LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Franz Kriechbaum · CEO · manroland Goss · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Morten Reitoft from Inkish speaks with Franz Kriechbaum of manroland Goss during LabelExpo in Barcelona. Franz explains that although many assume manroland Goss has struggled as web offset demand has declined, the company has adapted successfully by focusing on book production and high-speed finishing solutions. He notes that while global book market growth appears small, certain customers, especially in North America, are reporting double-digit growth in book printing, often still using decades-old web offset presses, which creates major upgrade opportunities. He highlights the company’s FormerLine and FoldLine systems, developed around 2015–2016, originally designed for long runs but now proving ideal for the new generation of high-speed inkjet printers. These digital presses are finally reaching the speeds the FormerLine was built for, up to 50,000 revolutions per hour in continuous operation, and manroland Goss has already sold about 20 units with demand rising strongly, especially from China. Franz adds that handling delicate papers at very high speeds is a core advantage, rooted in his team’s aerospace engineering expertise. At 60 km/h paper behaves like an airfoil, so manroland Goss uses air-film guidance and other advanced methods to ensure accuracy and stability, which gives them a competitive edge in high-speed web finishing versus traditional sheet-based or lower-speed competitors. He also discusses the global market outlook. Tariffs in United States add complexity, but manroland Goss can legally mitigate costs through software, local commissioning work, and close partnerships, keeping ROI attractive for US customers. Asia is becoming more active as well. Historically content with “good enough” technology, the region now seeks higher performance driven by inkjet growth, where manroland Goss already has proven solutions. While many still associate the company only with newspaper presses, Franz emphasizes their diversification. Alongside web offset, they now serve digital book production and are expanding into packaging. After years of underinvestment by the market, book printing is resurging, and manroland Goss’s experience with high-speed web paper handling positions them well to meet this new demand.

Chuck Schneider · CEO · Amtech Software · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Morten from INKISH is at Labelexpo in Barcelona and sits down with Chuck, CEO of Amtech Software. Amtech is well-known in the industry for its Label Traxx solution, serving converters worldwide. Chuck explains that Amtech is a 44-year-old software company operating in 43 countries, supporting over 1,200 plants across four key packaging segments: corrugated, folding carton, flexible packaging, and labels. Two years ago, Amtech acquired Label Traxx to strengthen its presence in the labels market, making Labelexpo a key event for connecting with partners and customers. Chuck shares that Amtech was recently acquired by Vista Equity Partners, one of the world’s largest software-focused private equity firms with over $100 billion in assets. Vista’s investment provides strong financial backing and deep software expertise, enabling Amtech to accelerate growth, migrate its portfolio to cloud-native platforms, and integrate artificial intelligence into its products. Vista evaluates each company with an annual AI maturity score, ensuring continuous innovation and alignment with cutting-edge technologies. Through Vista’s extensive network of software companies, Amtech benefits from shared knowledge, best practices, and access to proven tools—speeding up time-to-market and improving product quality. While Amtech already has a dominant presence in the U.S., the new investment aims to balance its footprint by expanding in Europe. Over the next 12 months, the company will hire around 50 people across EMEA in sales, support, services, and product development, ensuring closer, localized service for customers. Chuck emphasizes the importance of proximity, multilingual support, and local partnerships to meet regional needs effectively. He also notes that Vista’s funding allows Amtech to modernize its user interfaces, enhance mobility, and deliver cloud-first solutions that match the expectations of a new generation of users. The company’s strategy remains tightly focused on packaging, with a vision to be the global leader in technology and software for the packaging industry—backed by continuous product investment and customer trust. Discussing competition, Chuck says Amtech is confident in its product capabilities but differentiates itself through service, support, and long-term relationships. Many of their customers have stayed with them for decades, drawn by the company’s reliability and customer-centric approach. Reflecting on Labelexpo, Chuck describes it as a great success—an opportunity to meet new customers, build partnerships, and reconnect with industry peers. For him, the show feels like a “family reunion” where European and American teams come together to drive the industry forward. A conversation about innovation, global growth, and customer trust from one of the software leaders powering the packaging industry, recorded live at Labelexpo in Barcelona.

Simon Cooper · Founder & Managing Director · SimplyInkjet · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Five years ago, Simon Cooper set out with a clear mission — to help businesses get more from the machinery they already own. Today, as Managing Director of SimplyInkjet, Simon leads a team of experts who specialise in revitalising existing equipment through the seamless integration of industry-leading inkjet technology.

“We saw that many companies were facing the same challenge,” Simon explains. “They needed the benefits of modern inkjet solutions but couldn’t justify the cost, time, or disruption of investing in completely new machinery. We knew there had to be a better way.”

At SimplyInkjet, that “better way” comes in the form of innovative retrofitting solutions. By upgrading existing equipment with cutting-edge inkjet systems, the company unlocks new possibilities for mono and full-colour applications alike. The result? Enhanced performance, reduced costs, and a future-proofed production line.

“Our goal is simple,” says Simon. “We provide endless print solutions by giving our clients’ machinery a new lease of life. Whether it’s increasing efficiency, adding full-colour capabilities, or simply extending the lifespan of a production line, we’re here to make it happen.”

With a reputation for expertise, reliability, and forward-thinking innovation, SimplyInkjet continues to help businesses stay competitive in a fast-changing market — proving that sometimes the smartest investment isn’t new machinery at all, but unlocking the hidden potential of the equipment you already have.

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Jordi Giralt · Technology Sales Director, Labels · BOBST · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Wayne Beckett from Inkish interviews Jordi Giralt at LabelExpo 2025 in Barcelona. Jordi recently joined Bobst, starting in February 2025 as Zone Business Director for Southern Europe and becoming Head of Global Sales in July. He explains that Bobst entered the label market through its former Gidue flexo business, then expanded into digital by establishing the company Mouvent, and later merged this expertise to develop hybrid presses that combine both flexo and digital. Bobst is now strong in flexo and a market leader in hybrid, aiming to become one of the leading companies in the label sector overall. Jordi says Bobst’s approach is rooted in precision engineering and attention to detail, and they bring this mindset to every segment they enter. He explains that Bobst no longer brings machines to trade shows, choosing instead to focus on discussing customer applications and challenges rather than hardware. Customers can visit Bobst competence centers in Firenze, Switzerland, or Atlanta to see the machines in operation, while events like LabelExpo are used for one-to-one discussions about solutions. He emphasizes that Bobst increasingly tailors solutions to customer needs rather than just selling machines. Their new team of application experts works with customers to understand the products they want to produce and then designs end-to-end workflows and configurations to match. Jordi concludes that this solutions-driven approach reflects Bobst’s long-term strategy to become a leader in the label industry.

Thomas Schweizer · Global Head of Sales · Gallus · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Gallus Unveils Next-Generation Technology at Labelexpo 2025 At Labelexpo 2025, Gallus made waves with the launch of its flagship press, the Gallus Five, and we caught up with Thomas Schweizer, Global Head of Sales, to hear more. Thomas spoke passionately about the Gallus Five, which drew significant interest from visitors at the show. This high-performance press delivers speeds of up to 110 m/min and accommodates 340 mm and 430 mm web widths, offering a powerful solution for converters looking for speed, quality, and versatility. In addition to the Gallus Five, the company also introduced the Gallus Alpha, a new roll-to-roll label printing solution designed to meet the growing demand for shorter runs, faster turnaround times, and greater flexibility. Thomas also highlighted the Prinect workflow, which seamlessly integrates Gallus technology to simplify operations and boost productivity. His enthusiasm for the products was contagious, making it easy to see why he leads Gallus’s global sales efforts. With its new technology and forward-thinking approach, Gallus is clearly positioning itself as a leader in the future of label and package printing.

Marc Tinkler · Head of Product Marketing · Epson · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

At LabelExpo in Barcelona, Wayne from INKISH speaks with Mark Tingler, Product Marketing Manager at Epson, about their brand-new SurePress label press. Mark explains that the new SurePress uses water-based inks like its predecessors but now features a new 1200 dpi single-pass printhead, which delivers both higher resolution and much greater productivity. The machine also includes significantly enhanced automation — for example, fully automatic head maintenance and real-time nozzle verification: as it prints, it checks every nozzle. It compensates instantly for any issues to prevent print defects. Each SurePress ships with an Esko DFE for color management and workflow integration, and Fiery integration is being evaluated, especially in light of Fiery’s recent acquisition by Seiko. Mark notes strong interest at the show, with a unit already running at a customer site in Japan, another sold to a customer at LabelExpo, and more orders in the pipeline. He says the launch has been very positive and that they’re looking forward to more global installations soon.

Michael Matthews · Product Manager · Domino · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

At LabelExpo in Barcelona, Wayne from INKISH speaks with Michael Matthews, Product Manager at Domino, about the company’s newly launched entry-level digital label press. Michael explains that this new model, unveiled on the first day of the show, is aimed at converters stepping into digital for the first time or looking to add capacity and access new markets. Unlike N6 and N7, which target the medium and high-end segments with hybrid printing options, this new press is designed to be compact, fully integrated, and easy to use. It’s LED curing-based, offering lower power consumption, lower running costs, and faster setup with no external cabinets—so customers can get up and running quickly. He adds that they’ve seen strong interest not only from traditional label converters but also from textile and tag printers who want to move into digital label production. The press is positioned as the first step in Domino’s portfolio, giving newcomers a clear path to grow into more advanced systems later. Michael says the booth has been busy all week, and they’ve gathered many promising leads to follow up after the show.

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Manfred Pichler · Managing Director · Logett · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Language: German · Subtitles: German and English At LabelExpo in Barcelona, Morten from INKISH meets Manfred, who has just acquired his tenth finishing machine from Prati. Manfred explains that his company first invested in a Prati system in 2011 and has since added more almost every year because of the machines’ reliability and the excellent collaboration, service, and support the company receives. He runs three flexographic presses — including two from Nilpeter — plus a digital press, and uses the new Prati unit both for converting printed output and for producing blank labels. A key reason for choosing this model was its unusually wide 670 mm working width and its ability to handle rolls up to 1.2 m in diameter, which suits his logistics and food-sector customers by allowing very high output and fast turnaround. Unlike his narrower existing die-cutters, this wider system complements his 670 mm flexo press, making production more efficient. Manfred notes that in logistics, customers often reorder only when they use the last roll, so speed and consistent quality are critical. He says LabelExpo has been exciting, with many new technologies and familiar faces. The deal for the new machine was agreed about three months ago, and the unit was built specifically for him. Manfred is confident it will be a great addition to his production.

Steffen Haaga · Director of Global Business Development · CERM · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Morten Reitoft from Inkish meets Steffen from CERM at LabelExpo 2025 in Barcelona. They discuss the number of Latin American printers, especially from Mexico, attending this year, and how both have recently invested in the region to expand their reach, seeing it as a fast-growing and promising market. Steffen notes that while global uncertainty has slowed some decision-making, European customers currently remain confident and are actively investing. He agrees that the current US uncertainty has, in some ways, strengthened European momentum, with many companies choosing to invest themselves out of potential crises. Steffen reflects on how challenges can drive innovation and how the industry must keep evolving. They then revisit CERM’s recent acquisition of Omikai about six months ago, which he says has gone very well — the teams work smoothly together, their cultures fit, and Omikai’s strong infrastructure, combined with CERM’s label expertise, is already showing results. While Omikai will continue serving commercial print, CERM plans to build label, packaging, and flexo capabilities on top of it rather than narrowing its scope, expecting this will strengthen the core platform overall. They also discuss how CERM’s partner ecosystem continues to grow, with new collaborations announced at the show, including those with MPS and Durst Group. This integration focus reduces manual touchpoints, improves cost control, and boosts production efficiency. Steffen concludes that CERM sees growth globally: in Europe, North America, and especially in emerging markets like Poland, Italy, Spain, and across Latin America, where they now also have local-language teams — a sign that their strategy is working.

Patrick Berverling · Purchasing Manager · Geostick · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Morten Reitoft from Inkish interviews Patrick from Geostick at the CERM booth during LabelExpo in Barcelona. Patrick explains how he led Geostick’s transition to a paperless production workflow. About 1.5 years ago, when a printer breakdown halted production because physical job tickets couldn’t be printed, he questioned why they weren’t already paperless. Although the company already had digital job tickets and computers, they were still printing paper job bags. He faced skepticism from staff who had seen previous failed attempts, so his biggest challenge was cultural—getting people on board. He started small with just one press, gradually expanding to others. As operators saw the benefits, they began requesting to go paperless themselves. Now, Geostick is fully paperless, with major improvements: operators can update job data directly in CERM, information is instantly visible across both of their sites, and moving jobs between machines is far easier. This has increased flexibility, reduced errors, and improved productivity—especially on the front end. Previously, CSRs manually checked every order on paper; now, many orders are automatically validated by CERM without CSR involvement, freeing time and reducing mistakes. Patrick also notes their use of Infigo for a web-to-print shop, which allows customers to reorder and modify label jobs online—a big success, particularly for repeat orders. He concludes that going paperless has made Geostick far more efficient, responsive, and accurate, and there’s no going back.

Gouglas Gibson · CEO · Infigo · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Morten Reitoft from Inkish interviews Doug Gibson from Infigo at the CERM booth during LabelExpo in Barcelona. Doug explains how Infigo, traditionally known as a web-to-print platform for commercial printing, has spent the last 4–5 years actively adapting its system for the label and flexible packaging industry, which involves far greater complexity than flat-sheet commercial print. This journey began with early development work alongside Geostick and has since expanded to customers like Blue Label in the US, with feedback-driven development shaping the platform. Unlike larger software vendors who release features broadly and hope they fit, Infigo works closely with customers to prioritize and build only what solves their immediate, real-world needs. In labels, most larger converters currently focus on reordering workflows rather than first-time ordering with complex embellishments or die-cuts. Infigo’s role is to simplify the complex specification process and make repeat orders easy. The integration with CERM is key: Infigo can aggregate job data from multiple production sites (five or six, for example), display it in a single interface, and even enable load balancing between sites, while keeping CERM as the central MIS backbone. Doug highlights that the tight collaboration with CERM has been crucial. The companies have built trust through years of working together—even navigating the inevitable challenges—and this partnership has allowed them to deliver integrated, automated solutions that bring real value to converters like Geostick.

STEVEN YE · Founder & Owner · Spande · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Steve explains that Spander is based in Shanghai and has been developing printing and packaging machinery for 15 years. The company is showcasing three product lines at the show — the S5, S7, and AC series — with the S5 positioned as a compact, cost-efficient press and the S7 as their long-established flagship now in its fifth generation. He emphasizes that all machines are fully servo-driven, gearless, and designed for high quality, efficiency, and ease of use, which he sees as essential given the growing difficulty worldwide in finding skilled machine operators. Steve notes that Shanghai gives them access to strong industrial infrastructure and well-educated engineers, which has enabled them to build everything in-house from scratch rather than copying others. He acknowledges that Chinese manufacturers are sometimes seen as copycats but stresses that Spander has pursued its own designs from the start, aiming for fair, market-adapted pricing rather than low-cost competition. He sees automation as the main future trend and says the company has deliberately spent years strengthening its base before now expanding globally. Having already sold 60 S5 presses in just eight months, Spander is now seeking the right distribution partners across Europe and beyond to bring its technology to international markets.

Karin Enderle · International Sales Manager Packaging · manroland Goss · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Morten from Inkish speaks with Karin at manroland Goss during LabelExpo in Barcelona. With 40 years in print and packaging and only weeks into her new role, Karin traces the shift from long-run, sheetfed commercial work toward web, automation, and especially flexible packaging, now accelerated by brand demands and differing regional regulations. She walks through the configurable VARIOMAN concept on display: a non-stop unwind with flying splice, infeed and web cleaning, then as many offset units as a job requires, plus hybrid options such as an inline flexo station and gravure units for varnish, high-laydown whites, and barrier layers. A turn bar enables two-sided work. Curing is centered on electron-beam for food-safe, low-migration results, complemented by hot-air dryers and, where appropriate, UV or LED-UV. The sleeve-based press covers a wide repeat range up to about 43 inches, runs very thin and stretchable films for sleeves and flexible packaging, and can also handle folding carton; output can be roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet. Beyond packaging, the platform is being used for pharmaceutical leaflets on ultra-light papers down to roughly 27 gsm. Karin emphasizes that specifying one of these lines is a consultative process—scoping current and future needs, iterating configurations, and producing test prints—because the same modular press can be tailored to very different applications.

Julie Watson · CEO · Ultimate Tech · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Julie explains that Ultimate has been investing heavily in R&D over the past few years, expanding its solutions beyond commercial print into new segments such as labels, digital packaging, and wide format. The company’s goal is to eliminate manual prepress work by enabling full hands-free automation from web storefronts or MIS systems through to printing and finishing. At the booth, they are demonstrating automated label production with an HP Indigo press and a GM LC350 laser die-cutter, showing how their software dynamically handles mixed jobs, different shapes, sizes, barcodes, and changeovers all on a single roll. Julie notes that digital printing is changing the market by enabling shorter runs, personalization, and mass customization, while also creating complexity from managing many SKUs and batches—something Ultimate’s solutions can fully automate. The system can even manage extended content labels such as pharmaceutical booklets and handle batching and separation for multi-customer rolls directly from CSV or MIS data, with no manual touch points. She highlights Ultimate’s unique strength in centralizing workflows: instead of separate imposition software tied to each device, Ultimate offers a unified platform that can drive diverse applications—commercial, mailing, books, labels, and wide format—through a single pipeline. This reduces training and maintenance complexity while improving scalability. Julie adds that while many customers still run Ultimate on-premise, the software can also run in the cloud, on Windows, Mac, or Linux servers, and can dynamically scale for peak seasons. This flexibility allows customers to start small, expand capacity when needed, and process maximum volumes during high-demand periods. She concludes that this approach helps converters accept more orders, shorten turnaround times, and boost revenue during peak seasons.

Raymondo Duval · Ultimate Automation Facilitator · Ultimate tech · LabelExpo Barcelone 2025

Ray explains that Ultimate’s growing portfolio isn’t a burden but an advantage, because it all builds on the same core foundation: placing pages, objects, labels, and stickers on media automatically—whether it’s paper, plastic, or vinyl. While their functionality has broadened into labels, extended content labels, packaging, and prototyping, their focus remains automation and centralization, helping customers unify production across multiple print segments. He notes that many converters entering the booth face the same challenges seen years ago in commercial print: short runs, rising job counts, complex upstream metadata, and too many manual steps. Once they see Ultimate’s automation in action, they realize they can produce personalized and variable labels at scale without adding staff—freeing existing equipment to run more jobs. Ray adds that buyers of new digital presses often inherit multiple different DFE/imposition systems, which complicates training and maintenance. Ultimate solves this by centralizing all job preparation, including embellishment and finishing (like laser cutting), into one automated workflow—so customers don’t need separate tools per device. He concludes that this centralization lets converters diversify applications and grow their business using the same resources, and that the key message from LabelExpo is simple: automation, automation, automation.

Carmina Pinto · General Manager · Flexografica · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Jean Lloyd from Inkish speaks with Kamina Pinto from Flexographica at LabelExpo 2025 in Barcelona. Kamina explains that Flexographica is based in Guatemala and has been in business for 28 years, primarily as a flexo label printer. However, in recent years, they have also started producing small-quantity stand-up pouches and adopted digital printing about 14 years ago. The company handles a mix of large flexo orders and many small digital ones to meet the diverse needs of its customers, focusing on delivering consistent high quality at competitive prices. She says she is at LabelExpo to explore new technologies, particularly inkjet, which she sees as offering more vivid colors and potential differentiation compared to other digital systems. In Guatemala, she notes, there has not been much investment in new digital technologies, and Flexographica aims to be the first mover so others will follow. Kamina emphasizes that brands don’t usually dictate technology—they expect excellent quality—so it’s up to her team to guide them on what’s possible. She adds that while there are many solutions on display at the show, choosing the right OEM partner is critical because digital equipment requires long-term support and stability, not just a low upfront price. She concludes that she is looking for technology that can help Flexographica stand out from competitors by offering something different rather than competing solely on price.

Harald Jasper · Managing Director · ACTEGA Metal Print · LabelPrint Barcelona 2025

Morten from Inkish interviews Harald Jasper from Actega at LabelExpo in Barcelona about their breakthrough metallization technology, Ecoleaf. Harald explains that for years, metallization at the show was shown only as dummies, but this time it is running live on a press from Gallus. Traditionally, metallic effects were made using foil carriers, which generate large amounts of waste. Ecoleaf replaces the foil with metal flakes suspended in water: a binder is digitally printed and cured on the substrate, then metal flakes are applied and adhere to the binder, creating a glossy metallic surface comparable to foil. He says this method cuts the carbon footprint by at least 80% because it eliminates polyester film production, metallization, and transport. The gloss and reflection now match conventional foil, and when overprinted with inkjet, the results are striking. Harald notes that metal flakes themselves are recyclable and that Actega has received RecyClass certification confirming the recyclability of the finished products. Developed over eight years by a multidisciplinary in-house team, Ecoleaf is already shipping and can be mounted on almost any press—typically at the start of hybrid presses for overprinting with inkjet, or at the start of flexo lines for applications like spirits and whiskey labels. Actega’s focus now is scaling up from 8-hour runs to 24/7 production, expanding globally to support major brand customers, and developing new applications such as shrink sleeves and possibly cardboard. Harald emphasizes that big brands are increasingly driving the push for sustainable packaging, and Actega aims to meet that demand with Ecoleaf.

Christoph Gamper · CEO · DURST · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Morten from Inkish interviews Christoph Gamper, CEO of Durst Group, at LabelExpo in Barcelona. Despite the extreme heat in Hall 3, Christoph shares that business at Durst is just as “hot,” with the company continuing to grow and now having over 4,200 systems installed worldwide, including more than 550 digital label systems, and 33 owned companies. He explains that a collective mindset within the company drives Durst’s success—while they don’t aim to be the biggest, they strive to be the best in technology. Everyone at Durst has bought into this goal, creating what he describes as a big, happy family pushing forward together. Christoph says he spends little time in his office and is often traveling to meet customers, attend trade shows, and visit markets like China and the United States, ensuring he stays close to the market and to customers’ needs. He sees his role as leading the innovation roadmap while also “sniffing the markets” to deeply understand customer pain points, with Durst’s mission being to remove those pains. He credits Durst’s success to its strong mid-management, close collaboration between teams, and a culture where leadership actively engages with both staff and customers. He also outlines Durst’s expansion beyond labels into other areas, especially packaging, including corrugated and folding carton, through Durst Group’s partnership with Koenig & Bauer under Koenig & Bauer Durst. In addition, Durst remains committed to large-format printing, ceramics, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, and new ventures in software. Christoph highlights All4Labels as a customer and mentions being particularly proud of All4Site, a company he founded in New York, brought back to Europe, and which is now rapidly growing under Redstone Capital with major clients like Nike. He concludes that while not every segment develops at the same speed, Durst is growing strongly, expanding strategically, and maintaining its focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Chiara Prati · CEO · PRATI · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Wayne Beckett from Inkish interviews Chiara Prati at LabelExpo in Barcelona. Chiara is part of the second generation leading Prati, a company founded in 1973 by her father and now over 50 years old. She explains that Prati has long specialized in designing, manufacturing, and servicing finishing and converting machines for the label industry, later expanding into flexible packaging—and now, for the first time, also into folding carton.

At the show, Prati is launching the new Digifast 20000, a larger-format solution aimed at folding carton production. It complements their existing Jupiter modular platform, which mainly serves the food and beverage sector. Chiara says their stand showcases equipment covering all market segments—food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, security labels, logistics, and retail—demonstrating how Prati machines can handle a wide range of applications from narrow to mid-web. Each machine on display is running a job tailored to a specific market to highlight its versatility.

She adds that Prati operates globally through a strong distributor and service network, with a branch office in Dallas since 2018 to support the United States market. Chiara says the first day at the show has gone very well, with customers excited to see Prati’s move into mid-web solutions, which opens new business opportunities for converters. Wayne concludes by praising the impressive size of the Prati booth and the impact they’ve made at the show.

Robert Rae · Managing Director · GEW · LabelExpo Barcelona 2025

Wayne Beckett from Inkish interviews Robert Rae, Managing Director of GEW, at LabelExpo 2025 in Barcelona. Robert shares that the show has been incredibly busy, with GEW’s stand packed and orders already being placed. He explains that GEW is a global company turning over about £65 million annually, employing 160 people, and operating three factories in the United Kingdom. Their UV curing systems are installed in over 70 countries, with more than 100,000 UV lamps running worldwide, supported by 40 distributors who handle service and spare parts. While 60–70% of GEW’s business comes from OEM partnerships with leading press manufacturers—including Nilpeter—the other 30–40% is direct with end users, particularly for retrofitting older machines. The big focus at LabelExpo is GEW’s ArcLED technology, which allows users to easily switch from mercury-based UV lamps to energy-efficient LED curing. Robert explains that switching to LED delivers many benefits: 50–70% lower energy consumption, reduced CO₂ emissions, lower web temperatures, improved registration, no ozone extraction, lower maintenance, and more consistent process control. He notes that every GEW system made since 2015 using their Rhino or RLT power supplies is LED-ready. Retrofitting involves simply swapping the mercury cassette for an LED cassette and doing a quick software update, which can convert a press to LED in just one to two hours. The return on investment is typically under two years thanks to energy savings and efficiency gains, and customers can still switch back to mercury instantly if needed. Discussing the United States market, Robert says recent tariffs and currency fluctuations have created some uncertainty and dampened customer confidence. Still, GEW continues manufacturing in the UK and is working closely with partners to minimize the impact on customers. He concludes by noting that with LED now making up about half of GEW’s production—and over 3,000 LED modules built for the narrow web market last year—the shift to LED has become a clear industry standard.

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