GSE reports strong interest in ink management solutions at Labelexpo Europe 2025

Brummen, Netherlands, 24 September 2025: GSE received high levels of interest from label and packaging converters at Labelexpo Europe 2025, where the company exhibited new ink dispensers and management software for cutting waste, driving digitalisation through ink data collection, and assuring quality.

Under the stand theme “Where ink meets intelligence”, GSE demonstrated how automation and data integration in the ink workflow deliver consistent colour quality while supporting faster, more sustainable production.

A highlight in the company’s ink dispensing portfolio for flexo, gravure and screen process printing, was the launch of the industrial Colorsat FCS (Formula Checkweigh System), a robust, space-saving semi-automatic dispenser designed for occasional spot-colour jobs. The system calculates and scales ink recipes to the required batch size, guiding operators step by step through a controlled, precision weighing process.

“The new version of the FCS resonated with SME converters because it offers an affordable entry into professional ink management – providing solutions for both occasional spot colour mixing and data collection,” says Maarten Hummelen, marketing director, GSE. “Its optional Ink manager software modules not only streamline colour preparation, but can also connect with MIS systems and formulation software, for recipe data on-demand, traceability and inventory management.”

The industrial-grade equipment can also serve as a weighing station for water-based press-return inks when integrated with a high-volume automated dispenser and conveyor, eliminating bottlenecks and minimising manual effort at makeready stage.

Also exhibited were the Colorsat Switch dispenser for the label printing market, and – integrated with the industrial FCS – the Colorsat Solo, for clean dispensing of single-ingredient inks such as process colours, coatings, or whites directly from storage drums or IBCs. All GSE dispensers feature modular, exchangeable parts, ensuring extendibility and easy adaptation to new ink sets, capacity needs or production layouts.

GSE received strong demand for dispensing systems for installation at short notice – a sign of buoyant order books and flexo printers’ strengthened commitment to spot colour printing, for its stability and consistency.

At the show, data collection was a hot topic, recognised as a key driver for smarter decision-making and quick-response manufacturing (QRM). Similarly, gaining access to ink-related information, and the capability to share it across the business is vital for improving performance in a supply chain that is increasingly service-driven, fast-moving and regulated. GSE’s Ink manager (GIm) software suite, uniquely capable of tracking inks through non-linear routes involving mixing and reuse of leftovers in new jobs, solves this challenge.

With GIm, converters can automate purchasing, recipe adjustment and creation, inventory management, dispensing, press-return reuse and traceability of ink batches. This brings accelerated processes, less administration, reduced waste, stronger safety compliance and better use of worker talent.

Visitors also saw the new Advanced reporting module within the GIm suite. This tool automatically generates and emails tailored reports such as ink usage, stock availability, and production schedules reports, to give converters real-time visibility of consumption, inventories and costs.

The interfaces of GSE’s software modules are optionally capable of exchanging data with other MIS systems, the cloud and colour formulation software, so data is accessible on-demand, without duplication of work.

“Printers often use only a fraction of the software’s capability today,” says Maarten Hummelen, GSE Marketing Director. “But awareness is growing that digital integration isn’t a distant vision. With our modular product and software architecture, automation and digitisation can occur incrementally. An easy first step can be to automate colour-preparation, for example. We can guide converters on the journey to fully automated, data-led workflows that are simpler, smarter and more sustainable.”

Another star attraction was the Virtual Showroom that showed how dispensers and software can contribute to a smooth-running, efficient ink workflow. Premièring at Labelexpo was an augmented reality (AR)-powered app, available within the showroom, that helps converters visualise how GSE dispensing hardware can best integrate into their own operations. The tool, best viewed on a portable tablet screen, allows users to position, rotate, scale and look inside equipment, making complex workflows easier to understand for entire teams.