The Africa Print expo, taking place from 7-9 September at Gallagher Convention Centre, will feature packaging and digital printing solutions from leading brands. It will also provide a range of educational touch-points that are designed to invigorate print solution providers, giving them free access to a variety of topics and deliver insight on the latest technologies, trends and business opportunities.
According to Dr. Harvey R. Levenson a Professor Emeritus and former Department Head of Graphic Communication at Cal Poly State University, the only industry segments not negatively impacted by the Internet and WWW are those related to packaging, and specifically: Label Printing, Folding Carton Printing, Flexible Package Printing, and Corrugated Box Printing.
'The packaging industry is growing rapidly, and does not show signs of slowing down any time soon. According to the Smithers Pira 2013 report, 'The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2018', the estimated worth of digitally printed packaging in 2013 was R90 billion ($6.6 billion), and forecast to more than double to reach R180 billion ($14.4 billion) by 2018, said Levenson. 'Labels accounted for the bulk of digital printing market share in 2013, with their value being R87 billion ($6 billion), or 89.6 percent of all digital packaging. Today, label and packaging converters worldwide invoice over R30 billion ($2 billion) annually for the output of their color digital presses. While about 95 percent of that value is for labels for consumer goods, the folding carton and flexible packaging applications are also growing rapidly through digital printing.'
Levenson stated that the three traditional processes for package printing, flexography, gravure, and lithography, will continue to be vital and needed, particularly for static and long-run printing. However, their market share will gradually diminish as digital printing processes advance in size, speed, and flexibility.'
The Africa Print Expo is an ideal opportunity for visitors to take advantage of the major growth point of packaging. The expo is co-located with Africa LED, FESPA Africa and the Sign Africa Expo. Entrance to the expo is free. For more information and to pre-register online, visit www.africaprintexpo.com.
