In-mold label application technology originated in the 1970s in Europe, and was first used in the injection molding process, and later developed to the blowing industry. At present, the IML in the United States mainly for blow molding, ratio to more than 85%, and injection molding technology is developing rapidly in Europe, proportional to 94%. Now, the United States within the blow mold label of the global dominance of material consumption of about 200 million square meters, accounting for half of the global amount of blow-IML, and Europe is the world's largest injection mold label applications. It is worth noting that in recent years the rapid development of injection molding technology, applied in addition to the label, but also the development of the inner surface of the mold decoration technology IMD, which is a very promising market.
In 2013, the global market demand for the IML 893 million square meters, demand in Europe dominated its share of 58%, followed by North America, 26%, 8% in Asia Pacific, South America and Africa and the Middle East 4% each.
Last year, global demand statistics IML label 68% of IML-IM (injection), 31% for the IML-EB (blow), 1% for the IML-TF (thermoforming). Compared with 2011, 95% of the European market continues to be injection molded IML-IM. Other parts of the world about 75% of the market is the blow plastic IML-EB. Since the European market is relatively mature, IML increased demand is not obvious, but in emerging markets increased significantly in 2013 in South America IML label demand growth rate of 17.5% (up 22% in 2011), the Asia-Pacific region grew 7.5 percent in the world within the scope of the entire growth rate of about 3.25%.
United States is one of the first countries in the world to develop labeling technology for plastic packaging containers for decorating uses. Procter & Gamble company is the first blown in-mold label users. Mold labels have great market potential in the United States, recently market survey noted; current annual sales of US plastic container market is about $ 14 billion of total sales.In 2013, total sales of all kinds of labels is $ 16 billion, of which 60% of customers use self-adhesive materials and in-mold labels only occupied 2% of the total label market. 9% of adhesive label users would consider to convert the existing label to in-mold labels. According IMDA (In-Mold Decorating Association) reports, that the US 2013-mold label material consumption is 232 million square meters. As it can be seen from the above data, in-mold label has potential development in the US.
China's mold label technology began in 1995. All of the technology comes from the United States. Wuhan C-Bons Cosmetics Co.,Ltd in was the earliest users, the first brand is a "PUYen" shampoo, followed by the "shulei" shampoo. First printing is a bundle of wire in Guangzhou Conghua C-Bons Company its own printing plant, first use the materials for the United States "Aere" company dedicated in-mold label materials "FasClear--1000". Printing single piece form artificial silk screen printing and glazing, flat stamping and die cutting. In-mold label application first tries to "C-Bons" blowing plant company in Wuhan, bottle-blowing machine for "Achiever" brand. "C-Bons " after the successful application of technologies in-mould label, many second-tier daily chemical industry have adopted this new technology, there are more than 10 kinds of brand products in-mold labels.
