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have been “growing up” and becoming
more professional. In VskE, for example,
we have two annual congresses, and several
working group committee meetings every
year. Networking and communication are
our two keywords. And today, there is a
real need to talk to each other across the
geographies and across the industry – to discuss issues and
opportunities. FINAT has made this pan-European connection
not only possible, but a functional reality. Working together is
now essential because, in this dynamic, increasingly globalised
industry which is experiencing fundamental technology
change, we can’t now do anything meaningful on our own in
terms of coping with future challenges.’
Francesc Egea (Spain)
is outgoing
Chairman of the FINAT Young Managers
Club, member of the FINAT and ANFEC
Board and, in the latter capacity, he is also a
member of the NAB. He is enthusiastic
about the board’s role in facilitating
meaningful dialogue between the
converters at a local level, the national associations
themselves, and FINAT because, he says, ‘this is an excellent
way to jump over walls and break down barriers…! It means
we can all talk about the many important issues we have in
common, and the NAB meetings are the link that enables us to
do so in a direct and relaxed way, and makes opportunities for
lots of debate!’
global
and
local
In a world where globalisation is now a fact, the small and
medium-sized companies that kick-started this industry are
experiencing not only the opportunities of cross-border
trading, but also international partnerships, mergers, and
acquisitions. They also face challenges that come with entry
into the international arena: price pressures from global brand
manufacturers and retail groups; an evolving global
environmental agenda; and technology change. These are key
areas which are likely to challenge a local or regional
organisation, but where the NAB and its
member associations can now benefit
enormously from a shared information and
knowledge base, defined and initiated by
themselves with the practical, enabling
support of FINAT. Comments NAB
member
Aydin Okay (Turkey), from ESD
:
‘The NAB gives us a chance to use common experiences across
Europe to solve our own specific local problems. It’s great to
be part of the team that’s steering this initiative.’
Francesc Egea confirms: ‘In the last few years, the
collaboration between our association and FINAT has indeed
been much more active. This is a changing marketplace, and
cross-border trading has become a normal practice. Working
in a broader geographical context with our sister associations
and FINAT has put our ANFEC converter members in touch
with a wider portfolio of suppliers; helped us benefit from
others’ best practice experiences; and, of course, kept us
abreast of the status of international regulations. And ANFEC
plans to help more Spanish label converters to visit Labelexpo
this year, by subsidising their hotel and travel costs.’
One national association that has revived
after several years in decline is the UK
association, BPIF Labels, which is chaired
by
John Bambery (UK)
, now also an NAB
member. He says: ‘While our national
association is able to provide services to its
own supplier and converter members, in
today’s ever-shrinking world, FINAT provides a platform which
enables cross-country issues to be addressed and solutions to
be found, without duplication of effort.’
The Italian label association, GIPEA, is
enthusiastic about the increased
communications from FINAT which, says
its President and NAB member
Domenico
Tessera Chiesa
, have ‘turned out to be a
true connection with our national
association.’ GIPEA now includes an
update on FINAT activities as a standing agenda item for its
annual congress. Domenico adds: ‘On top of this, it has been
possible to share experiences, studies, activities, and data on a
European basis, which I believe has great value.’
Representing the French association
UNFEA on the NAB is
Dominique Durant
des Aulnois
. ‘The collaboration with
FINAT has helped to create a pathway for
improved political weight in Europe (the
release liner result is a good example), and
has really brought us together with our
sister associations in Europe.’
Locally, the national associations are busy. UNFEA, for
example, is promoting the expertise of its members with its
own label competition, technical guides to various aspects of
labelling, and an annual congress attracting more than 150
participants. It is actively recruiting new members, and has
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FINAT YEARBOOK
2013
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