Labelexpo Europe 2017 will be hosting two educational master classes and a workshop in conjunction with the Label Academy, a training and certification program for the label industry. Focusing on MIS & workflow automation, shrink sleeve technology and inks, coatings and varnishes, the three training programs are aimed at print professionals and brand owners looking to enhance and further their technical printing knowledge.

Led by Mike Fairley, founder of the Label Academy, the MIS and Automation Workflow master class will be held on Tuesday, September 26 and feature presentations by sector experts from AVT, Cerm, EFI Radius, Esko, Label Traxx, OPM Group and Tharstern. Attendees will learn how a joined-up approach to electronically managing an efficient and profitable twenty-first century operation is able to offer an integrated management information solution. Providing both day-to-day problem solving and long-term strategic decision making, it will look at: fast accurate estimating, procurement, production planning and scheduling, workflow automation, asset data collection and post data analysis.

Running on Wednesday, September 27, those signed up for the Shrink Sleeve Technology master class will hear about the latest in the area's technology, markets and applications. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of design and origination requirements; find out about suitable shrinkable films; review the different printing processes and how to select them; gain an appreciation of the latest converting technologies and specialized applications and also find out about sleeve performance and quality, including troubleshooting and fault finding. Also headed up by Mike Fairley, there will also be presentations from Accraply, Esko, Flint Group and Klöckner Pentaplast.

Places are limited for both master classes which cost 636 euro (including VAT) and are five-hours long. The price includes the master class as well as a copy of the associated text book and an opportunity to take an online exam afterwards to earn a Label Academy certificate.

Scheduled for Wednesday, September 27, the inaugural Inks, Coatings and Varnishes workshop will show how inks, top and barrier coatings, primers and varnishes are being adapted and applied to modern narrow web converting operations using technologies such as flexo and offset. Workshop delegates will get an insight into how ink components interact with drying and curing technologies. Current legislation, including ink migration, will also be addressed, along with how to establish adhesion testing and quality assurance procedures.

The four-hour workshop costs 535 euro (including VAT) and will be presented by leading experts from the field of ink and coating technology with contributors from Flint Group, GSE Dispensing, Pulse Roll Label Products, RK PrintCoat Instruments, Siegwerk and Sun Chemical.

Jade Grace, Labelexpo Europe's project director, says: "The Label Academy classes are a very effective way of unlocking and topping up industry knowledge. This year's topics are very relevant to current industry trends and attendees will benefit from extending their technical and practical knowledge and build their confidence in understanding how the label and package printing sector works."

The Academy is the global training and certification program for the label and package printing industry and is supported by FINAT, the TLMI and LMAI. Consisting of a series of self-study modules, combining free access to a detailed synopsis, relevant articles and videos with paid-for text books, the Academy is sponsored by Cerm, Flint Group, Gallus, MPS, Taghleef Industries (Ti) and UPM Raflatac.