With the explosion of COVID-19, hand sanitizer, foam soaps, wipes, PPE, protective packaging and safety messaging has increased the need for labels in various forms. The demand for hand sanitizer alone has increased by 1400 percent from December 2019 to February 2020 period and Fior Markets has forecasted to 2.14 billion USD by 2027.
This need has created a production boom to the label and self-adhesive print industry.
COVID-19 and Essential Label Printing
Label printers supply and service ‘essential’ operations, such as food, beverage, medicine, pharmaceutical, medical equipment and in-demand products providing warnings, advisories, ingredient and allergen information, for consumer and industrial products.
Adhesive floor graphics for public gathering
The demand for labels in shrink sleeve and pressure sensitive has expanded as well as larger self-adhesive applications for floor signage, window cling messaging and packaging labels.
No Time For Delays
Digital and inkjet processes have provided a process which high speed and on demand labels can be produced without any delays in film or platemaking for paper, vinyl, polyester, polypropylene, satin, fluorescent or foil labels.
Production has increased from wide format to liquid toner based such as Indigo to narrow web inkjet UV inkjet printers. Such devices utilize a total digital workflow from art to production print. A total digital process eliminates the need for films or plates in the process, eliminating make ready, increasing time from art to finished product.
More than ever before have we seen such a benefit with moving production to totally digital production. It has allowed our essential printers to produce labels swiftly for such an important cause. I am proud to be a part of an industry whose essential services make such a large impact to so many industries which had to change so abruptly.
In a time of need we cannot afford production delays. Sweet Brown says it best….