The new study analyzes current demand for sleeves in the labeling arena. Their present 12 percent share of the world labeling market is estimated to grow at an annual 4.5 to 5 percent CAGR to 2015. This is the highest projected growth rate for all labeling types, and places the technology as a prime competitor to pressure sensitive labels in premium product labeling applications. Heat shrink sleeve formats dominate usage, with 76 percnt of the market.
The AWA report examines the technology and materials base prevalent across the various sleeving methods. Globally, PVC remains the most-favored material, but with materials such as PET-G, OPS, and developments in film co-extrusions, as well as environmentally acceptable materials such as PLA, the field is broadening.
The study reports on regional market developments in Europe, North America, Asia, South America, and the rest of the world, by technology: heat shrink, stretch sleeve, and RFS/ROSO/MD shrink sleeves. It then drives down into material, printing and conversion, and application trends, and pinpoints future directions. It concludes with a directory of printers, labeling machines, and consumables.