Paper to Stay Strong
February 2006
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With competition from alternate decorating methods on the rise, paper holds its own in the label market.
THERE'S GOT TO be more certainties out there than death and taxes, life is just too short. In the context of package printing, one thing for certain is that converters are continually being asked to print and deliver labels with quicker and quicker turnarounds. Knowing this as a constant in the formula of faster = better, printers are in a never-ending search for materials, equipment, and processes that will enhance their capabilities. For materials, statistics show that it's not always what's new that is better, as in the case of paper labels. Paper labels have been around for many, many moons and, even in the face of rival decorating methods and materials such as synthetics and other films, paper is still the front runner in many applications.
Paper attributes drive its use
The Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) 2004 North American Label Study (NALS) released last year emphasized the importance of staying on top of material opportunities so converters can not only keep costs down, but even more importantly, keep quality up. And according to the study, label converters and their customers are still reaching for paper, as opposed to many other choices available.
According to NALS, North American printers are reaching for paper at a growth of about 2 to 3 percent. In 2004, paper held almost half of the entire labelstock consumption market. Major applications for paper labels include personal care, household products, food, automotive, durable goods, pharmaceutical and beverage applications, including beer, wine, spirits, milk and water—a quick glance at any grocery store shelf will is a tell tale sign that paper labels have a strong hold and are here to stay. But why? There are many reasons, according to Don Berger, director, paper product management, Fasson Roll North America, a division of Avery Dennison.
"Some significant attributes that drive the success and huge presence of utilizing paper in labeling applications are: cost-effective performance, print quality, printing and converting friendliness, fit-for-use, range of performance, product variety, opacity, and flexibility," said Berger.
Paper-based labels have long dominated prime product applications and will continue to do so, agreed Shawn Easter, marketing manager, Acucote Inc. "Current equipment and tooling are set to run paper on paper constructions efficiently at high speeds. Until another substrate can compete on the basis of supply and pure cost, paper will remain a top substrate," he said. "Film materials are decreasing in cost and eating into the market share of paper, but are still regarded as 'a step up' in end-use performance."
THERE'S GOT TO be more certainties out there than death and taxes, life is just too short. In the context of package printing, one thing for certain is that converters are continually being asked to print and deliver labels with quicker and quicker turnarounds. Knowing this as a constant in the formula of faster = better, printers are in a never-ending search for materials, equipment, and processes that will enhance their capabilities. For materials, statistics show that it's not always what's new that is better, as in the case of paper labels. Paper labels have been around for many, many moons and, even in the face of rival decorating methods and materials such as synthetics and other films, paper is still the front runner in many applications.
Paper attributes drive its use
The Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) 2004 North American Label Study (NALS) released last year emphasized the importance of staying on top of material opportunities so converters can not only keep costs down, but even more importantly, keep quality up. And according to the study, label converters and their customers are still reaching for paper, as opposed to many other choices available.
According to NALS, North American printers are reaching for paper at a growth of about 2 to 3 percent. In 2004, paper held almost half of the entire labelstock consumption market. Major applications for paper labels include personal care, household products, food, automotive, durable goods, pharmaceutical and beverage applications, including beer, wine, spirits, milk and water—a quick glance at any grocery store shelf will is a tell tale sign that paper labels have a strong hold and are here to stay. But why? There are many reasons, according to Don Berger, director, paper product management, Fasson Roll North America, a division of Avery Dennison.
"Some significant attributes that drive the success and huge presence of utilizing paper in labeling applications are: cost-effective performance, print quality, printing and converting friendliness, fit-for-use, range of performance, product variety, opacity, and flexibility," said Berger.
Paper-based labels have long dominated prime product applications and will continue to do so, agreed Shawn Easter, marketing manager, Acucote Inc. "Current equipment and tooling are set to run paper on paper constructions efficiently at high speeds. Until another substrate can compete on the basis of supply and pure cost, paper will remain a top substrate," he said. "Film materials are decreasing in cost and eating into the market share of paper, but are still regarded as 'a step up' in end-use performance."
Companies Mentioned:
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Chemistry for the Graphic Arts
What the Printer Should Know About Paper