Belgian printing company and IML technology provider Verstraete is planning to open an office in Southeast Asia by the year end, to cater to the market. “We have not decided if it will be in Singapore or Malaysia,” Business Development Manager Dieter Maes told PRA. The firm claims a 35% market share globally and has a turnover of EUR90 million, only in IML. “We print 40 million labels/day and ship 30% outside Europe,” said Maes, adding that the firm first produced in mould labels in 1990.

Maes, who was speaking at a recent open house organised by Frigel/Engel in Thailand, also added that the IML technology is “useful in Asia, since quick design changeovers are required as in Asia forecasts are difficult to make. This means that decorating in the mould makes it easier to change from one label to another.”

Some innovations include in-mould labels with an oxygen barrier for increased shelf-life; with a light barrier to maintain the food flavour without the need for preservatives; Superclear IML “that looks like there is no label”; and a metallic effect “for differentiating the product.”

Maes also highlighted the double-sided printed label, which allows the possibility of adding information on the reverse side of the label, and a peelable label that increases the reusability of the packaging container.