’s best-selling series of 15 expert-led books covering the entire industry. It is the first time the Label Academy has produced a stand-alone guide on flexible packaging. Authored and compiled by founder of the Label Academy Mike Fairley, and Chris Ellison, president of European label trade association FINAT and managing director of UK-based converter OPM (Labels & Packaging) Group, the book is a thorough and essential introduction to flexible packaging for narrow- and mid-web converters.
Alongside an overview of flexible packaging, there are dedicated chapters on identifying the substrates currently available in the marketplace, and an in-depth analysis of the multi-layer constructions and barrier properties. Most importantly, for converters who have never had a solution to short-run flexible packaging orders, the book provides clear practical market applications and opportunities.
Fairley explained: “Flexible packaging now has one of the highest growth rates across all printing sectors, with an annual global increase of around five percent. This offers limitless and truly exciting possibilities for the narrow- and mid-web converter looking to diversify, especially into shorter run products such as pouches, single serve and one-dose packs and sachets.
“However, as it’s not a straightforward entry process, a key purpose of this book is to set out the challenges and practical ways to navigate these. Alongside this, a technical grasp of what flexible packaging is, as well as the various substrates, pack-sealing, specific user requirements, pre-press requirements and everything in between, is absolutely vital. This book addresses these, and is an essential read for any label converter wishing to succeed in such a competitive sector – whether they are at entry level or looking to expand into flexible packaging.”
A dedicated flexible packaging master class to supplement this book is planned at a future Labelexpo Global Series event, and they will be adding to their book series this year.
Illustrated Flexible Packaging: A technical guide for narrow- and mid-web converters can be purchased directly from www.label-academy.com/bookstore, or is available on local Amazon.com stores.
The value of the global flexible packaging market by 2024 (based on the average of all major studies) is forecast to be in excess of 225.50 billion USD.
The Label Academy is a global on-the-job education resource that helps meet the training needs of the label and package printing industry. It was pioneered by industry expert Mike Fairley in response to a reduction in the number of dedicated printing colleges and the need to standardize the label industry’s very specialized training and education across the world.
The Label Academy is part of Tarsus Group - the international media group with interests in exhibitions, conferences, publishing and online media including Labelexpo Global Series - and is endorsed by FINAT, TLMI, LMAI, Turkish Label Association and BPIF.
About the authors:
Mike Fairley Best known as the original founder (in 1978) and publisher of Labels & Labeling magazine (now part of Tarsus Group plc, for which he is Strategic Consultant, Labelexpo Global Series) as well as being Managing Director of Labels & Labelling Consultancy. Over the past 35 or so years he has written or contributed to seventeen books on printing, packaging and label topics, spoken at over 350 conferences and seminars worldwide, written or contributed to five international encyclopedias, including the Encyclopedia of Labels and Label Technology, the Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology and the Encyclopedia of Brand Protection and Security Printing Technology, and held senior positions in education, training, industry, consultancy and publishing. He has contributed to trade magazines worldwide and regularly writes syndicate articles for international journals.
As a consultant researcher he has written or contributed to label-related market studies published by Frost & Sullivan, The Economist Intelligence Unit, InfoTrends and PIRA. He is a Fellow of the Packaging Society (formerly the Institute of Packaging), Fellow of the Institute of Paper, Printing and Publishing (IP3), a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers, an Honorary Life Member of FINAT and a Licentiate of the City & Guilds of London Institute. He was awarded the R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
Chris Ellison is president of FINAT and managing director of UK-based converter OPM (Labels & Packaging) Group Limited, a company established over 40 years ago and today serving more than 600 clients in both domestic and export markets. OPM are a multi-award-winning printers of high quality self-adhesive labels, laminates, sachets, medical and pharmaceutical packaging. Passionate for product innovation, investors in the development of its people and early adopters of total process automation, the company’s vision is to remain one of Europe’s top performing self-adhesive label and flexible packaging providers.
Source: Label Academy
