In terms of the end-use market, food is by far the biggest category of labels, accounting for 47% of the total; if beverages are included this rises to 63.9%. Food label is highly related with safety issues. New law s and regulations on packaging inks at EU level put pressure on label converters.
Digital printing solution provides are reacting on them actively, by launch of new low-migration ink grades, FDA certified toners, new barrier coating systems and inner bags for paperboard, call for better de-inking technology at end-of-life. Preprinted labels originally designed to save time and costs for food retailers, are now viewed as a hindrance. Today’s retailers want to be able to change labels quickly and easily to help market the product, end waste, and meet regulatory requirements and other business needs. This is the reason so many are now using digital printing system in food label terminal systems. |