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5 March 2019

European Label Forum 2019 targets young professionals' needs

The young people in the label industry face big challenges in today’s label and packaging world – more than ever before meeting the needs of young managers and future employees is an issue being focused on at the FINAT European Label Forum 2019 (June 5 to 7, Copenhagen, Denmark). The programme of this label event will answer questions like “What will our future workforce look like?”, “How do smart and active labels fit into the conventional label world?” or “What can be learned from our customers and how can we integrate them?”.

The FINAT ELF 2019 discusses hot topics like:

  • smart/active packaging including Augmented Reality
  • sustainability issues like recycling plastics
  • recruitment of young talent

Talent gap, smart opportunities, and sustainability are also the overall keywords of the European Label Forum 2019 and will take inspiration from FINAT’s young talent competition #LABELicious accepting entries till mid-May (see www.labelicious.eu). By meeting peers in Copenhagen at the three-day event, further topics such as the latest market data, customer management, personal branding or value proposition will be discussed on stage and also during the breaks and evening events.

What keeps label manufacturers and managers awake at night?

The future of the European label and narrow web packaging industry is also the key issue of the ‘Converter-only roundtables’. Label manufacturing company executives are invited to discuss strategic topics relevant to the future of the European label and narrow web packaging industry, rotating from table to table. Topics are based on an online member survey to be launched two months before the event, and which will take place the afternoon before the official start, on June 5.

 Especially two of the three parallel business learning sessions - track 1 “The smart future of labels” and track 3 “Connecting with our target audience” – are highly interesting for young managers and future young managers. Not only highly relevant issues for young managers are covered, but also young managers are talking on stage like Matthias Vollherbst from Germany.

“The smart future of labels”

Smart labels and packaging offer significant opportunities and could disrupt all types of products; so track 1 of the Thursday afternoon (6 June 2019) learning session will focus on the smart revolution that will be a reality for our future workforce, covering topics like Augmented Reality, Industry 4.0 and more.

”Capturing Value from the Smart Labels & Packaging Revolution” is the title of the presentation by Tim Paridaens, Director in Deloitte Consulting. The expert in technology-enabled business process transformation, Industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT) and Digital Supply Chains will outline the various types and applications with examples from the field. But the real question is how to master the innovative business models, overcome the challenges, accelerate innovation and maximise the value of ‘smart’ – Tim will explain his point of view.

Subsequent speaker Matthias Vollherbst is a board member of the German family company VollherbstDruck GmbH, and a member of FINAT’s Young Managers Club Board. Matthias will report from the recently launched Augmented Reality App “LABELinmotion” and his initial findings. With this new app, label customers can create their unique customer experience. What does it take to enter the tech space coming from the conventional label world? And what is the business case for AIP in product marketing?

“Connecting with our target group”

Koos Wurzer from Danone will outline what small and independent (family) enterprises can learn from a corporate player’s journey to close the talent gap. Titled with “What can recruiters learn from a large FMCE customer?” his presentation will cover Danone’s ‘Talent 2020’ programme and how the company sets new standards on how to win over young talent by giving top priority to talent recruitment and development.

Personal branding instead of content marketing: During the learning sessions of ELF 2019 Alastair Banks, Founder of digital marketing agency Optix Solutions, will discuss why personal branding is so important in B2B marketing and which steps are necessary to set-up a company’s platform to connect with peers and prospects.

European Label Forum 2019 by FINAT

Taking place this year from June 5 to 7 at the Scandic Copenhagen Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, the European Label Forum is an annual event hosted by FINAT. Its programme offers a unique source of knowledge, experience and networking key to the strategic success of label and narrow web flexible packaging businesses, especially for young managers and potential future employees.

Early bird fees are available for converters till 1st April. Full details of the ELF 2019 programme and how to register are available online

Do you want to know what such a label event looks like? Take a look at the Aftermovie from the European Label Forums in 2018: https://youtu.be/N6RJ5W7mNvU