Finat’s new president calls for lean and clean

Packaging Solutions

At a time when packaging technology as a whole is changing very fast, Chris Ellison, managing director of OPM (Labels & Packaging) Group Ltd (UK) has been elected to the position of president of Finat, the European labelling association based in The Netherlands. ‘It is a massive honour, to be elected president’, he says.

Finat’s activity base has magnified in line with the industry the association serves, and – in an increasingly global marketplace – is today committed to offering support to its members, who represent the whole supply chain. As Chris underlined, ‘Packaging and labelling production is one of the most sustainable industries of all, because it continually replenishes itself – always reflecting changing market needs and fashion trends in a youthful way. That is why I am particularly passionate about Finat’s current focus on recruiting young people into the business. As the founders of the original small, often family owned, label companies are now beginning to take retirement, we are facing a real skills shortage that we need to address right now. I know this is a great industry to work in – lively, challenging, and rewarding – and I am keen to promote it as the attractive career proposition it is, but I am also well aware that today we are competing with many other seductive ‘techno’ options, so it is a top agenda item for me to have Finat promote the labels and printed packaging production sector as a clean, lean career choice today.’

He continued, ‘The advent of new technologies across the whole sector brings its own challenges, impacting the entire make up of a participant company’s systems. I will be strongly supporting development of the excellent technology website Finat has recently created, which continually brings members up to the minute expert information on key areas. It is important to do this, because the pace of technology change in print is getting faster and faster, and equipment model cycles shorter. Not only that, leading edge equipment today demands huge investment – yet margins are tighter, customers want extended payment lead times, and we need to think about changing direction with what we produce from just a simple ‘label’ to including new offerings like shrink sleeves, in-mould labels, and flexible packaging. That is what brand owners want, and Industry 4.0 means that we all have to become more competitive in our relations with our customers – to be able to keep, and grow, our business.

‘And to meet those challenging requirements, we have really got to become more competitive and customise our internal business systems to achieve optimal efficiencies. Success means a continuous programme of innovation and new thinking, and the support of an international association like Finat can make all the difference. You can't grow your business if you don't grow your people, and I get a huge amount of satisfaction out of watching staff grow in confidence and professionalism.’

‘I believe Finat can really help us change – how we should be thinking, in terms of adding value, technology, recruiting young people. Supporting the label industry national associations, Finat underlines the international nature of our industry now, which today features a very complex remit – so we have to be as mobile as we possibly can… Fast forward: that is the main agenda I will be addressing during my presidency.’