Gallus secures over ten press installations in the US market since April

Strong momentum for modular label production in North America

The North American label market is currently navigating a phase of strategic recalibration. While overall volume growth remains steady—projected at a 2% annual rate through 2028 according to the latest AWA Labeling & Product Decoration Market Report 2026—the real shift is happening on the production floor. Converters are aggressively moving away from rigid, single-purpose machinery in favor of highly adaptable platforms. This trend is clearly reflected in the recent performance of Heidelberg North America and its subsidiary, Gallus Group.

Since the start of its fiscal year on April 1, 2026, Gallus has secured more than 10 new press investments across the United States. Achieving double-digit installations in a span of just five months is a strong indicator that the market is responding to a specific technological proposition. The equipment placed includes a mix of the company's core portfolio: the Gallus RCS, Gallus Labelmaster, the fully digital Gallus One, and the newly introduced hybrid Gallus Five.

The hybrid advantage and the Hub Labels investment

One of the most telling transactions in this recent wave of investments comes from Hub Labels, based in Hagerstown, Maryland. Already a heavy user of Gallus technology—operating a Gallus EM 410, two EM 510s, two RCS 330s, and an early adopter of the Labelfire 340—the converter has now signed for the new Gallus Five.

The Gallus Five represents the current industry push toward hybrid architectures. By combining flexographic and digital inkjet printing on a single platform, and integrating embellishment and die-cutting modules inline, the press addresses the growing demand for short-to-medium runs with high added value. Running with the new HEIDELBERG Saphira UV05 ink set, the machine reaches speeds of up to 100 meters per minute. For a veteran observer of the narrow-web sector, this speed on a hybrid platform is a critical threshold, effectively blurring the lines between digital prototyping and industrial-scale production.

System to Compose: A shift in capital expenditure strategy

Behind these numbers lies a broader strategy that Gallus calls the "System to Compose." Dario Urbinati, CEO of Gallus, recently noted that converters are increasingly recognizing that modularity and flexibility are essential to thrive in a changing market. Instead of buying a fixed asset that might become obsolete as brand owner demands shift, converters are investing in base platforms that can be reconfigured or upgraded over time.

This approach will be the centerpiece of the companies' joint presence at LOUPE Americas 2026 (formerly Labelexpo) in Chicago this September. Clarence Penge, President of Heidelberg USA, emphasized that US label converters are putting significant confidence in this modular technology, from legacy platforms to the newest digital innovations.

The rapid adoption of hybrid platforms like the Gallus Five proves that converters are no longer choosing between digital agility and flexo volume; they demand both on the same floor. Will this modular approach finally render rigid, single-technology presses obsolete in the high-volume label sector? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai