Polski
New Flexo Press in Kraków and a Global Boom in Smart Labels
This week in the labeling industry reveals two faces of the same trend: a local investment in a modern machine park and global data confirming that labels are no longer just information carriers, but increasingly active elements of the digital supply chain. We look at what's actually changing at a Kraków label printing house and why market analysts are now focused above all on RFID, NFC, and QR codes — technologies we'll see live in just a few months at the Labeling-Tech Poland 2026 trade fair.
01 · Print Investments
Omeko Papier Invests in a New Flexo Press in Kraków
Omeko Papier, part of Schades Group, has launched a new production line at its Kraków plant built around a Mark Andy E5 flexographic press [1]. The machine is equipped with the ABG Vectra AutoSet inline automation system and replaces an older, mechanical Mark Andy P3 unit that had previously handled part of the plant's orders [1]. This is already the second Mark Andy press operating at this site, a clear sign of how consistently the company is committing to a single, proven flexographic printing platform [1].
The new line is designed to handle a broad product portfolio: product and industrial labels, tags, and materials both with and without liner [1]. For the company's management, the investment delivers three key benefits: greater production flexibility that allows faster response to fluctuating customer orders, a marked reduction in changeover times, and less production waste thanks to automatic print parameter setting [1]. The investment also fits into Schades Group's broader strategy, which has recently seen the company modernizing its flexographic plants in Germany as well — a signal that the expansion of production capacity in Europe is picking up pace [1].
This is yet another sign that Polish label printing houses aren't slowing down when it comes to modernizing their machine parks. Investments in changeover automation — once the domain of only the biggest players — are becoming standard even at mid-sized plants, for which shorter runs and a growing number of label versions are now the everyday reality rather than the exception.
02 · Smart Labels
Smart Labels Are Growing Alongside Supply Chain Digitization
Speaking of automation — the latest market report shows a similar direction, only on a global scale, in the smart labels segment [2]. The smart labels market, which covers RFID and NFC labels, QR codes, and sensor-equipped labels, is growing on the back of ongoing logistics digitization, rising product traceability requirements, and regulations such as the EU's Falsified Medicines Directive [2].
From a technological standpoint, RFID remains the largest and most mature segment, while retail is cited as the leading sector for its adoption [2]. The report's authors also point to the growing integration of labels with IoT platforms and cloud computing, which is opening up new applications — from product authentication to more effective anti-counterfeiting measures [2]. Companies named among the leaders in this segment include Avery Dennison and Zebra Technologies, among others [2].
The geography of this growth is also worth noting: Europe stands out as a region developing primarily on the back of strict regulatory requirements around product traceability, while Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market of all, driven mainly by the dynamic rise of e-commerce and growing consumer expectations around supply chain transparency [2]. For label printers and converters, this is a clear signal of where demand is heading — customers today expect a label to do more than just print correctly; they want added functionality too, whether that's product identification, anti-counterfeiting authentication, or monitoring transport conditions directly from the packaging itself.
Summary
Summary
This week shows the labeling industry advancing on two fronts at once. On one hand, we have concrete, local investments in modern flexographic machinery, like the one at Omeko Papier in Kraków; on the other, the global rise of smart labels, which are transforming the label's role from a simple information carrier into an active element of the digital supply chain. Both of these threads will come together live at the International Labeling Technology Fair – Labeling-Tech Poland 2026, where you'll see the latest label printing and finishing machinery alongside RFID, NFC, and anti-counterfeiting systems presented by leading industry suppliers. We look forward to seeing you there!
Invitation
Want to see machines like the Mark Andy E5 and the latest RFID, NFC, and anti-counterfeiting solutions live? Visit the International Labeling Technology Fair – Labeling-Tech Poland 2026 and meet the suppliers shaping the future of labels and packaging. You'll find both flexographic machinery manufacturers and the technology companies driving supply chain digitization.
Labeling-Tech Poland 2026Przypisy
[1] PrintNews.pl — https://printnews.pl/omeko-papier-wzmacnia-produkcje-etykiet-nowa-mark-andy-e5-w-krakowie/[2] GlobeNewswire — https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/22/3366604/28124/en/global-smart-labels-market-2026-global-smart-labels-market-expands-through-supply-chain-digitization-and-traceability-demand.html