Following record visitor attendance and interest from Eastern European converters at the recent Labelexpo Europe 2003 in Brussels, a two-day keynote event is being launched for 2004.
The Labelexpo European Label Summit will aim to assess label opportunities in the enlarged European Union and will take place in Düsseldorf on 2-3 November 2004.
A database drawn from the 2,500 Eastern European printers and converters attending the Show - all in need of information on the latest label industry trends, materials, technology and end-user requirements - will provide the basis of extensive event promotion into this fast developing region, the organisers claim. The event will also offer a major opportunity for both suppliers and converters in the existing and emerging markets to meet, discuss, and develop future prospects. One-to-one meetings and tabletop displays will provide further opportunity for suppliers to meet with printers and converters from the enlarged European market.
The conference will review the impact of the proposed entry of 10 new countries (predominately from Central and Eastern Europe) into the EU in 2004, assess the arising implications for expanded EU trade and business and look at the role of brand owners and major retail groups in the wider European market. Label industry leaders will come together to assess growth potential, opportunities and challenges that the label industry will face in the significantly expanded European trading community in the coming years.
Speakers will be brought together from the European Commission, from some of the new EU entrant countries, from brand owners and major retail groups already trading in Eastern Europe, from label industry trade associations, and from the key labelstock, label machinery, pre-press and ancillary equipment suppliers to the industry - as well as lead label converters. Separate session streams and breakout workshops for suppliers, converters and label users will be built into the programme.
With current self-adhesive label industry growth already in excess of 20 per cent per annum in countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic - and annual growth of all label technologies in the region at around 8 per cent - the expanded European Union is expected to bring a period of sustained growth to the European label market.
A more detailed programme will be available shortly, but for further information please contact Cordelia Hime.