European printers printed 150% more digital labels in March 2020 compared to the previous month

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for businesses, labels continue to play an important role in the chain of production, supply, and use of everyday goods.

Labels are required for everyday goods: food, beverages, household and medical products, etc. It is a part of the supply chain and an important tool for transmitting information – it contains data on the weight of goods, their ingredients, control information, and general instructions.

European governments are trying to minimize the impact of the pandemic. They identify critical sectors of the economy that need to be given more leniency. According to the International Monetary Fund, which monitors countries’ policies in this area, packaging and labels are an integral part of the supply chain for healthcare and consumer goods.

Reliability of logistics and supply chains during the pandemic is a real problem for all medium and large manufacturers. The label plays an important role in ensuring the supply of food and pharmaceuticals that are critical to Europe.

However, Mike Fairley, founder of The Label Academy and Labels and Labeling magazine, in his article “Suggested guidelines on the role of labels in the essential supply chain during the Coronavirus pandemic“, notes that the label industry and the importance of its role in the supply of essential goods has been ignored. Manufacturers of labels, as well as materials, technologies, and printing solutions for their production, should be recognized as key suppliers when it comes to nutrition, treatment, and support for healthcare professionals.

FINAT, the European self-adhesive label association, also considers adhesive labels and flexible packaging to be key elements of the food and healthcare sector’s infrastructure. As FINAT emphasizes in its publication “Covid-19 Shared Best Practices and Experiences“, some of its members are acting quite decisively compared to those who are guided by the recommendations of local authorities and health institutions.

Label suppliers and manufacturers are working to ensure a continuous and safe supply of their products while customers are coping with the global crisis. Transportation is an extremely important issue. The European Commission is working closely with the European Parliament and border control organizations to ensure the transportation of goods across the EU during the pandemic. The European Commission has prepared a practical guide to ensure the continuous movement of goods along green lines in Europe, which also takes into account local restrictions adopted by individual countries.

All stakeholders are highlighting the impact of the coronavirus on the label market on their communication platforms. An example is Labels & Labeling, where companies provide updated information on the supply of their products and services to customers during the coronavirus. Sources of up-to-date information on COVID-19 include the Financial Times and data from Johns Hopkins University.

AIFEC, the Iberian Association of Label Manufacturers, believes that the sector will develop even more intensively after the pandemic. Its president, José Ramón Benitothis, says that the crisis has given rise to the label as a full-fledged product, as it brings value to brands, provides information to consumers, and allows for product traceability.

At Konica Minolta, we are keeping our finger on the pulse and publishing our own information on the impact of the coronavirus on the company’s products and services. We take care of the safety of our colleagues and their families while continuing to provide services and related services to our clients.

Despite the disappointing market situation related to the coronavirus, we have noticed some positive changes in our clients. Today, there are more than 500 AccurioLabel owners in the world, 200 of which are installed in Europe. Some AccurioLabel owners in Italy, Norway, Ukraine, the UK, and other countries have noted an increase in demand for digital labels.

According to our own research, in March 2020, the number of linear meters of labels printed on Konica Minolta AccurioLabel systems in Europe increased by 150% compared to the previous month. Of course, this sudden increase was caused by an artificial demand for food and disinfectants – people were stocking up on essentials. However, digital printing remains the only technology capable of delivering the fast print runs of short and medium runs of labels that manufacturers have come to need.

Jereleau: https://www.konicaminolta.ua/uk-ua/news/coronavirus-and-the-label-industry