Regardless of the product, suppliers have long touted how their newest innovation will drive efficiency for label converters. We often talk about the latest trends in the industry – automation, AI, sustainability, among others – but we can add a theme: efficiency. All the latest trends are designed to promote efficiency in the workplace. The goal: produce higher quality more easily and with less investment.

In many cases, the newest technologies do exactly that. Digital printing eliminates the extensive make-ready that would be required to produce an ultra-short run flexographically. Meanwhile, less waste – sustainability – benefits the bottom line, as well. Automation delivers greater speed and accuracy amidst a labor shortage. Even a thinner substrate can allow more labels on a roll – which translates to less transportation costs. There are efficiency gains all over this industry.

Even with artificial intelligence (AI), experts have frequently said that the technology leverages the playing field for smaller companies competing with larger conglomerates. The industry is steadfast in doing more with less, and technology will create success throughout if deployed properly.

For Harmonized Label Solutions, this month’s Narrow Web Profile on page 40, technology helped get the company off the ground with just three employees. “I had always felt hybrid was a good platform for the business that we had,” says Brian Boecklen, founder and co-owner. “You’re not running three million labels, you’re printing multiple SKUs with lots of color and lots of changes. But it’s not just lots of SKUs but SKUs that change all the time. Vitamin supplements, shampoos, their ingredients change all the time. I honestly didn’t want to get caught up making plates, so going flexo just wasn’t a fit for my customer base.”

The highlights of L&NW’s January/February issue all revert back to efficiency. Matrix removal equipment and sustainable substrates certainly play their role, as do the latest innovations in static control. 

For example, utilizing manual matrix waste removal processes is associated with numerous inefficiencies. “Converters without automated removal often compensate by running wider web stock than necessary to stabilize the matrix,” says Kevin McCloskey, president, Trim Waste Management (TWM). “That added edge trim improves roll integrity, but it also means more material consumption and more waste. Over time, that adds up in both costs and inefficiencies.”

Efficiency can be found throughout the label and packaging supply chain. While walking the halls at Labelexpo Europe 2025, many of the booths highlighted the newest trends. Ultimately, these trends are designed to make printing easier and more efficient. That mantra should continue as a core theme for 2026.

Greg Hrinya, Editor
ghrinya@rodmanmedia.com