U.K.-based Tarsus Group’s biennial Labelexpo Asia broke all previous records and had its largest show ever when it ran Nov. 29–Dec. 2 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

The four-day event attracted 18,019 visitors, a 9-percent increase, compared with the 2009 event, as well as 270 exhibitors, up 20 percent, compared with 2009.

“We would like to thank everyone involved with Labelexpo Asia for their support and contribution in making 2011’s show the greatest yet,” said Roger Pellow, Labelexpo managing director.

He added, “Not only has the show matured, it has grown to a new level where it is attracting top level executives and decision makers to do business on site; underlining its value as the leading platform to do business, network and see the latest technology.”

One major appeal of the show was all of the new product launches on the showfloor, including companies such as Omen, Xeikon and UPM Raflatac showing off their wares to attendees and press.

The conference component of the event also was in high demand, with speakers  Jouko Lähepelto, senior vice president Americas and Asia Pacific at UPM Raflatac, and Dean Scarborough, chairman of Avery Dennison Corporation, giving presentations, to name a few. 

Sessions were filled with people as key industry trends were examined, technologies debated and best practice customer case studies shared, according to Labelexpo show management.

Also driving growth on the showfloor were more international companies.

"Interestingly this year, we are seeing Chinese manufacturers increasingly look at opportunities outside of the domestic Chinese market as we’ve taken exhibitor bookings for our other major international shows.” Pellow said.

He added, “In addition, the environment and digital printing technology is of growing interest on their business agenda. The marketplace is becoming ever more competitive, and the Asian label industry is sure to challenge the market share dominance of Western Europe and Northern America sooner than predicted.”

Overall, exhibitors gave the show positive reviews:

Vicki Yan, who works for Dow Corning, said: “Dow Corning sponsors each global Labelexpo in Europe, Chicago, India and Asia. We value this event as an industry focused and good platform for the label and printing industry. Labelexpo Asia 2011 was a successful show, which gathered the full value chain of customers and suppliers.”

Joe Zhou, who works for Omet, said, “The exhibition was well organized, and our expectations were met, and we got to know more potential clients. The machine we exhibited has been ordered and sold during the exhibition.”

Roberto Galbiati, who works for Re S.p.a. Controlli Industrial, said, “Labelexpo Asia has again been a great experience for us, and we received known and unknown customers and collected more than 100 leads. It was interesting to see how many new machine builders are coming up and how the label market needs to be developed for the opportunities the Chinese market can offer.”

Tarsus Group runs seven Labelexpo-branded shows and summits worldwide, including Labelexpo Americas on tap Sept. 11-13 in Rosemont, Ill.