James Thomas · Head of Sales & Business Development · Focus Label · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Wayne Beckett from Inkish interviews James Thomas at Label Expo in Barcelona. James explains that his company, Focus, has developed a new water-based inkjet system for labels and packaging in collaboration with Simply Inkjet. Unlike previous attempts where material and coating costs were too high, this new system makes water-based inkjet viable and is currently in active development with projects already underway. It builds on Focus’s long experience with UV systems. It opens new opportunities in markets like food, pharmaceuticals, coffee cups, and other packaging applications where water-based solutions are preferred or required by legislation. The system can be adapted as a retrofit or built as a custom configuration with CMYK, white, precoating, and finishing units, making it suitable for complex applications like duplex pharmaceutical printing, fan folding, and peel-and-reveal labels.

All Focus machines are manufactured in Nottingham in their own facility with in-house design, assembly, and demo areas. James says the label market is challenging but still buoyant, with good growth in international markets like the USA. Recent collaborations, new agents, and partnerships with companies like Kuka and OK have helped expand their reach and bring more production back in-house for customers. He concludes that the new water-based system represents a major opportunity and that it’s exciting to bring innovative equipment to such a large trade show.