FINAT was founded in 1958. It has rather a lot of experience driving it and a very comprehensive view of the evolution of the self-adhesive label industry in its kit bag.
So it has reshaped and rebranded its annual congress to reflect the trend towards greater industry collaboration and cooperation it has noted. Under its new name, the European Label Forum (ELF) will take place June 11-13 2015, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Kurt Walker, FINAT president, explained, “The annual congress has historically presented key industry updates and insight. However, we want to enhance the value of our annual event for business and opinion leaders from around Europe and beyond. This is why we have chosen to ‘re-brand’ the conference as The European Label Forum. The new format will provide insights to attendees on items of relevance for strategic decision making, by connecting different areas of interest and expertise through dialogue and interaction. Sessions will also map the key transformations reshaping the industry, and in doing should help them to identify the opportunities and challenges. In other words, the ELF will offer a unique source of knowledge, experience and networks key to the strategic success of label businesses in an international business environment.”
The panel of keynote presenters will include:
- Herman van Rompuy, former EU President and Belgian Prime Minister;
- Rasmus Ankersen, entrepreneur and bestselling management author;
- Ramses Dingenouts, Senior Packaging & Identity Design Manager at Heineken;
- Gordon Crichton, Director of the French Procurement Management Institute (MAI).
There will also be a first-hand preview of the 3rd edition of the FINAT RADAR, the association’s half-yearly market overview to be published after the ELF.
One of the new congress features is a series of three parallel programme streams on the first day of the conference: sales and marketing, technology and manufacturing, and management and corporate affairs.
The closing session will include a plenary workshop that will be presented as a lean manufacturing game and exercise.
“Presenting trends and underscoring market influences is the key role of this event, but the value is in truly understanding how they will impact day-to-day business and shape the future. With topics like ‘the new reality of retailing’, ‘label design that makes products sell more’, ‘competing product decoration technologies’, ‘3D printing business models’, ‘succession planning’ and ‘how to sell your business?’ we are aiming to offer direct business value to a variety of label industry audiences and we are therefore encouraging label printers to consider participating with multiple members of staff to take advantage of this opportunity,” Walker added.
The 2015 forum will also play host to FINAT’s annual awards, including the FINAT Label Awards and Recycling Award.
Everything you need to know may be downloaded here.
