Choosing the right label press for your business

In the quickly expanding label printing market, selecting the right press for your business is a critical decision that can determine your future success.

According to intelligence firm Future Market Insights, the global labels market is projected to reach a value of USD 121.5 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 4.7%. With such significant growth projections, positioning your converting business with the right equipment is essential to capitalize on emerging opportunities.

This expansion is being driven by several key factors. Consumer demand for product information is elevating label requirements, with increased health consciousness pushing brands to provide more detailed, transparent information. Additionally, there’s a growing need for product traceability in various industries, particularly food and pharmaceuticals, further fuelling demand for sophisticated labelling solutions.

Understand your business DNA

No two label printer converters are identical – each has unique capabilities, market advantages, and specific customer demands that shape their production requirements. Before investing in a new press, take time to analyze what makes your business unique.

Are you targeting short-run specialty labels with high embellishment? Or perhaps you excel at high-volume, standardized production? Your existing workflow, technical expertise, and market position should all influence your equipment selection.

Customer base is equally important. Brand owners increasingly demand shorter runs, quicker turnarounds, and greater versatility, but the specifics vary greatly between sectors. Future Market Insights reports that the food industry dominates the labels market with a share above 28%, highlighting the importance of understanding sector-specific requirements. Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and e-commerce each have distinct labelling needs that may influence your technology choices.

The BOBST label press portfolio

BOBST offers a comprehensive range of label and packaging press technologies designed to match diverse converter needs across the entire production spectrum. While some platforms are built specifically for label production, others, like CI flexo, serve wider applications and can support converters expanding into adjacent markets.

Inline Flexo Options

BOBST also offers inline flexo solutions that provide flexibility and quality in equal measure. The VISION M1 includes key value-adding automation features, and the MASTER M5 and M6 models offer exceptional short-run profitability, versatility and productivity for complex label and flexible packaging applications.

Choose an inline flexo press if you need a robust, proven platform for mid- to long-run jobs with high efficiency and low waste, especially when your workflow depends on fast changeovers, versatility, and high-quality embellishment in a single pass. Inline flexo is ideal for converters looking to balance automation with operational flexibility.

All-in-One Solutions

The DIGITAL MASTER series (available in 340mm and 510mm widths) represents BOBST’s flagship All-in-One technology. These presses combine digital inkjet printing with conventional flexo units, embellishment, and converting – all in a single pass. With modular, upgradable architecture, they provide remarkable flexibility for converters managing varying run lengths and complex requirements.

What distinguishes these machines is their seamless integration of digital and analog technologies with exceptional automation. The DIGITAL MASTER 340 is perfect for daily production needs, while the wider 510 model handles higher throughput and larger formats. Both enable converters to produce anything from one to one million labels efficiently and cost-effectively.

Choose All-in-One solutions when you need maximum agility, from ultra-short to medium runs, with minimal operator intervention. If your business serves diverse customers with variable SKUs, frequent design changes, and tight delivery windows, this technology helps to keep your business competitive, agile and future-ready.

CI Flexo Presses

Central Impression (CI) flexo presses like the VISION CI, EXPERT CI, and MASTER CI are primarily designed for wide web flexible packaging applications in medium to long-run production. These platforms deliver exceptional print quality, speed, and consistency, making them ideal for converters serving high-demand sectors like food, beverage, and household goods.

While not label presses by definition, CI flexo solutions can support converters looking to diversify their portfolio beyond labels and into flexible packaging, especially where high-volume, standardized production is required.

Choose CI flexo when your focus is wide web flexible packaging and you need maximum throughput, precision, and process stability for long-run applications.

Making the right choice

When selecting your ideal press, consider these key factors:

  • Volume requirements: Match your typical order sizes with the optimal press technology
  • Application diversity: How many different label types and substrates do you handle?
  • Changeover frequency: How many jobs do you run per day?
  • Available expertise: Do you have specialist operators for different technologies?
  • Growth trajectory: Which markets are you planning to expand into?
  • Sustainability goals: The right technology can help to reduce waste and energy use through the production process

With pressure-sensitive labels projected to hold a 72.5% market share by 2035 according to Future Market Insights, and digital printing technology expected to capture over 45% of the market, understanding these evolving trends is critical when making equipment investments that will serve your business for years to come.

The BOBST Vision advantage

Ultimately, the right label press isn’t simply about specifications – it’s about alignment with your business goals, operational strengths, and market positioning. The BOBST technology portfolio is built around the four pillars of connectivity, digitalization, automation, and sustainability – providing converters with the tools to meet evolving market demands efficiently.

By taking a strategic approach to this decision and leveraging BOBST’s comprehensive portfolio, you can position your business for long-term success in the dynamic and growing label printing industry, capturing your share of the projected $121.5 billion market opportunity by 2035.