When it was acquired by the X&llence (pronounced Excellence) Group, Rateau lost pretty much everything. Then what should appear on the horizon but a white knight in the unlikely disguise of Mark Andy. This press manufacturer’s successful growth on the French market had been clouded by the premature death of its local agent. Now, Rateau’s newly created company, Mach Global, was ready and willing to step into the breach. 

Announcing the new appointment, Mark Andy’s EVP Tom Cavalco says, “We are delighted to welcome Mach Global to the Mark Andy family and look forward to working closely with Stéphane to build our profile in France and increase our market share in both the flexo and digital/hybrid sectors.”

AI with ABG

Few L&NW readers will have heard of Route 1 Print. It’s a modest print shop in Northern England, making stickers, flyers, business cards and a whole range of other printed products. Late last year, this company decided to move into continuous label printing. It made a $1.4 million investment into its Stickers & Labels range, adding an HP Indigo 6K digital press and installing an ABG Digicon Lite system. Alongside hardware investments, the company has focused heavily on improving the online ordering experience. A newly developed AI-powered custom shape proofing tool removes the need for cutter files, removing any friction for resellers and their clients, allowing users to simply upload artwork, such as a logo, with the system automatically detecting and generating the cut path.

High Five for Gallus and Cartes

Launched late last year, the Gallus Five is now up and running at its first label converter. This hybrid model, which comes in two widths (340 and 430mm), can run at over 100 m/m (2,000 m2/hour or 22,000 square feet), and was installed at Italy’s Artes Etichette. According to Artes’ CEO Luca Airoldi, the new press is already allowing Artes to shift a lot of its conventional workload to digital production, reducing setup times, lowering material waste, and simplifying production processes.

The Italian press manufacturer Cartes now does most of its business with label converters. Its latest installation is a GT360 line installed at the Staats.Label company in Germany. The line comprises flexo coating, a label-on-label application unit, a spot coating module, a Jet D-Screen digital foil application, a cast-and-cure oven, and a semi-rotary diecutting unit. “It complements our existing production setup, which includes digital, offset, letterpress, screen, and flexo printing, as well as various converting and embellishment technologies,” says joint CEO Rainer Staats.

Europe’s Paper, Packaging and Waste Regulations

Readers of this column will recall the controversy pitting the industry against the European Commission in Brussels. Battles of words have been raging over the Commission’s planned European regulations to unify and regulate the EU’s practice on recycling, known as PPWR. This project has sparked a lot of “Brussels-bashing.” Shouts of “yet more paperwork,” “unwieldy and unnecessary,” and so forth, came from all sectors of the paper and plastics industries. 

All sectors? Well, no. The association Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) has broken ranks, voicing “strong opposition” to the packaging industry’s attempts to delay or redesign the new regulations, due to come into force in August of this year. The FPE’s reasons are refreshingly simple: if we don’t agree to go ahead with PPWR, each of the 27 countries in the EU will carry on legislating its own variety of ecological controls, and no one will know what they’re doing. Uniformity, says the FPE, is essential to ensure that companies can comply with the EU directive in a practical, enforceable, and fair manner. 

“The flexible packaging sector is ready to deliver on the PPWR’s objectives,” says Karri Koskela, chair of Flexible Packaging Europe. “Over the past years, converters across Europe have made significant investments to redesign packaging in line with recyclability, minimization, and recycled content requirements. It is estimated that the sector has invested more than €1 billion in the past years in research and development to meet PPWR objectives only.”

Going for Gold?

Replacing plastic bottles (nasty and polluting) with paper ones (nice and recyclable) has become a kind of alchemy, often dreamed of but never successfully marketed. Now a German startup called Pulpex reckons it has cracked the problem. Pulpex is developing a patented technology for manufacturing liquid-proof bottles from cast paper fibers. Once used, the paper bottles can apparently be thrown away and recycled with other papers and packaging. They also feature a barrier coating suitable for food applications. The bottles are intended for use with beverages, food, cosmetics, as well as wine and spirits, and so it is claimed, the barrier coating does not interfere with the recycling. The major industrial group Perlen Industrie Holding is currently assessing the industrial implementation of the technology. A decision on the start of production will follow, possibly as soon as 2027.

Dire Straits

Like pretty much everyone else in Europe, the European Printing Ink Association is closely monitoring the disruption to shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz.  As the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, the consequences for energy markets, raw material availability, and logistics for the printing ink sector across Europe are increasingly dire. Europe’s paper mills are getting off lightly – precious little wood pulp comes out of the Persian Gulf. Not so for the plastics business whose feedstocks come out of the refinery just as motor fuels do, and prices are going up and up. The same is true for inks. Two flexo ink suppliers – hubergroup and Sun Chemical – have already announced price increases. Whatever the product, Europe is the worst hit with reduced supplies of crude arriving after being sent round the Cape of Good Hope rather than risk running the gauntlet of Hormuz, followed by potshots from trigger-happy Houthi tribesmen in the Red Sea. Solvents, binders, resins, and additives are all being affected by Brent crude prices rising above $100 per barrel.

Sleever Sells Out

Sleever is, or was until very recently, a 100% French company, founded by Eric Fresnel’s family some 40 years ago to develop what was then the very young market for sleeve labels. It has grown into an internationally recognized brand, employing nearly one thousand and with worldwide sales of $213 million. 

Sleever is headquartered near Paris and has 11 manufacturing facilities in Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Poland, China, and Brazil. It is a highly profitable company (EBITDA margin of 11.1%) and is almost unique in being fully vertically integrated: it buys its raw material direct from the refinery, makes the sleeves and sells both sleeves and applicators directly to the label converter. Eric Fresnel joined the family business in 1980, and in 2025 was looking to retire. This did not escape the attention of Geoff Martin, the heavyweight (in the financial sense) president of CCL. 

This group, founded in Toronto, Canada, is arguably the biggest label enterprise in the world, with 26,000 employees. And yes, it also makes sleeve labels. Although acquiring Sleever is a “friendly” takeover, it must still get through the “required procedures” of French law, plus the even thornier cross examination of the trade unions. 

Optimists, however, expect the transaction to close by mid-2026. According to CCL’s Guenther Birkner, the combined sleeve-related operations of the two companies are expected to represent a platform generating approximately $700 million in sales, based on 2025 figures.

Intelligence, Natural and Artificial

It is almost impossible to find a press release that does not refer to AI. Durst is no exception. This Italian label press manufacturer, first founded in 1938, has launched Kyveris, designed to “unify files, machines, software, data and artificial intelligence within a single production framework.” 

Durst is chary about giving details as Kyveris was only just launched at May’s FESPA exhibition. From the brief press release it seems that it is an AI-glorified optimization program using insights gathered from thousands of production systems installed worldwide, and used to teach your label press how to smarten up and work better. 

Smart Wine Labels

In Italy, as in many other European countries, wine labeling is big business. Britain’s Xaar and Italy’s Polytex International reckon they have the answer for producing complex wine labels better and faster. Through the installation of Xaar’s Versatex printbar, converters get to use digital methods for applying all kinds of decorative features to labels used on complex products. 

More than 20 Versatex printbars have now been installed across Italy, mostly for printing and converting high-value wine labels. Xaar’s Versatex technology, for example, allows converters to apply varnish and cold foil digital embellishments within a single unit using one fluid system.

Best and Worst Places to Stage a Trade Show

Europe’s packaging world has on its calendar two of its big trade shows: interpack, in Dusseldorf, and Fachpack, in Nuremberg. At the time of writing these lines, your correspondent can only rely on the enthusiastic whoops of the shows’ organizers. The packaging industry will scrutinize the results of interpack in particular to know what, if any, is the future of big packaging shows. Both shows are in May: they also clash with the Iran Food & Packaging Show in Tehran, but this may be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.

That theme has resonated throughout multiple events this spring. From Dscoop to the FLAG Annual Meeting to the TLMI Converter Leadership Meeting, the focus on people has not been forgotten. That fact should not be lost on an industry that increasingly touts the emergence of automation and AI.

We at L&NW are certainly guilty of creating the perception that the label and packaging industry will one day be run entirely by equipment and computers. There are surely enough press releases that paint that picture. While the industry undoubtedly faces a workforce crisis, employees are as important as they’ve ever been. With many successful label and packaging converters operating with fewer and fewer staff members, the ones in the front office and on the shop floor are critical to keeping this industry moving. 

For example, Inland’s Mark Glendenning referred to “Community, Insight, and Advocacy” as TLMI’s “North Star.” The first word in that mission statement made no reference to printing presses or finishing equipment. To the contrary, it’s the people that run the equipment who will dictate the industry’s success. 

Meanwhile, FLAG’s Annual Meeting continued its focus on peer group meetings. The peer groups serve as one of FLAG’s most valuable offerings to its membership. The collaborative experience allows participants to troubleshoot common issues and explore best practices in the changing nature of the business. In fact, several members boast emeritus status. While their companies are no longer members, their institutional knowledge is invaluable.

Robert Parker, owner of Label King and a member of both FLAG and TLMI, frequently boasts about his company’s culture – and for good reason. That culture was on display during FLAG’s Annual Member Tour. Parker stated, “We want to make money, but I don’t care about our EBITDA. I want to run a great company.”

The proof is in the pudding, as Parker established the company 24 years ago and has enjoyed numerous growth milestones in that time. Label King just enjoyed a record sales month in February 2026 as the company continues to grow. That growth does not come without Label King’s people, though. Many of those team members were responsible for showcasing Label King’s San Diego-based facility during the tour.

When the topic of AI comes up, one thing should not go unnoticed: people guide the agent or chatbot. The algorithms only work as well as the person providing the directions. This industry is fueled by technology, but it’s the people who serve as the glue. We shouldn’t forget about them.

Greg Hrinya, Editor
ghrinya@rodmanmedia.com

More recently, the state of Washington banned the use of all phenols in thermal paper, including label paper, effective January 1, 2026. This legislation prohibits the presence of phenols over 200 parts per million. Today, we’re seeing other states propose similar legislation. 

The casus belli against these chemicals has been driven by their ubiquitous presence in our environment and their well-documented toxicity. BPA, for example, has been shown to be an Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical (EDC), meaning it can affect estrogen receptors in the body. This can lead to reproductive disorders, metabolic issues, cardiovascular disease, and neurological aberrations. (Nasty stuff!) 

When BPA fell under scrutiny, many manufacturers switched to BPS. Toxicologists call this a “regrettable substitution” because, while technically a different compound, it has similar toxicity. BPS is also a proven EDC and some research suggests that it may have more adverse effects in certain cellular pathways. 

In advance of the Washington ban, thermal paper suppliers selling in the United States pivoted away from phenols. Washington and California’s actions effectively switched the thermal paper and thermal label paper market away from BPS. The relative speed at which these actions took place is impressive and shows the efficacy of effecting change on the state-level. Yet, problems arise and persist with
these changes.

If we examine Washington more closely, we find the push to eliminate phenols was driven by a desire to protect the public and the environment. As Washington’s Department of Commerce head Mike Fong put it: “Switching to phenol-free thermal receipts is a small but significant step in reducing everyday exposure to toxic chemicals. Our partnership with agencies across the state demonstrates a unified commitment to protect both public health and the environment.” 

The Department of Ecology has even suggested an alternative chemical for thermal paper suppliers to use: Pergafast. As they note in their preliminary report, “Pergafast 201 and e-receipts are safer, feasible, and available alternatives to thermal paper containing bisphenols.” 

While the thermal paper suppliers may not articulate it outright, the vast majority are using Pergafast as their replacement to BPS.

Yet, Pergafast is not a benign chemical. While it has less genotoxicity and neurological toxicity than BPS, it has incredibly high aquatic toxicity and much greater environmental persistence than BPS (see the EPA’s handy toxicity chart below). 

This environmental double whammy means that when thermal paper containing Pergafast is recycled or dumped in landfills, the chemical eventually leaches into waterways, posing long-term risk to aquatic ecosystems. Given this fact, it seems Mr. Fong has a rather abstract idea of environmental protection. 

With the majority of the industry switched to Pergafast, we must ask ourselves: how does this affect our ecosystems, our waterways, and our drinking water? Is Washington measuring this? Why should we consider this change a victory? Yes, we have made slight advancements with human exposure to toxicity, which is commendable, but at what environmental cost? It seems we’ve found ourselves with yet another regrettable substitution.

The second issue with this Washington legislation, and a perennial issue with California’s environmental legislation, is that it effectively forces nationwide change. 

Manufacturers, resellers, and retailers usually lack an effective way to segregate products with different components. Rather than try to manage which products are being sold into Washington and which aren’t, manufacturers are forced to make fundamental shifts in order to meet compliance. While this is relatively manageable when only two states have passed legislation, it becomes impossible when patchwork state legislation multiplies. If, for example, the State of Maine were to pass legislation banning Pergafast in order to protect their treasured marine life, what would the industry do? Switch again! And again and again. This is not a sustainable model.

There is, indeed, a reason we have a federal system. While many libertarians may beg to differ, a federal system offers order and standardization. Such order is particularly important in a vast republic, as we have. 

In particular, the federal government can override state actions using the Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the Constitution. Essentially, that clause allows the federal government to preempt state law when it conflicts with federal law. In the case of thermal paper chemicals, the question rests with the EPA in relation to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 

The EPA could consider creating a framework with restrictive rules. They might consider banning high-risk chemicals like BPA or BPS, establish a standard concentration limit, and mandate warning labels if necessary. Such uniformity would provide greater clarity to the industry. Rarely am I in favor of big government, however, when states begin exerting influence beyond their borders, it is best to examine exceptions.

Alex Hoffman is a third-generation family member at Channeled Resources Group, where he serves as General Manager of the Label Division. Alex is currently pursuing his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. In his spare time, he enjoys playing squash, reading, and arguing.

That line has been stuck in people’s heads since pop and rock music legend Billy Joel first sung it in 1986. In pharmaceutical packaging today, it’s not a lyric – it’s the entire challenge facing
the industry.

For years, NFC in pharmaceutical packaging lived in that familiar category of “next big thing” – promising, technically viable, but rarely deployed at meaningful scale. The technology worked, and the use cases made sense. But when it came to real-world production environments, especially in pharma, the gap between concept and execution remained stubbornly wide.

That gap is starting to close.

And it’s not because NFC suddenly got smarter. It’s because the stakes around it got higher.

Across the pharmaceutical value chain, trust is no longer assumed – it’s something that must be verified, documented, and, increasingly, digitized. Regulatory pressure is building from multiple directions. The European Union’s pharmaceutical legislation reforms, the emergence of Digital Product Passports, and a more aggressive FDA stance around data integrity and digital traceability are all pushing the industry toward a new reality: every product must carry a reliable, trackable
digital identity.

At the same time, the threat landscape has shifted. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are no longer limited to poorly produced knockoffs. Many now move through gray market channels, often in convincing, high-quality packaging that can be difficult to distinguish from the real thing. High-profile incidents – such as counterfeit GLP-1 injectables entering global supply chains – have only intensified scrutiny from regulators and health organizations.

In this environment, traditional approaches to labeling and packaging are no longer enough.

That’s where NFC, and, more broadly, connected packaging, begins to move from “interesting” to essential.

While RFID continues to play a critical role in supply chain visibility, NFC brings something different to the table: a direct, secure link between the physical product and a digital identity that can be accessed at any point in the product lifecycle, including by the end user. With a simple smartphone tap, stakeholders can verify authenticity, confirm product integrity, and access critical information in real time.

More importantly, NFC creates a closed loop of verification. From manufacturer to distributor to patient, every interaction can be recorded, validated, and tied back to a single, unique digital identity. In an industry where data integrity is paramount, that capability is becoming increasingly valuable.

And yet, for all its advantages, NFC adoption in pharma has lagged behind expectations.

The reason isn’t conceptual – it’s operational.

For converters and packaging engineers, the challenge has always been less about what NFC can do and more about how it performs on-press. Concerns around chip fragility, integration complexity, line disruption, and overall equipment effectiveness have slowed adoption. In high-speed pharmaceutical environments, where precision is measured in fractions of a millimeter and downtime is unacceptable, any new technology must prove it can operate reliably at scale.

This is where recent developments begin to shift the narrative.

At interpack 2026, Schreiner MediPharm and Herma presented a joint RFID labeling solution for pharmaceutical vials that addresses one of the industry’s most persistent concerns: process reliability. The system combines Schreiner MediPharm’s Robust RFID-Label construction – designed specifically to protect embedded chips from mechanical stress – with Herma’s precision labeling technology.

The result is a system capable of applying RFID-enabled labels to small, curved containers, like vials and syringes, at high speeds while maintaining extremely low chip failure rates. In testing on Herma’s 132M HC wrap-around labeling platform, chip breakage rates were reduced to near zero – an important benchmark for an industry where consistency is everything.

It’s a meaningful development, not just because of the technology itself but because of what it represents.

For the first time, NFC and RFID in pharma packaging are being engineered not just for functionality, but for manufacturability.

That distinction matters.

Because until connected packaging solutions can run seamlessly in real production environments – without slowing lines, increasing waste, or introducing risk – they remain difficult to justify beyond pilot programs and niche applications.

At the same time, the broader ecosystem is evolving to support this shift. Companies like Identiv are expanding NFC-enabled tag portfolios with integrated tamper detection and secure authentication features, effectively turning labels into active components of product security. Meanwhile, developments from suppliers such as Tageos and Pragmatic Semiconductor are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible from a materials standpoint, introducing ultra-thin, flexible NFC inlays designed for high-volume label and packaging applications with minimal impact on structure or recyclability.

Taken together, these innovations point to a larger transformation.

Labels are no longer just identifiers. They are becoming digital gateways connecting physical products to cloud-based systems, enabling real-time data exchange, and supporting everything from authentication and traceability to patient engagement and regulatory compliance.

For label converters, this shift carries both opportunity and responsibility.

On one hand, it opens the door to higher-value applications and deeper integration into customers’ operations. On the other, it raises the bar for technical capability, process control, and collaboration across the value chain. Implementing NFC successfully isn’t just about sourcing the right chip or inlay. It requires coordination between materials, converting processes, application equipment, and end-use requirements.

It also requires a mindset shift.

Low migration, for example, is no longer just about ink formulation. As the industry has learned over the past decade, it’s about the entire process – from press configuration and curing to handling, storage, and final application. The same principle applies to connected packaging. A “smart” label is only as effective as the system supporting it.

Looking ahead, the role of NFC in pharma – and increasingly in other packaging segments – will continue to expand. As costs come down, infrastructure improves, and regulatory frameworks evolve, adoption is likely to accelerate. What was once viewed as an added feature is quickly becoming a foundational layer of modern packaging.

For the label industry, that means the conversation is changing.

This isn’t just about print quality or decoration anymore. It’s about enabling trust.

And now more than ever, that trust lives in the label.

Steve Katz is the former editor of Label & Narrow Web and is now a regular contributor. He is focused on helping companies in the label industry share their news and tell their stories. Follow him on X @LabelSteve.

With a recent uptick in underwriting focus on durability over growth, value creation is shifting away from transactional equipment sales and toward control of the installed base. This shift is not cyclical – it is structural and beginning to reshape margin profiles, predictable revenue streams, and M&A behavior in the OEM and aftermarket segment of the industry.

What’s changed?

For years, equipment manufacturers and distributors were valued primarily on shipment volumes, backlog, and cyclical demand. Aftermarket parts, service and consumables, which represent 37% of the $18 billion US market, were acknowledged as attractive but rarely treated as the strategic core of the business. That perception has changed materially since 2020. In recent sale processes, financial sponsors and strategic buyers alike are underwriting equipment businesses as infrastructure platforms, defined by uptime economics, recurring revenue, and embedded customer relationships.

Today, differentiation has shifted toward:
• Aftermarket capture and service intensity 
• Controls, automation, and upgrade pathways 
• Software-enabled workflow integration and data visibility

Macroeconomic Factors Accelerating Shift Toward Aftermarket Economics

Several forces have converged to reinforce this transition:
Post-Cycle Capacity Digestion: Backlogs for OEMs remain relatively soft, especially compared to the low cost of capital and capacity expansion era of 2021-2022, with many operators quoting system sales and backlog declines of 10% in 2024 and 2025. While new system demand has softened, demand has increased for lower ticket purchase orders and efficiency upgrades.

Recent Trade Uncertainties: Punitive US tariffs starting in 2025 continue to apply to steel, copper, and aluminum, directly affecting presses and spare parts. The result is delayed converter decision-making on new systems while accelerating decisions for incremental controls and upgrades, where comparative ROIs look even more attractive in this environment. Operators quote a robust system; however, purchase order conversion rates have slowed, signaling converter production volume uncertainty.

Continued Disrupted Supply Chain: The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is impacting OEM sales, especially for EMEA manufacturers shipping to Asia, where delays are seen in deliveries, final acceptance, and time-critical service agreements. The aluminum supply chain has also been affected by the Iran conflict, and this impact is expected to slow orders to converters exposed to this market.

Implication: Equipment demand has been downward trending and deferred due to recent macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. These recent trends have highlighted the inherently cyclical, project nature of system sales in comparison to more recurring revenue streams.

Bobst Reported Sales: Bobst is a major converting equipment and aftermarket product and service provider and offers a glimpse into underlying trends between market segments. Notably, Bobst has recently reported that its backlog for Business Unit Printing and Converting is around 15% lower at the end of 2025 vs. 2024 (2024 was 33% lower than the year before) and has returned to the same level as it was pre-pandemic.

How is Increased Automation Spending Shifting the Aftermarket?

Automation does not eliminate aftermarket opportunity – it reshapes it. More sensors and connected presses expand: (1) Remote diagnostics, (2) Software-assisted service, and (3) Contract-based uptime guarantees, which in turn increase the value of service-led platforms.

Increased automation is raising monetization density per installed unit, driving higher lifetime value and stronger retention economics and is focused on the following trends:
• End users continue to prioritize automation, servo-driven systems, and automated changeovers.
• Many converters prefer preventative service models with human-readable diagnostics, rather than fully autonomous AI systems. 
• Spending is increasingly justified by labor scarcity and downtime reduction, not throughput alone. 
• Capital budgets favor incremental, modular investments over large one-time press purchases.

Consolidation Patterns are Emerging

While converter consolidation captures headlines, equipment and aftermarket M&A has followed a different but related trajectory. Successful consolidators are prioritizing fragmented service and parts ecosystems where density can be scaled regionally, rather than attempting large-scale OEM integrations. With Europe’s web converting and printing equipment heritage, EMEA buyers represent a 25% larger segment of the buyer base in comparison to label converters over the last six years. Over this same period, cross-border deals represented ~21% of all equipment-related transactions vs. 14% for label converter M&As. These dynamics reinforce the importance of a targeted, globally coordinated process.

Noteworthy Roll-Ups

As noted previously, major aggregators span North America and Europe,  and their acquisition initiatives often involve regional expansion and further aftermarket penetration in under-covered markets. Although not an exhaustive list, some of the more active acquirers (and their respective private equity partners) in the web converting equipment industry include: Mark Andy/Center Rock; Maxcess/Bertram Capital; Amtech/Vista Equity Partners; Double E/IGP; and Davis-Standard/Gamut Capital. 

How Investors and Buyers are Underwriting Value Today

Platform Durability: Underwriting has become more surgical. Across recent processes, investors and buyers are prioritizing durability and visibility over system shipment growth, and are placing higher value on the following themes: Smaller ASPs with higher lifetime value outperform large one-time sales; quality of recurring revenue outweighs top-line growth; installed base, life-cycle economics matter more than legacy backlog views; service intensity and technician leverage drive defensibility and increased wallet share of installed base and higher margins; software and workflow tools used to increase retention vs. strictly standalone value; and customer concentration is contextualized against customer dependency. Importantly, assets lacking a credible recurring revenue model are seeing diminished buyer interest trends.

Margin signals valuation: Across recent transactions, aftermarket revenue has emerged as the single most important driver of value. Margin profiles seen across the ecosystem increasingly reflect the degree of recurring revenue and customer integration. Although every system, aftermarket product and service sales vary in differentiation, there are observed expected margin profiles across segments. In quality, more-optimized assets, parts, consumables, and services often represent less than half of revenue but a majority of gross profit and EBITDA given the margin dispersion. More importantly, aftermarket cash flows are materially less volatile than press sales – a characteristic that buyers consistently reward. 

Key Diligence Metrics Driving Value

Here are a few key performance indicators (KPIs) important to stakeholders in today’s M&A market: aftermarket margins and share of gross profit; Average Selling Price (ASP) across systems, products and services; service contract penetration and growth across the installed base; technician capacity, utilization and response time; reorder or renewal rates and contract duration; consumables attachment rate and revenue per installed unit; and percentage of installed base with embedded data and workflow tools that raise switching costs.

Looking Forward

Underlying interest remains strong, but the basis of value has shifted. The next phase of consolidation will reward those who control uptime, data, and replenishment, not those who simply ship metal. The highest-quality platforms will be those that maximize economic participation across the equipment lifecycle, embed themselves in customer workflows and uptime critical operations, and convert installed base into recurring, defensible revenue streams.

Stuart Sanford is a Director at Mezzo (formerly Mazzone & Associates), advising clients on transactions in the label supply chain and across the broader paper, plastics, and packaging markets. Mezzo has advised on numerous transactions across the label and packaging equipment ecosystem.A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Stuart brings deep sector knowledge and practical transaction experience informed by recent transactions and industry relationships.

While the brand flourished, men appearing in Marlboro ads didn’t. Notes Wikipedia, “Five men who appeared in Marlboro-related advertisements…died of smoking-related diseases, thus earning Marlboro cigarettes, specifically Marlboro Reds, the nickname ‘cowboy killers’.…One of them, Wayne McLaren, testified in favor of anti-smoking legislation at the age of 51.” 

Smoking was promoted heavily in the TV series Mad Men. The big ad agency represented Lucky Strike, and just about everyone chain-smoked in the show. Interestingly, when Lucky Strike dumped the agency, character Don Draper wrote and got published an anti-smoking ad in The New York Times. They went on to represent cancer-fighting organizations.

While the agency likely wouldn’t have switched sides if not dumped by Lucky Strike in the sixties, it was an early-day example of looking out for the consuming public. Slowly, over the decades, product brands and their labels have evolved to do likewise.

Undeniably, much of the change is due to the explosion of social media, online reviews, and the consequent ability to make or break a brand’s reputation in a single day. With some brands, authentic concern for consumer health, education, and well-being is the paramount reason for this commitment. With many others, it’s done as a grudging acknowledgement that digital “lie detectors” will do them in if they don’t toe the line.

Regardless of motivation, label trends toward consumer well-being are proliferating everywhere. Traditional brand labels showing logos, making often-exaggerated claims, and trying to rise above the noise are being heavily influenced now by customer-service considerations. Customers are no longer an afterthought, left to sort out whatever a marketing team presents on the label.

Product label trends in 2026 show a genuine commitment to establishing consumer trust. In addition, labels are increasingly serving as an educational and sometimes entertainment vehicle. The former is important to help consumers stay safe and comfortable about products they’re using. The latter can provide a respite from the ongoing onslaught of toxic, bad, and debilitating news.

Following are consumer-first movement developments:
Trust and transparency. The rise of transparency-first labeling reflects something brands have been slow to acknowledge: consumers are skeptical and increasingly distrusting. Decades of greenwashing, deliberate ingredient confusion, and exaggerated claims have made shoppers deeply wary of what they read on a package. The response emerging in 2026 isn’t more persuasive copy. It’s verifiable proof. QR codes now routinely link to third-party certifications, sourcing documentation, and authenticity verification – giving customers a way to check claims independently rather than accept them at face value. Instead of blindly trusting brand claims, consumers can now actively verify the truth for themselves. That’s a huge building block to brand loyalty and longevity.

Clarity grows. Label claims and disclosure often are confusing and can be conflicting. Common problems are overlapping claims, tiny fonts, ingredient lists that read like chemistry exams, and marketing language that contradicts itself within the same panel. This is not an accident. Cluttered labels historically served brands by making unfavorable information harder to find.

Simpler design in 2026 is changing the conversation. Clean, legible layouts and diligent editing of non-essential information make the things customers actually need easier to find: allergen warnings, key ingredients, usage instructions, expiration dates. For people managing dietary restrictions, chronic conditions, or simply trying to make an informed choice under time pressure, this is a meaningful improvement in quality of life.

Smart labels offer continuing trust-building, education. Link to recipes, tutorials, loyalty programs, or immersive brand experiences through avenues such as QR codes represent a genuine expansion of the value a product delivers. A bottle of olive oil that connects customers to provenance stories, food-pairing guides, and producer profiles offers something its label could never contain physically. A skincare product linking to usage tutorials reduces the gap between purchase and confident use.

Labels are at a customer service crossroads. Either because of genuine caring, a fear of inauthenticity leading to reputation damage, or both, product manufacturers are making consumer welfare and well-being a higher priority. Those that continue following the “Marlboro Man” model will increasingly fail.

Mark Lusky (www.markluskycommunications.com/mark-lusky-bio) is the president of Lusky Enterprises, Inc. (www.markluskycommunications.com), a 41-year-established marketing communications company dedicated to clients that live and breathe trust, likeability, and respect (thereby eschewing the “lie, cheat, steal” culture so prevalent today). Contact him at: 303-621-6136; mark@marklusky.com.

Launching ahead of Father’s Day, the program allows consumers to apply a premium NFC sticker to any bottle and attach a custom message, photo, or video that links directly with the gift. With the simple tap of a smartphone, the recipient unlocks a personal experience created by the giver – turning a great bottle into something that lasts well beyond the pour.

While spirits brands have historically used connected packaging to ensure authenticity or deliver brand storytelling, Bourbon Gifting Reimagined shifts the focus to the consumer, giving them a simple, intuitive way to create and share their own story directly on the bottle.

“At Bardstown Bourbon Company, we’re always exploring what bourbon can become,” says Bardstown master blender Dan Callaway. “This is a natural extension of that mindset. It’s not about changing the bottle – it’s about adding something to it. Something personal. Something
that lasts.”

The technology behind the program was developed in partnership with Eurostampa and “connected experiences platform” io.tt, combining premium label craftsmanship with a seamless digital experience.

Eurostampa is a global family-owned company that specializes in printing premium, high-quality labels for the wine, spirits, chocolate, food, and cosmetics industries. Founded in 1966 in Italy, Eurostampa operates multiple production facilities across the globe, including North America, Europe, and Asia

“By embedding NFC tag technology into the special front-label medallion, Bardstown Bourbon Company has unlocked a personalized gifting experience unique to the American whiskey category,” adds Ermanno Bosco, who leads marketing innovation for Eurostampa North America. “Unlike hidden back-label QR codes, NFC labels preserve a premium look while delivering immediate, purposeful value to consumers with a single phone tap. We believe the future of packaging lies in elevated engagement, and we are excited to help Bardstown shepherd the industry forward.”

“This is where connected packaging becomes truly meaningful,” says Cameron Worth, founder and CEO of io.tt. “Instead of brands simply pushing content, this platform lets consumers create something of their own. Bardstown saw that opportunity and made it effortless – one tap, and the bottle becomes personal.”

The program will be available nationwide across retail, events, and at the brand’s Bardstown distillery and Louisville Tasting Room. Consumers can also request an NFC sticker to be shipped directly to their home at no cost by visiting bardstownbourbon.com/gifting.

While launching around Father’s Day, Bourbon Gifting Reimagined is designed to extend far beyond a single occasion. The digital platform supports a range of moments – from birthdays and celebrations to thank-yous and everyday gestures – turning the bottle into a lasting expression of connection.

As a company known for pushing the boundaries of bourbon, this launch reinforces Bardstown Bourbon Company’s belief that innovation doesn’t stop at the liquor. Even in packaging and gifting, there is nowhere they won’t go.

“Shrink sleeves offer a number of compelling advantages for brands, starting with shelf impact,” remarks Ben Luly, product manager, Mark Andy. “They provide 360-degree decoration, which gives brand owners far more real estate for graphics, messaging, regulatory content, and product differentiation than a traditional pressure sensitive label.  They also bring functional benefits. Shrink sleeves can provide tamper evidence when they extend over the closure, they perform well in high-moisture environments, and they eliminate the need for adhesive.”

“Shrink sleeves offer complex shape versatility, as they conform seamlessly to contoured or irregular containers,” says Steve Holvey, technical manager, Sustainability & Materials, Inovar Packaging Group. “There’s also production efficiency. Shrink sleeves support high-speed application, fewer changeovers, and multi-pack bundling. Plus, there is sustainability potential. Shrink sleeves feature lightweight, mono-material designs that support recyclability goals.”

According to Flint Group Packaging Solutions, shrink sleeves can provide an invaluable tool for ensuring strong color consistency across SKUs. When transparent films are printed with an opaque white foundation, these labels benefit from an even base that prevents the container color or product fill from influencing the final printed color. This helps to make process colors behave more predictably across multiple SKUs, which matters as different container shapes can change how the artwork looks after application. In practice, this means converters can layer brand colors on top of a common white base yielding more reliable results.

The numbers justify the excitement, too. According to AWA Alexander Watson Associates, the global sleeve label market accounted for 15,171 million square meters in 2025. This represents 20% of the total global label market, as noted in the recently published “AWA Sleeve Label Market Report 2026.”

The global sleeve label market grew 3.7% in 2025 and is forecast to grow with a CAGR of 3.6% between 2025 and 2028, notes AWA.

In 2025, AWA recorded market share amongst sleeve label formats. Heat Shrink TD Sleeve accounted for 90% of the global sleeves produced. Meanwhile, Stretch Sleeves made up 7% of the market. The rest was divvied up between ROSO MD Sleeve and RFS MD Sleeve.

In 2025, the global Heat Shrink TD Sleeve Label Market predominantly came from China – producers of 72% of the material. North America, on the other hand, generated 11% of the material. However, the Heat Shrink TD Sleeve is the primary choice in North America, as it comprises north of 70% of shrink sleeves.

It’s no secret, too, that shrink sleeves are the most popular choice in the beverage world. AWA states shrink sleeves are used for 65% of beverages. Food and household chemicals are second and third, respectively, at 16% and 10%. As Inovar Packaging notes, shrink sleeves are suitable for any application with high-volume, contoured containers requiring vibrant graphics and fast application.

In addition to food and beverage, personal care and beauty, pharma, OTC, and nutraceuticals are all strong options for shrink.

The process has evolved, as well. Historically, shrink sleeves were a natural fit for wider web presses. Now, narrow- to mid-web options are perfectly suited for shrink sleeve production. 

“More brands are asking for shorter runs, more SKU variation, faster turnarounds, regional versions, promotional graphics, and more frequent product refreshes,” says Luly. “As a result, shrink is becoming more viable on narrow- and mid-web presses, especially when converters want greater agility and better economics for shorter to medium production volumes.”

Plus, software helps converters analyze how the ultimate product will look. “There are many things that we need to understand. On the software side, one is visualization prediction, using information from the shrink film characteristics to create the simulation/predictive model,” states Heath Luetkens, sales director, Hybrid Brandz, Americas, Hybrid Software. “In this method we have then an accurate prediction of the final outcome. However, we can also go through another method of capturing a printed and shrunk film in the full manufacturing process using a specific grid configuration. The result is measured and analyzed using 3D or camera capture that then provides that info, when shrunk.”

So, there are two different ways that shrink sleeve software is typically used. “You can either provide the designer a prediction of the result, or you produce actual output for print,” continues Luetkens. “There’s risk with actual versus prediction. If I grab the wrong actual sample set – if I’m not looking at a sample set that gives me some ability to see those different distortions – I may not get the correct information, whereas a predictive model could be more accurate because it generalizes. You can also visualize the color and clarity of the shrink sleeve against the product behind that shrink film.”

Converters must also be cognizant of the characteristics of their inks. Recent developments in shrink sleeve inks have focused on making the technology more accessible. In practical terms, this means prioritizing ink flexibility to prevent cracking and flaking. 

“Such developments are invaluable because they preserve both the quality of printed graphics during the shrink process and increase durability during handling and logistics,” states Flint Group Packaging Solutions. “In particular, developers like Flint Group Packaging Solutions have pushed the frontier of white inks for shrink sleeves. The company’s shrink whites, part of the EkoCure XS series, are optimized for shrinking even in high-stress areas of the sleeve. This provides converters with a powerful resource for producing high-quality white ink foundations that resist the rigors of the shrinking process.” 

Dual-cure capability is another area of focus in innovation for shrink sleeve inks. The ability to cure consistently under both UV LED and conventional UV systems provides a new layer of flexibility for converters.

There have been numerous material changes, too. “There has been a shift from PVC to more sustainable options and emerging bio-based films, with significant downgauging,” states Holvey. “Shrink sleeves utilize advanced printing and coatings, too. Plus, there has been growth in digital printing for short runs and variable data and development of functional coatings.”   

Other ongoing changes relate to substrate composition, notes Flint Group Packaging Solutions. “The shrink film market is adapting, in part to meet strict Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) certification standards, and as a result the shrink sleeve category is moving away from being a fixed material market,” the company states. “As brand owners push for greater recyclability and compatibility with PET, HDPE, and PP recycling streams, the shrink sleeve market is moving beyond traditional print and performance criteria to focus on how the entire label system behaves in washing, sorting, and flake processing.”

Getting Started

While the printing press is essential to gain entrance in this market, an optimized workflow is required for success. For example, converters must have a means to account for distortion during the seaming process.

“At the prepress level, distortion capability is essential, whether that is handled in-house or through a trusted partner,” explains Mark Andy’s Luly. “They also need a way to evaluate sleeve performance after printing, because testing the finished result is part of the learning curve. On-press, the key is control. Converters need equipment that gives them the ability to manage air and temperature independently, maintain proper web handling, and support tension-sensitive materials with the right chill roll and nip configurations. For water-based shrink, in particular, dryer design and controllability are critical.”

There are several factors to consider for inks. According to Flint Group Packaging Solutions, success in shrink sleeves begins with a triple-pronged setup. Converters need the right shrink-specific inks, tight process control around film thickness and curing, and a clear understanding of available ink technologies. 

“This last factor is key to determining whether the sleeve survives shrinking without affecting brand graphics or compromising recyclability,” the company states. “In terms of inks, converters require systems explicitly engineered for shrink films. These must combine strong adhesion to commonly used films with enough flexibility to withstand the shrink process without excess deformation. That typically means formulations built around flexible resins and shrink-recovery profiles optimized for high-stress contouring. Closely tied to ink choice is film thickness control. Overbuilding white or process layers risks cracking and poor shrinkage behavior, and converters can benefit from clear design-for-shrinkage guidelines that cap the total ink film thickness. Equally important is curing balance.”

New software enables designers to accomplish a wide range of goals. These products can help to better understand what the shrink sleeve is going to look like in the end, instead of looking at a flat sheet.

“If people understand the basics of shrink sleeves, and where design elements are going to be, then during prepress people can correct some of those distortion areas, which we can do if we know what the parameters are,” says Hybrid Software’s Luetkens. “Software can work for both groups. We know people who use our software for design and visualization processes. They may not correct for it, but they want to know where it will need to be fixed. Then they hand it to someone else to do the corrections, often also using our software.”

Plus, shrink sleeving is application-specific, meaning there are a host of variables to keep in mind. Film type, shrink ratio, ink system, container shape, and end-use requirements all influence the final result. Having an understanding of the process is critical.

“In hybrid environments, there can be real value in combining digital print capability with flexo stations for functions like whites, coatings, or specialty colors, depending on the application,” says Luly. “The most important thing for a converter getting started is to respect the complexity of the application. Shrink is very achievable, but it requires the right platform, the right support, and a willingness to develop repeatable process knowledge.”

Common Challenges

When producing shrink sleeves, success is reliant on more factors than simply printing on a substrate. Material selection, ink choice, screening approach, laydown strategy, drying or curing settings, and final application performance must all work in harmony.

“Because sleeves are reverse printed and then shrunk over the container, you also have to think carefully about how the image will behave after distortion and shrinkage,” explains Mark Andy’s Luly. “What looks correct on-press doesn’t always behave the same way once applied.”

Heat management is another major factor. Whether a converter is working with water-based or UV, shrink films are less forgiving than pressure sensitive materials. 

“Too much heat or the wrong curing profile can create problems quickly,” adds Luly. “That makes press configuration, dryer control, and process discipline especially important. Converters need to be prepared to constantly test, refine, and learn.”

To deal with many of the common challenges associated with shrink sleeves, using the right software is pivotal. “I talk to companies that have a bottle or some odd-shaped package, and they wonder where and how much the shrink distortion is going to occur,” explains Hybrid Software’s Luetkens. “Well, using the right software tools, you can show exactly where they will be. Of course, you could place design elements that really don’t matter onto those places. But, being able to see and visualize it beforehand is an advantage of shrink software. It’s a terrific tool for the brand.”

However, software can encounter challenges – depending on the perspective of the developer or designer. “The biggest challenge for software is its predictive capability,” notes Luetkens. “Second is the application of the actual artwork to allow a designer to see where that shrink is and predicting the shrink distortion. Whether or not they correct for it at that particular moment, it’s most important to see where the designer is putting elements at the time of design on that 3D object. If I’m designing flat artwork, I have no idea how that’s going to look on that bottle. Software manufacturers have the tools that are needed, but what is imperative is using them correctly.”

Sustainability is a key factor for shrink sleeve production, as well. “Shrink sleeves deliver improved recyclability vs. colored containers,” notes Bill Kral, chief commercial officer, Inovar Packaging Group. “Shrink sleeves can replace colored PET, helping maintain a more recyclable primary package. There has been a shift toward full-system recyclability, too. There’s a growing emphasis on solutions where both the sleeve and container can be recycled together, eliminating waste and improving overall sustainability outcomes.”

Inovar also recognizes the circular design focus with shrink sleeves. These include mono-materials, perforations, and wash-off solutions. Inovar has also seen an increased use of PCR content and lightweighting. 

In order to meet demand for all these variables, collaboration throughout the supply chain is key. “There is application complexity where there’s a risk of wrinkling, bubbling, or distortion, especially on complex container shapes,” adds Inovar’s Holvey. “Shrink requires design precision, meaning accurate distortion mapping and high-quality seaming. Early collaboration on material selection is critical to avoid downstream performance and sustainability conflicts.”   

Shrink Solutions

In order to deal with the numerous challenges associated with shrink sleeves, suppliers have developed dedicated solutions. From a press standpoint, Mark Andy supports the shrink sleeve market with both flexo and hybrid solutions, depending on the converter’s volume profile and application mix.

“The Performance Series S9 is extremely well suited for this space, with widths up to 26″ and a design that supports the drying, control, and flexibility required for applications such as shrink sleeves and flexible packaging,” notes Mark Andy’s Luly. “The E5, P7 and P9 platforms are also options, depending on width and configuration, and, ultimately, throughput requirements.”

Mark Andy has also seen growing interest in its shrink-capable digital hybrid configurations, particularly where converters want to address shorter runs, faster turnarounds, or increased SKU variation. The company’s HighSpeed 1200 has become part of that conversation because it gives converters a way to bring higher-speed digital production into applications that have traditionally been more difficult to address economically.

“Ultimately, the right answer depends on where the converter is trying to go,” comments Luly. “Some will need a wider flexo platform optimized for throughput. Others will benefit from hybrid capability that gives them more flexibility in how they approach shrink work.”

From a software standpoint, Hybrid Software’s iC3D is a real-time, all-in-one 3D packaging design software that allows users to ideate, design, and visualize packaging on the fly. It supports multiple packaging types, including cartons, labels, bottles, shrink wraps, and flexible bags. 

“Visuals can be produced in minutes and every iteration shared via the free web viewer and cloud storage,” says Luetkens. “Using  iC3D allows creatives to indulge their ingenuity while delivering faster turnaround and up to 80% reduction in the design lifecycle. Compatible with standard structural files, iC3D imports CAD die-lines to ensure artwork is dimensionally correct for later form, fill, and seal. Artwork can be scrutinized in 3D from every angle and in any environment, avoiding the need for costly and time-consuming physical mockups.”

For inks, Flint Group Packaging Solutions offers a comprehensive range for the shrink sleeve market. The EkoCure XS Shrink White family sits at the heart of this portfolio, providing converters with a robust white ink foundation that can withstand the extreme demands of shrink sleeve printing.

“EkoCure XS Shrink Whites are engineered specifically as a flake‑free, crack‑resistant white ink foundation for shrink sleeves, targeting high‑shrink and high‑stress areas where traditional whites often fail,” the company states. “They are formulated to resist micro-cracking and flaking that can affect printed graphics and help converters maintain high impact and consistent graphics – even across complex container geometries.”

AWA Celebrates Shrink Sleeve Innovation

With a representation of approximately 20% label market share, shrink sleeve labels have grown in prevalence. Each year, AWA Alexander Watson Associates celebrates the best of the best in this growing category.

The AWA Annual Sleeve Label Awards 2026 are now open for entries. The last day for submission is August 31, 2026. Each year, the Sleeve Label Awards celebrate the groundbreaking achievements that sleeve labeling brings to the packaging industry. 

Winners will be announced during the exclusive awards ceremony at the AWA Sleeve Label Conference & Exhibition 2026 in Chicago, IL, USA, on November 17-18. Industry experts, converters, suppliers, and brand owners will be on-hand to witness innovation and excellence in this segment.  

The goals are clear, too. “Sustainability today is primarily focused on enabling circular packaging by using materials that can be repurposed, recycled, or composted instead of sent to landfills,” states Lara Pearson, sustainability program manager, Avery Dennison. “Sustainability is a top-of-mind priority for customers, driven by consumer demand and the pressure for large brands to reach their 2030 sustainability goals. This interest is coming from both ends of the value chain, as investors and potential regulations on sustainability disclosure further intensify the focus.”

According to Michelle Garza, director of Strategic Accounts, Anderson & Vreeland, sustainability has shifted from a long-term initiative to a near-term operational priority. “We’re seeing more converters evaluate their entire workflow – from substrates and inks to platemaking and processing,” says Garza. “Where the industry continues to evolve is in measuring true environmental impact across the full production lifecycle. There is still an opportunity to move beyond individual components and take a more holistic approach, particularly in areas like energy consumption, waste reduction, and emissions tied to plate processing.”

When it comes to regulations and legislation, compliance is critical. “The question is no longer whether sustainability matters, but rather how to comply with voluntary guidelines (such as the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Design Guide), as well as evolving regulation, including extended producer responsibility (EPR), while implementing label designs that support circularity downstream,” says Nikola Juhasz, global technical director, Sustainability, Sun Chemical.

According to Juhasz, most interactions now start with very practical points: Can this coating eliminate the need for lamination? Will this ink wash off cleanly (no wash water staining) and in filterable form? Will this ink and coating system provide retention in a caustic wash bath? Is this ink or coating APR-recognized, and will it allow APR recognition of your final label?  

In many cases, claims are not enough. Brands want data backing the environmental initiatives taking place at the supplier and converter levels.

“What has evolved most in recent years is the level of scrutiny behind sustainability claims,” remarks Lisa Ivey, R&D technical manager, Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives. “Companies are being asked to validate those claims with real data and documentation, driven by growing regulatory pressure in markets around the world. That includes legislation and requirements tied to recyclability, extended producer responsibility, single-use plastics, PFAS restrictions, and broader packaging regulations. As a result, sustainability conversations have become much more nuanced. It is no longer enough to position a product as simply eco-friendly.” 

“Another topic driven by the ambitions of bigger producers and brands is the need to substantiate claims with external validations and enable decision-making based on data,” adds Anna Hunt, director of marketing, Sustainability and Communications, Americas, UPM Adhesive Materials. “Brands feel the pressure to substantiate their claims to reduce the risk and reputational damage of greenwashing. Therefore, all the suppliers in the value chain must substantiate their claims.”

For example, UPM boasts a Platinum ranking from EcoVadis and is also on the CDP A-list. The company is also in the top 10% by S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. “We pursue these external validations to substantiate our commitment and actions we take to reduce our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, to enhance packaging circularity, and to use natural resources responsibly,” notes Hunt.

There are numerous considerations from label converters and their brand owner customers. “We frequently hear concerns around VOC emissions, solvent handling, disposal costs, and creating safer working environments,” notes Garza. “Many converters are also being asked by their customers to support broader ESG and carbon reduction initiatives. As a result, they’re looking for practical solutions that deliver measurable environmental improvements without disrupting production.”

The conversation has become increasingly more nuanced. “Historically, attention centered on key issues inherent to labels themselves, especially management of liner and matrix waste,” explains Juhasz. “Then focus widened to general ‘recyclable’ claims. Today, the discussion is increasingly about how labels actually behave in real recycling systems, and whether specific design choices support or interfere with positive outcomes.

“What is changing most across the value chain is a deepening technical understanding of the key drivers,” continues Juhasz. “Topics such as floating and sinking labels, ink retention versus wash off, non-bleeding performance, primer and lamination elimination, and label or sleeve compatibility with caustic wash processes are now part of routine discussions, not limited to specialist conversations.”

There is also a practical aspect to sustainability. While nearly all aspects of the value chain agree on the need for sustainable progress, finances will often come into play.

“At this point, most companies are conscious of sustainability and a lot of their clients are requesting it of them in the products they use or sell,” remarks Tyler Thomas, national sales manager, Anderson & Vreeland. “The improvement area for sustainability is being willing to pay for it. Some sustainable practices require additional steps, qualifications, or are more expensive materials than less sustainable options.”

There has been tangible progress. What was once an afterthought decades ago is now top-of-mind for most. “We have definitely taken steps in the right direction in the label and package printing industry in terms of innovating products and setting an expectation for the transition to more sustainable materials,” states Hunt. “I believe that we all recognize that the entire packaging value chain can contribute with actions around climate, circularity, and nature.”

Inks are one such area that has seen noticeable improvements. “Inks play a much larger role in sustainability than many people realize,” adds Renee Schouten, vice president of marketing, INX International Ink Co. “They influence not only how packaging performs in production and on-shelf, but also how that package behaves with end-of-life. The right ink system can help reduce hazardous chemistry, improve recyclability, support compostability goals where appropriate, enable lower-energy curing, and help brand owners meet evolving regulatory and ESG expectations.”

“The industry has made meaningful progress with the adoption of lower VOC water-based inks and coatings that can replace solvent-based systems, an emphasis on energy-curable (UV/LED/EB) inks and coatings, which are inherently low VOC, and lower-VOC oil-based ink systems, along with improvements in press efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and waste minimization,” adds Jennifer Dickson, regulatory manager, Wikoff. 

To achieve optimal success, collaboration throughout the supply chain is key. “We are working with suppliers and partners to evaluate renewable raw materials and emerging compostability considerations, recognizing that these areas require continued R&D validation and application-specific testing,” states Brandon Devis, vice president, Wikoff. “Our sustainability strategy is supported by active industry engagement and certifications, including EcoVadis participation, SGP certification, and membership in the Association of Plastic Recyclers and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.” 

Working with customers is also key to ensuring sustainable growth. For Avery Dennison, customers have shown an increasing demand for higher percentages of post-consumer waste (PCW), with new wine and spirit facestocks now containing between 30% and 100% PCW and new film liners with 90% recycled content.  

“Sustainability has evolved to include carbon footprinting tools that help customers compare alternatives and track the environmental impact of their labels,” adds Pearson.

Sustainability is not just a concern for suppliers, as the entire supply chain is tackling the issues head on. “Brand owners, converters, and retailers are all asking more detailed questions about recyclability, renewable-content options, regulatory compliance, product safety, carbon impact, and how packaging choices support broader circular economy goals,” remarks Schouten. “They want application-specific solutions that perform in the real world.” 

In the future, there are several areas of opportunity, notes A&V’s Thomas. “Most areas we see for improvement are in waste reduction and workflow optimization,” he says. “How can you minimize your startup waste, reduce plate waste (from plate damage/to improving plate longevity), and reduce time to even make a plate? The options are unlimited in ways to reduce environmental impact and enhance overall efficiency. The key for us is identifying our customers’ goals, then tracking and quantifying them.”

Green Group Consulting Explores Sustainability Advancements

Sustainability continues to rank as one of the label and package printing industry’s most important issues. From brand owners to manufacturers, the entire supply chain is seeking more environmentally friendly solutions. With consumers demanding sustainability and easier recyclability from their products, the time is now for our industry to continue make substantial progress.

Thankfully, the industry has taken the reins in addressing this issue. From leading associations such as TLMI, to advisory firms like Green Group Consulting, countless individuals and organizations are taking a leadership position in sustainability. While there are numerous obstacles still present, the label and package printing industry has made considerable strides.

“While there is still work to do, particularly in addressing supply chain waste streams like release liners and matrix waste, the advancements to date have been nothing short of transformative,” says John Caturano, managing director, Green Group Consulting. “Organizations, including APR (Association of Plastic Recyclers), TLMI, SPC (Sustainable Packaging Coalition), and others, have played pivotal roles in driving this progress and aligning the industry toward solutions that improve overall packaging circularity. In addition, PFE (Plastics Forming Enterprises) continues to provide the rigorous testing, consulting, and standards-based validation that gives companies confidence in their recyclability assessments.”

The progress has been noticeable. Many leading players now offer improved solutions, floatable substrates, perforated sleeves, APR-recognized materials, and better delaminating systems.

“The industry has clearly shifted its focus and is responding to the need for packaging that looks great but also performs well in recycling systems,” remarks Caturano. “Still, we have room for growth.”

Collaboration will be critical in this growth phase, especially with evolving regulations and differing processes from city to city and state to state. Green Group Consulting has emphasized the importance of compliance with state regulations. Since EPR is developing on a state by state basis, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. 

Challenges are paving the way for opportunities, too. “I see tremendous opportunity ahead,” explains Caturano. “Over the past several years, the label industry has made exceptional progress that truly deserves recognition. Major brands have worked closely with label manufacturers and converters to develop and deploy technologies that ensure packaging designed for recyclability is matched with label substrates that support, rather than compromise, that goal. 

“Significant strides have been made to move away from problematic materials, such as PETG, PVC, and dark or non-readable labels, issues that historically created major challenges for reclaimers and MRFs (materials recovery facility),” he adds.

In addition, Caturano cites inks as another opportunity for sustainable growth, especially around effective removal and devolatilization. With the goal of recycling the label along with the bottle, continued innovation in ink design and behavior can become a key unlock, which is why this area deserves focused attention. However, there are several areas of concern moving forward.

“Full sleeve labels with high coverage remain one of the biggest challenges,” adds Caturano. “While the aesthetics of packaging will always matter, these full coverage designs can interfere with sorting, especially on PET bottles. When readers and optical sorters misidentify a clear PET bottle as green or colored because of a full sleeve, we lose valuable material that should be directed into the clear rPET stream. That has real consequences, because clear PET is essential for producing high-quality rPET for food grade applications.”

Legislation and regulations will play a large role in the future of labels and packaging. Sustainability is shifting from largely voluntary initiatives to a more regulatory and compliance driven environment. Meanwhile, converters continue to see the value in becoming more sustainable – regardless of legislation.

There are, however, several legislative measures to follow – including California’s SB 343 and SB 54.

“SB 343 is less about technical design and more about the claims made on packaging and labels,” explains Caturano. “For many label suppliers, this means a significant volume of work to update artwork, claims, and symbols to ensure all elements meet the now statutory criteria for recyclability claims in California. Several other states are considering or advancing similar legislation, so this is no longer a California only consideration, label laws tied to packaging claims are becoming a broader national trend.”

“When it comes to SB 54, California’s EPR law, label manufacturers will need to pay close attention to the specific material thresholds and component requirements outlined in the legislation,” continues Caturano. “Brands will increasingly expect their suppliers to provide clarity on material composition, compatibility with recycling systems, and any factors that may affect a package’s recyclability designation. Label suppliers should anticipate more customer questions, specification reviews, and requests for documentation.”

Green Group Consulting has collaborated with industry members on dealing with legislative ramifications. The consulting group understands the parameters, definitions, and technical criteria within these laws at a deep level and is available to guide manufacturers through compliance requirements.

According to Green Group Consulting, recycling in Europe outperforms the US because it is built on unified, binding policies and longstanding EPR and deposit return systems. These systems drive consistency and high recovery, while the US relies on a fragmented patchwork of local programs with uneven standards and lower recycling rates.

“Europe also benefits from a far more mature recycling infrastructure and far less available landfill space, which pushes materials into recovery rather than disposal conditions that directly strengthen system performance,” remarks Caturano. “The US can learn from Europe’s coordinated approach by harmonizing policy, scaling EPR and DRS, and aligning packaging design with actual recycling capabilities.”

Room for Improvement

As an industry and a society, there is still considerable room for growth on the sustainability front. Regulations and legislation will no doubt play a large role in this quest moving forward.

“Where the industry still needs to improve is in clarity and consistency,” states Fedrigoni’s Ivey. “The regulatory landscape is complex, and requirements often vary by state, country, and application. That can make compliance difficult to interpret and even harder to communicate across the supply chain. There is still a need for more education, stronger alignment, and practical guidance that helps companies make informed decisions with confidence.”

“Where we need to improve is the proactive commitment to move from legacy solutions in large-scale applications, even though those materials likely work well,” adds UPM Adhesive Materials’ Hunt. “This may give us an opportunity to make substantial improvements in reducing emissions, enhancing recyclability, or improving material usage. Another area of opportunity to improve is increased willingness to co-innovate to drive impact in the whole value chain, as well as using data-based tools, such as UPM’s Label Life LCA tool, to look for more sustainable alternatives even in applications that currently perform well.”

According to Sun Chemical’s Juhasz, looks can be deceiving. “Where we still need to improve is in closing the gap between label design and construction and eventual real-world performance,” she says. “A label can appear sustainable in theory, but outcomes depend on the full system and lifecycle, including the substrate, inks, and coatings, as well as for which packaging material the label is intended and the recycling infrastructure and process it enters at end of life. Moving forward, sustainability in labels will depend less on single attributes and more on systems-level thinking and collaboration, particularly with recyclers.”

There are also economic and infrastructure barriers with which to contend. “The price of PCR and bio-based resins remains a significant hurdle compared to virgin materials,” notes Avery Dennison’s Pearson. “Cheap rPET imports are making it challenging for domestic reclaimers to find end-markets. Plus, there are infrastructure gaps. Recycling capabilities vary by region, and there is a critical need to invest in advanced technologies that advance the circular economy.”

From an ink perspective, sustainability is best evaluated through four primary factors: renewable raw material content, VOC emissions, energy requirements across the value chain, and end-of-life considerations such as recyclability and compostability.

“It is important to clarify that inks themselves are not ‘recyclable,’ rather they must be designed to enable the recycling of the substrate,” explains Wikoff’s Dickson. “Similarly, compostability and biodegradability are primarily driven by the substrate, although inks and coatings can influence those processes and should be validated through testing when required. At Wikoff, our approach to sustainability is centered on three core principles: innovation, integrity, and impact. We continuously evaluate our materials, manufacturing processes, and supply chains to reduce waste, conserve resources, and minimize environmental impact.”

A big part of sustainable growth will come in the form of education. “Sustainability has become a priority, but it can also be confusing,” adds Ivey. “Customers are often trying to balance performance, appearance, cost, recyclability, reuse, and regulatory considerations all at once. We regularly see project requests that combine multiple sustainability terms or goals that do not necessarily align in a single construction, which shows how much confusion still exists around terminology and practical application. That is where collaboration matters. Customers are looking not only for sustainable materials but for partners who can help them better understand the tradeoffs, the requirements, and the most realistic path forward for their application.”

Meeting Demand

One thing is certain: all levels of the supply chain are clamoring for sustainable solutions. Brands and consumers are united in their desire to see more products that foster environmental friendliness. This will only continue in the future.

Anderson & Vreeland, for example, has focused on water-wash flexographic plate technology, particularly with Toyobo’s Cosmolight plates. “Cosmolight offers a true water-wash process, eliminating solvents entirely and significantly reducing environmental impact,” says A&V’s Garza. “Compared to traditional solvent and thermal workflows, water-wash processing can reduce environmental impact by approximately 70% and energy consumption by about 50%.”

Anderson & Vreeland touts numerous sustainable solutions. XSYS Eco Plates use renewable raw materials as part of the plate formulation. In addition, these plates can be processed 20% faster, leading to time and energy savings. And AVMI (RFID Vendor Management Inventory) features real-time tracking that allows converters to reduce their number of freight shipments and freight costs while reducing their carbon footprint.

Anderson & Vreeland has also worked in collaboration with Provident to unveil a new end seal with 30% recycled rubber. This product is engineered to deliver the performance and durability expected from Provident while notably reducing environmental impact.

“At Provident, we challenged ourselves to find creative ways to minimize resource input and environmental impact, and the result is an end seal that evolves everyday consumables for the flexo market,” states Tim Allen, director of sales, Provident. “By transforming discarded materials into a product that offers superior ink containment and fewer press impressions, we’re not just launching a new product; we’re inviting our customers to experience the future of our sustainable initiatives, without sacrificing high-performance printing. If you are interested in increasing the longevity of your chamber setups and improving chamber management, this end seal is for you.”

Avery Dennison has launched a 90% rPET liner from post-consumer PET bottles. Designed for pharmaceutical, wine, and spirits applications, it supports eco-friendly packaging goals while maintaining high-speed dispensing performance.  Plus, Avery Dennison’s cavitated BOPP is part of the expanded AD CleanFlake technology portfolio. The new 2.0Mil Cavitated White BOPP construction improves PET recycling. This material reduces density and resin usage while providing the durability and aesthetic appeal required for the food and beverage industries. “Our expanded Direct Thermal linerless portfolio, now available with a removable adhesive,” says Avery Dennison’s Pearson. “We also have a new grass paper for wine, spirits and premium applications. The paper features 30% natural grass and 70% post-consumer waste material.”

Meanwhile, Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives has engineered numerous products to meet this demand. Its new product is a wash-off label construction for the wine, spirits, and craft beverage market. Designed with Sorolla H+O WS facestock and Fedrigoni’s FW8000 wash-off adhesive, this solution supports bottle reuse by allowing labels to detach cleanly during the washing process, helping prepare glass bottles for recirculation. “What makes this development especially important is that it supports circularity without compromising premium shelf appeal or in-use performance,” says Ivey. “The construction is designed to withstand demanding environments, such as refrigeration and ice buckets, while still releasing cleanly in a hot alkaline bath with no adhesive residue. That means brands can maintain the elevated look and feel expected in wine and spirits packaging while also supporting reuse systems that help reduce waste.”

INX International Ink Co. has released numerous new products with sustainability in mind. Innova Plus NCF is a nitrocellulose-free lamination ink technology designed to support recycling pathways.Genesis washable inks were developed to improve label removal and recyclability in PET and HDPE streams. INXhrc natural-based inks have been formulated with renewable-content to reduce environmental impact, and GelFlex EB electron beam-curable systems enable high-performance printing with reduced VOC emissions and support lightweighting through lamination simplification. Finally, Ecostage GB-XA barrier coatings have been engineered to enhance packaging functionality while supporting material reduction and more efficient structures.

“At INX, we view inks and coatings as critical enablers of more circular packaging design,” states Schouten. “Our focus is on developing technologies that support recyclability, regulatory compliance, and overall process efficiency without compromising performance.”

Sun Chemical has continued to expand its portfolio of non-bleeding washable and retentive inks designed specifically for label applications. These systems allow converters to choose the appropriate strategy, whether wash-off or retention, based on the target recycling stream and label substrate while minimizing issues such as discolored wash water or lower recyclate quality. “We are also seeing strong interest in primer free and layer reduction technologies,” says Sun Chemical’s Juhasz. “Eliminating unnecessary layers helps simplify label constructions, reducing material use and costs, both of which are sustainability drivers. Simplified structures can also improve compatibility with recycling processes, without sacrificing adhesion or durability in the application.  

“In parallel, Sun Chemical has invested in data-based decision support, including lifecycle assessment and product carbon footprint capabilities,” she adds. “These tools support our own product development and are also used to help customers evaluate their options more objectively, grounding sustainability decisions in quantitative information rather than assumptions.”  

UPM Adhesive Materials has recently added new, externally validated products that enable recyclability at scale. In early May 2026, the company introduced UPM ProCycle circular label materials that simplify recyclability performance for rigid PET and HDPE packaging. The portfolio combines advanced adhesive technologies with high‑performing filmic label materials such as clear, white, metallic and conformable film.   

All UPM ProCycle products carry the APR Design for Recyclability Recognition and comply with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. 

“Moreover, our customers can use these materials to service multiple CPG applications (food, beverage, and home and personal care, etc.) on either PET or HDPE packaging,” says Hunt. “This reduces the number of SKUs they need to carry and simplifies portfolio management while driving scalable sustainability impact.

“We continue to focus on adhesive material innovations to equip our customers and brands with more sustainable choices with UPM Raflatac label materials,” adds Hunt. “We also continually work with our supply partners to reduce value chain emissions and use natural resources responsibly. We also strive to achieve 100% traceability of other bio-based materials, and we are proud that 100% of our purchased paper raw materials were certified under a credible third-party forest certification scheme.”

Sustainability is a critical priority for Wikoff’s customers, but it is increasingly evaluated through the lens of practical application and performance. “Customers are seeking solutions that align with sustainability goals while maintaining press efficiency, color consistency, and regulatory compliance,” says Wikoff’s Devis. “There is strong demand for low-VOC and environmentally responsible formulations, solutions compatible with recycling streams, and increasing interest in compostability where applicable. We are also seeing greater focus on end-of-life outcomes, particularly as brand owners push for more sustainable packaging formats. Customers recognize that these outcomes are system-dependent and require coordination across substrates, inks, and converting processes.”

Wikoff continues to expand its portfolio of sustainable technologies across inks, coatings, and digital solutions, with a focus on performance, compliance, and environmental responsibility. Key developments include water-based ink systems with low-VOC formulations, energy-curable UV and LED platforms that reduce energy consumption and waste, low-migration systems for sensitive applications such as food packaging, and digital inks and primers that support on-demand production and reduce material waste.

OMNI Systems Emphasizes Collaborative Sustainability

OMNI Systems, the largest privately held label converter in the US, is touting the benefits of collaborative sustainability. The Ohio-headquartered company has made the business case for collaborative sustainability investment vs. mandate-and-absorb models. This philosophy has led to significant benefits for both OMNI and its customers. 

Recently, in a move that illustrates the power of going green, one of OMNI’s largest customers offered to split sustainability costs 50/50. The endeavor came in the form of EcoVadis certification.

“They made it very clear from the beginning that environmental stewardship was a priority, and compliance with regulatory benchmarks for carbon footprint reduction and net zero commitments was mission critical,” explains Mike Murton, president, OMNI Systems. “Looking for a third-party evaluation of its supply chain, the customer turned to EcoVadis, an assessment program to evaluate sustainability management systems. It was such a priority that they were willing to share the costs associated with our participation in the initial third-party survey and the ongoing score improvements, easing our decision to invest in this process.”

The cost-sharing arrangement has served as a strategic win for both sides. It proved advantageous for OMNI because of the cost-effectiveness. Meanwhile, the customer has control over the services used. 

“It also gave us an opportunity to understand the strength of our sustainability efforts and find opportunities for continual improvement on our journey to achieve net zero carbon footprint goals, which provides value to other customers,” notes Murton. “It all comes back to meeting our customers where they are. Tailoring our approach to a customer’s sustainability goals ultimately created value on both sides.

“Doing the right thing by your company, customers, and the environment will always lead to good results,” he adds. “The best way to do that is through transparency and collaboration.”

Since launching its scrap waste diversion automation and energy conversion initiative, OMNI has seen significant increases in machine uptime and production efficiency, not to mention sparing landfills the 900 tons of scrap waste annually. This has saved the converter nearly $500,000 in costs.

“If suppliers, manufacturers, and customers are all part of the conversation – sharing insights, co-investing in solutions and operating transparently – sustainability becomes scalable across the board,” comments Murton. “Imagine what could be achieved if this approach were adopted across the industry?”

As has been the case with OMNI’s sustainability efforts, collaboration throughout the supply chain has generated success. “OMNI isn’t afraid to bring our suppliers into meetings with our customers, which is rare in our industry,” remarks Murton. “As valued partners to OMNI, our suppliers should hear directly from our customers about their focus areas and pain points in sustainability. This only enhances their ability to provide supplemental eco-friendly material expertise and real-time flexibility.

“Without collaboration, you also risk playing the ‘telephone game,’” he continues. “One critical part of the conversation could be missed, or you don’t hear one inflection in a certain area that points to a customer’s passion or interest around sustainability. Rather than serving as a go-between, OMNI facilitates direct dialogue between customers and suppliers – creating fluid, transparent communication that benefits everyone.”

701 Beta Drive, Mayfield, OH, USA 44143
www.omnisystem.com

The foresight and innovation that led Adam DeFrancesco and his wife, Sally, to establish OMNI Systems in 1990 is every bit as present today, even as new leadership helps guide the company into the future. OMNI Systems, based in Cleveland, OH, USA, is regarded as one of the largest privately owned label manufacturers in the country. But despite OMNI Systems’ size, culture and a family atmosphere still serve as guiding principles for a company leaning fully into cutting-edge technology.

Today, Mike Murton operates as president and CCO. Murton joined the organization in 2019 and helped guide OMNI Systems through numerous challenges, from the pandemic to the supply chain. He took the reins of president in 2022. Adam DeFrancesco still serves as CEO and provides leadership and guidance on many of the large strategic decisions impacting the business. Meanwhile, Murton and his dedicated executive leadership team handle the day-to-day activities. This team consists of Murton and DeFrancesco, as well as Dave Campbell, CFO; Tom Murphy, CIO; Rob Matejka, controller; and Erik Majkrzak, vice president of operations. Together, OMNI Systems has enjoyed substantial growth.

Murton joined the company after more than a decade with Swagelok, a fittings and valves manufacturer located in Cleveland. In 2019, he was presented with an opportunity to join OMNI Systems, a move that held significant appeal.

“One of my final roles with Swagelok was leading their global procurement team on the direct materials side, so I got to work with various sized organizations and I really fell in love with the mid-market sized organizations,” explains Murton. “I liked the leadership styles and how nimble they could be with decision-making.  It created an environment where you felt like you were making an impact.” 

The same agility now defines how OMNI operates. In practice, that translates into flexibility, speed, and consistency of operations that have  paid big dividends in how OMNI supports its customers, helping them adapt to demand shifts and avoid supply disruptions. Since joining the company, Murton has seen the staff grow from 80 employees to north of 300. Growth has come both organically and through acquisition. And Murton has lofty standards for where the company is headed. In 2022, the executive team put a plan together to triple the size of the organization by 2030.

Acquisitions have played a big role for Murton and OMNI Systems. So, too, has a strong vision for the company’s roadmap. The year 2023 served as an inflection point for the business, as two deals ramped up company growth. In early 2023, OMNI Systems acquired ITW Labels and its two facilities. Then, later in the same year, OMNI Systems added a division of Honeywell Media, which used to be Intermec Labels. The acquisitions have given OMNI Systems additional footprints in Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Kansas City, KS. The company boasts nearly 350,000 square feet of space throughout the four locations.

“Those moves opened us up to a completely new customer base and broadened our offerings so we can engage our customers differently,” states Murton. “We’re driving measurable cost savings while improving supply continuity and bringing value in different ways.”

The acquisitions have been made with an open mind. “We’ve incorporated those other two organizations into OMNI, but we’ve never looked at it like just because we’re OMNI and we’ve always done it this way, that’s how they’re going to do it. We took what those companies did really well and took what we did really well and meshed them together. So, we were all greater coming out of the deals than we were going into them.”

DeFrancesco has remained a pivotal part of the organization. He engages on the larger strategic decisions impacting the company such as expansion or capital expenditures. He was instrumental in OMNI Systems’ acquisitions, too.

“One of the things I enjoy the most about working for Adam is he gives you space to do your job,” notes Murton. “If you have questions about an initiative or you’re deciding between multiple options, he’ll let you know what he thinks – but he’ll always let you do your job.

“His strategic acumen is more advisory and setting boundaries, but he understands the market better than anyone I’ve seen,” adds Murton. “Once he saw our vision for growth, he was the real driver for finding those opportunities.”

Murton has overseen an expansion of markets served, too. When he joined OMNI Systems in 2019, the company primarily produced blank labels and jobs with one or two spot colors. Since joining the company, OMNI has expanded its capabilities to include 4-color process and full gamut digital printing.

“We got into prime labeling for multiple reasons,” recalls Murton. “One, we had customers asking us to do it. Some of our largest customers loved what we were doing for their secondary labeling – the consistency, speed, and cost efficiency we provided – but they wanted to apply that to their prime side. Where we had gotten operationally, there was increased confidence that we could get into new technology that we weren’t doing before. And second, I think our customers were starting to change. There’s a lot of discussions in the industry about supplier consolidation. They don’t want to manage label programs with five different suppliers, they want to reduce complexity and consolidate where it makes sense, without sacrificing supply continuity. That shift pushed us more toward prime labels because our only other option would’ve been to outsource. In our mind, we thought we could do it better and at a lower total cost ourselves than to rely on someone else. We really want to control our own destiny and not put our destiny in someone else’s hands.”

OMNI Systems still predominantly serves the secondary labeling market with blanks and spot printing across the logistics, grocery, food & beverage and pharmacy markets. In the prime space, OMNI Systems has put its focus in the markets that have price sensitivity and where driving savings is important. This includes food & beverage, CPG, medical and pharmaceuticals.  

“We have similar markets that we serve on the secondary side, so we have nice synergies there,” says Murton. “We do both prime and secondary labels for our customers in those spaces. We don’t have to tell our customers that we don’t offer that service. We really support each side of the business. The core of our business will always be the secondary side, but we’d like there to be more balance between the two in the future.”

Technological Growth

OMNI Systems is a powerhouse of printing capabilities. The company boasts 33 presses at its Cleveland headquarters and 66 overall throughout the four facilities. The equipment spans flexo, UV hybrid, and digital printing presses to automated turrets and splicers.

For flexographic work, 95% of OMNI Systems’ presses are Mark Andy. In fact, after recently installing a 26″ Mark Andy Performance Series P9 press, the company decided to invest in three more. 

For digital runs, OMNI Systems has a strong relationship with Domino. Over the years, the company has added multiple Domino K600i digital UV inkjet printing units. Most recently, in the last quarter of 2025, the company went with a Durst-Omet digital hybrid press to serve new markets. 

Martin Automatic has served as the backbone of OMNI Systems’ splicing technology, and ABG has provided the majority of the company’s turrets. Additionally, OMNI Systems is expanding with automated turret technology from LemuGroup.

“We expand and branch out with different suppliers because they fit different needs,” remarks Murton. “We worked very closely with Lemu when we brought in the first Mark Andy 26″ P9 Performance Series press. We’re working with them on the next presses we’re bringing in as well. We’re going to continue driving that model of getting wider and faster, so we can increase throughput and continue driving down costs for our customers.”

As OMNI Systems has grown into new prime labeling markets, the company has relied on new substrate suppliers. OMNI Systems continues to source substrates from Green Bay Packaging and Ricoh. Meanwhile, Avery Dennison has been a great asset in positioning the converter for growth in prime. “Avery Dennison is growing with us,” remarks Murton. “If you look across the industry, Avery Dennison probably has the widest breadth of product offerings, and they can handle our size volume on the secondary side.

“Going into prime has changed what we’re asking for and how we’re asking for it,” Murton continues. “On the prime side, we’re buying much smaller quantities and wait on customers to place orders before we produce. A lot of our secondary stuff we’re going to inventory, picking from inventory, and then replenishing. These are two models that require fundamentally different supply chain strategies.”

Automation and AI are critical for this forward-thinking converter, as well. “We’re working with equipment manufacturers on predictive maintenance, where the machine is telling you what you need to do,” explains Murton. “We’re trying to leverage technology and find out how it can help us become faster and more efficient in our operations.”

Culture Driven

OMNI Systems’ culture is what initially drew Murton to the business. Upon sitting down with DeFrancesco, the decision to join the company was an obvious one. 

“When I got the opportunity to interview with Adam, his passion and energy for the business was just contagious,” Murton recalls. “I care more about the company culture. I’ve worked in sales and customer service roles, and manufacturing, so I’m fairly agnostic to it. It’s about who’s leading the organization and what can I learn from them. And conversely, what can I bring to the organization so that I’m bringing value? It’s all about the company culture and the vision.”

The results are tangible. More than 65% of the employees with OMNI Systems boast a tenure of 10-plus years. Leadership is also open-minded, which has served the company’s culture well. “Organizationally across our leadership team, we don’t have emotional attachments to ideas and thoughts,” comments Murton. “In some organizations, people will say, ‘It’s my idea so I can’t say it was wrong.’ All the time, we’ll base our decisions on the data and understand maybe something was a good decision at the time but things have changed, or it was a bad call on someone’s part. We’re not going to keep running down the hill to a bad idea. We just pivot and change, which helps us be successful. No one is afraid to say it was a bad idea or we need to pivot.”

In addition, Murton has prioritized the company’s culture at each of the acquired facilities. The benefits have been mutual, as OMNI Systems and the other three locations enjoy shared knowledge. 

“We’re not just going in and saying it’s the OMNI way,” states Murton. “We’re allowing them to keep the processes and procedures they did well, and it lets the culture evolve where it’s not just the OMNI culture. We have a different culture today than we did pre-acquisitions because there are things we kept from those organizations’ culture and incorporated into ours.”

OMNI Systems also saved jobs throughout the acquired companies, specifically in the case of Honeywell. “Honeywell announced they were closing that facility, so all those people thought they were out of jobs,” Murton says. “We wanted to keep the facility going and retain the staff, so they were all about it. That move has been great from a culture standpoint. OMNI came in and helped those employees keep their jobs – and both sides were open-minded.

“We were competing with PE-backed companies for ITW,” he adds. “Our plan was not to shutter a facility, but to expand and build. We moved the St. Louis facility and tripled the size of it, and that’s ultimately what won us that deal. Same thing with Honeywell. Yes, they announced they had closed because they were trying to sell, but other people called just to buy the book of business. For us, the book of business was secondary. We wanted the people, the equipment, the know-how – and we think that’s a fit for us.”

OMNI Systems’ strong culture is also based on promoting from within. “If you go to our middle leadership group, almost everyone has been promoted from within. Our shop floor leaders ran the equipment that they’re now leading today. People who are in our middle management roles, like our estimating manager, started out running equipment or working in a support role. Our distribution manager started out doing rework for the company. So, we’re huge on developing and growing from within.”

Independence Day

OMNI Systems has benefited from both its size and a localized feel that allows it to remain nimble and quick. There have been considerable benefits to remaining independent. 

“We make decisions for the long term,” remarks Murton. “We understand that if we make a decision, it might not be the best in the near term, but in the long run we think it’s going to be best for the organization and ultimately serve our customers better.”

The recent decision to invest in multiple Mark Andy presses serves as the perfect example. “That was a 30-minute meeting,” notes Murton. “We sat down with Adam, and it was approved. It’s not going to happen that quickly with PE-backed companies. Our ability to outmaneuver our competition is what’s allowed us to grow in the marketplace. Anyone can buy a press, run it fast, and produce labels – but we are going to do it strategically. And we can pivot, adjust, and change to all the things that have happened in the last five years in the world. We can adjust quickly and adapt to those challenges.”

OMNI Systems sees additional benefits to retaining independence. “There’s definitely a sense of pride being independent – 100%,” states Murton. “I think when you look at our size, we’re probably the largest out there that’s still 100% privately-held by the family that founded the company. And even though we’re large, we still have that family-run organizational feel. People will still email Adam about various things. When we have family days, people have pride in showing their families the facility and what they do on a day-to-day basis.”