In-Mould

Market size of IML-B and IM-IML

Compared to the other label markets the IML market varies worldwide.

• The volume of the North American IML market was in 2004 approximately 190 million sq. meters, thereof 60% filmic and 40% paper based substrate. The market growth reached an average of 8-10% per year, against a 2003 decrease of 1-2%. 95% of the U.S. market is Blow Mould labeling and only 5% is Injection In-Mould. Furthermore, IM-IML is growing faster than IML-B in the U.S. market. The major printing methods for IML in the U.S. are solvent gravure, narrow web solvent flexo and sheet fed offset. UV technology is getting more interesting due to the growth of injection mould labeling.
  
  
• The European IML market is the mirror image of the U.S. market: 95% of the market volume is Injection In-Mould labeling and 5% Blow Mould. In 2004 the volume of IM_IML in Europe was about 250 million sq. meters where IML-B is up to 10 million sq. in Europe, France is the largest market with about a 40% share, followed by Germany with 15% Benelux with 12%, and UK with 10%. The European IML market is growing faster than U.S. market at around 15% per year. Major printing methods are sheet-fed offset (65%), reel fed UV offset (15%), UV letterpress (10%) and UV flexo (10%).
  
  
• The Australian IML market is nearly 120 million square meters and growing at a considerable rate of 25% per year. Blow Mould and Injection Mould In-Mould labeling are sharing the market by each 50%. The major printing methods are reel and sheet-fed offset and there are only filmic substrates applied.
  
  
• The Japanese IML market is with 11 million square meters rather small. The reason is the late entry of In-Mould labeling technique into the Japanese market in 1987. IM-IML cannot be found in Japan today, IML-B on the other hand is very common. The printers in Japan use solvent gravure, UV letterpress and offset.