Michael Fairley

A catalyst for growth Michael Fairley

My early life, both prior to and during World War II, was something of a struggle and undoubtedly contributed a variety of factors to my eventual character. However, being in the right place, at the right time, and being able to capitalize on a continuous accumulation of, perhaps quite unique, abilities, knowledge and experiences, undoubtedly proved to be of great help in building a life that for more than 40 years ended up revolving around the fast-growing, fast-changing world, of labels.

To have played a key role in, first researching and then in improving, safety and health in the printing industry in the late 1960s, and then being involved in, even of having some influence, on being at the forefront of introducing color web-offset, computerized phototypesetting and full-page electronic make-up into the newspaper industry in the 1970s, were satisfying achievements on their own.

But these achievements were certainly eclipsed during the many years helping to bring pioneering changes and developments to the production and use of labels especially self-adhesive labels during the 1980s and 1990s. Apart from creating Labels & Labeling magazine, research and consultancy projects undertaken throughout these years included key roles in helping to bring retail bar coding, thermal labeling, new food labeling regulations, co-extruded filmic label materials, digital printing, and much more, into the fast-evolving label world.

Magazine creation, publishing, writing and talking from the mid-1990s onwards also involved other industry sectors, from business forms, to package printing, apparel, shoe fashions and secure power systems, albeit not always successfully. More recently, my life has additionally turned towards historical and biographical research, with a number of books in these areas now published. Perhaps more on the way.

This book aims to condense all my life's challenges, opportunities and experiences into one all encompassing title that some in the printing, and more specifically the label industry, may find of interesting historical record and reference..
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