FINAT has rebranded its annual congress to reflect greater industry collaboration with a new name, the European Label Forum (ELF), which will take place on 11-13 June 2015 Amsterdam.
‘The annual congress has historically presented key industry updates and insight,’ explained Kurt Walker, president. ‘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.’
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 features in the ELF will be the series of three parallel programme streams on the first day of the conference, offering a choice of top level expert speakers on three areas of expertise; sales and marketing, technology and manufacturing and management and corporate affairs. Also new will be a plenary workshop that will take the shape of a lean manufacturing game and exercise during the closing session of the event.
‘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,’ added Mr. Walker.
‘There will be ample opportunity to network so that delegates can share ideas amongst themselves and leave with a clearer idea of how they can make a difference when they return to their operations. We also believe the ELF will help attendees build new relationships that will enable them to interact with like-minded business leaders beyond the conference, collaborating on new ways of working to ensure a long-term profitable future.’
The forum will be the stage for presentation of FINAT’s annual awards, too, including the FINAT Label Awards and Recycling Award.
