Let's begin by answering the question, "Is roll labeling a mature industry?"

I associate maturity with a life cycle. Products have life cycles. They end with either limited demand or extinction. Buggy whips, eight-track tapes, 5 ¼-in. floppy disks, and CB radios are examples of products that reached the end of their own life cycles.

By contrast, neither industries such as ours, nor individual companies have life cycles. Industries and companies can enjoy an extended prosperous future, or realize their demise during any generation. The long-term success of an industry is in the hands of its members. Leadership also determines the destiny of a business.

Vigorous growth is guaranteed by the following traits:

• Enthusiasm
• Creativity
• Forward-thinking
• Identifying obstacles and adjusting for them
• Maintaining a good balance sheet, and
• Introducing new blood.

On the other hand, lack of direction, complacency, acceptance of the status quo, and uninvolved top management are all symptoms of atrophy.

At TLMI's recent meeting, there was an interactive "Future View" strategic planning session. Converters and suppliers offered their insights on where the industry is headed. They also discussed potential roadblocks that could impact profitable growth.

This trade association has adjusted to numerous changes in the business climate over the years. TLMI began as the Tag Mfrs. Institute. When pressure-sensitive labels became a meaningful product, the group expanded to become the Tag and Label Mfrs. Institute. It was structured with vice presidents and committees for both tags and labels. Today the group has adjusted its focus to pressure-sensitive labels.

These examples tell me that the roll label industry is healthy and committed to doing whatever it takes to provide continuing growth opportunities for its members.

New blood is needed to provide vision, enthusiasm and "outside the box" ideas. I am stepping aside as a contributing editor to Converting so that you may benefit from fresh viewpoints.

The roll label industry has been very good to me for 40 years. It gave me an opportunity to investigate and try new concepts. I made hundreds of wonderful friends throughout the world. I thoroughly enjoyed my work. My hope for you as readers of "Narrow Web Niche" was that you might have picked up an idea or two, been challenged to think differently, or were prompted to investigate other materials or concepts.

I wish to leave you with my vision of the roll label industry before 2012. I believe that we will have pressure-sensitive adhesives that are tack-free as they are removed from the coating line. This will eliminate release liners. As labels are presented for application, the adhesive will be activated by an economical energy source.

The label application machine will be of a similar design to the drum-style, delayed-action, heat-seal labeler of today. The equipment will be able to apply either roll-style or cut-and-stack labels. Laser diecutting will be an accepted production operation. Some label application systems will include laser-diecutting capabilities.

Creative people will develop new materials, machines and product concepts. Technology will advance rapidly. The roll label sector will continue to be the fastest growing sector of the converting industry.

Editor's Note: Beginning with our February 2003 issue, we will debut a new series of columns on topics related to the label and narrow-web industry. Skip Heintzelman's columns dating back to October 1998 are archived on our Web site, www.convertingmagazine.com under "Narrow Web Niche."