At the packaging and printing joint digital experience conference, the packaging industry has become the focus of attention again. Industry experts from folding color boxes and corrugated boxes, as well as leading printers and processors have entered the virtual conference. The day’s activities included in-depth research from leading industry analysts, seminars with printers on the latest technologies and trends, and multiple product demonstrations.
Lisa Krauss, chief analyst at nepk research, outlined key statistics from nepk’s ongoing survey of packaging printers, processors and brand owners. In terms of technology, Klaus explained that although about 99% of the printed output of folding color box and corrugated box industries is produced by traditional equipment, the mainstream trend of these two industries is leading printers and processors to explore digital printing and production technology.
In a survey of brand owners, Klaus said the biggest packaging challenges include supply chain efficiency and responsiveness, packaging designs that affect purchases, product version control, and creating an unpacking experience for e-commerce consumers. Klaus said that with the demand of the owners of these brands and the increasing technology, she hopes that digital printing in both packaging areas will grow in the next few years. “We think there are still some things to look forward to in 2021. We expect to use digital technology to increase the use of folding color boxes and corrugated boxes.”
Tap the potential of digital printing
On topics such as trends and opportunities for folding color boxes and corrugated boxes, two industry analysts and consultants from carlstate, Kevin carlstate and Jeff wittsten, outlined their recent research in these two packaging areas.
One of the main challenges for packaging printers and processors is the proliferation of SKUs, Mr. carlstedt said. He explained that although the word has become a buzzword in recent years, it is still an important trend that needs to be understood in depth.
As the brand expands its product portfolio, it is driving more production, though in a lower number, through printing plants, Mr. wittsten explained. “It has a great influence on printers or processors. With the operation of these products, you have the relevant settings. Productivity is falling and settings are increasing. This is the problem area that printers and processors need to solve. “
Carlstadt said that the major opportunities in the folding color box and corrugated box market came from the influx of small batch brands, which needed high-quality packaging with small quantity and transportation turnover. In a recent conversation with the brand owner, carlstedt said that the brand owner is frustrated that when searching for packaging solutions online, all they can find is large manufacturers or e-commerce suppliers.
The market is in the middle of very small brands, and super brands have specific packaging needs, and people who meet those needs have opportunities, Mr. wittsten added. “It’s an underserved market, they’re looking for speed, flexibility, agility and responsiveness. It’s not about providing products, it’s down to workflow. How do you make it easier to manage packaging? “
After the keynote speech from carlsteet, the first group discussion of the day discussed digital technology more deeply. Corey Frans, editor in chief of packaging impression, and representatives of foldable color box and corrugated box company who accepted the technology attended the meeting.
In the case of corrugated boxes, Justin best, vice president of graphics and production at precision digital printing, shared his experience with a start-up based entirely on EFI nozomi C18000 digital platform. Chris Klein, general manager of Wingate packaging, represented the folding carton industry and discussed how Wingate and its customers could benefit from his company’s use of HP indigo 30000 digital printing press and highcon’s digital die cutting and indentation equipment.
At precision digital printing, best explained that he and his other family were impressed by nozomi’s high speed and quality when they founded the Jonesborough, Arkansas based company. Best described how the company was founded in 2018 as a direct trading digital printer. As the technology of single channel, direct digital inkjet printing on paperboard is so new that it actually made its debut in 2016, best said that a key part of creating this start-up company is to take samples on the road and show potential customers how powerful the printing machine is.
“It’s the key to a deal for us, especially for people who haven’t seen the power of digital technology,” best said. This is a huge investment. We see ourselves as a provider of value-added products, rather than replacing flexo or offset printing with this technology. This is another tool we can provide to our customers. “
Wingate packaging, on the other hand, integrates its digital devices into an environment that used to be entirely based on traditional flexo and offset printing. Klein explained that the initial impetus behind Wingate packaging’s decision to add digital printing and processing equipment to its printing line was based on customers’ decreasing production cycles and the demand for high-quality packaging samples.
Klein said that after discovering that customers relied heavily on fairly original packaging samples, he launched the “first article project”, in which it used digital equipment to produce production quality samples using HP indigo 30000 and Haike equipment. “We can produce three kinds of high-quality samples, which are printed on HP machines and then die cut with Haike laser digital die cutting machine instead of traditional printing machine and CAD cutting table,” he said
Although Wingate’s “first article” project gives customers the freedom to explore other companies’ production operations, Klein said that in many cases, it can increase internal business because the final version of packaging can be transferred to Wingate’s traditional equipment.
Experience of industry leaders
In the packaging industry, each form of packaging has obvious advantages. In the field of cardboard based Folding color boxes and corrugated boxes, three of these advantages are sustainability, luxury brand attraction and e-commerce opportunities. Also with Franz on these trends were Kelly brown, vice president of operations at Curtis packaging, Hilda Murray, executive vice president and partner of TPC printing and packaging, and Justin Stacy, vice president of e-commerce solutions at fantastapack.
On sustainability, one of the biggest advantages paperboard packaging offers is recyclability. But while roadside recycling is easy for consumers to see and do, the three companies in the panel discussion have taken their environmental initiatives to new heights.
Curtis packaging, a folding box processor in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, puts environmental initiatives at the forefront of its business. For example, brown detailed the company’s efforts to reduce overall energy consumption while using alternative energy solutions. Curtis packaging, for example, is powered mainly by wind energy purchased from the grid and uses solar energy to produce 40% of its electricity on site, he said. As for materials, Brown said the company will work together to ensure that all its cardboard purchases are sustainable. “I work closely with our supply partners. I went to the forest to check how to protect the materials in order to ensure the sustainability of the materials. “
At TPC printing and packaging, Murray explains that the folding carton processor, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has made great efforts to reduce the amount of plastic in the packaging. She explained that TPC helped provide alternative solutions as brands and consumers opposed plastic packaging. For example, TPC can provide molded pulp trays instead of plastic ones. “Any trade show I’ve been to has something to do with green sustainability, and I’m still sticking to it. The younger generation is absolutely committed to getting rid of the plastic problem, and that’s what we’re trying to do. “
Fantastapack, an e-commerce platform for corrugated packaging, uses water-based inks and purchases corrugated materials from factories about three miles away, which Stacy says helps reduce the company’s carbon footprint. However, another Sustainability Initiative adopted by the company is through afforestation, in which the company contributes to each order received to support tree planting. “Every time someone places an order on fantastapack, we make a donation, causing another tree to be planted, and now thousands of trees are being planted.”
In addition to sustainability, luxury packaging for the high-end market has become the main advantage of paperboard based packaging. At TPC printing and packaging, Murray said the company serves a number of cosmetics and spirits brands that can benefit from packaging corresponding to the essence of their luxury brands.
The company has invested in a range of technologies to provide visual appeal for printing and various decorations. Murray said that the company’s new 10 color gaobao printing press, which uses Eagle systems’ cold stamping system and the only 40 inch shigaodi digital stamping and coating equipment in North America, provides a variety of technical options for the company in finishing packaging. “Whether it’s offset printing, traditional bronzing and embossing, or SGD, we have a lot of capabilities to improve the workflow and enhance the tactile and decorative effects with digital and traditional techniques.”
In the field of corrugated boxes, the rapid rise of e-commerce in many markets has led printers and processors to explore ways to enhance the packaging of corrugated boxes, rather than just printing one or two colors on brown boxes. With the emergence of single channel, direct to cardboard digital inkjet printing technology, this technology has opened the door for personalized packaging and high graphic production, which was not available in many markets before.
Stacey explained that fantastapack and its hp pagewide C500 digital printer enable customers to accept customized packaging options, as well as internal and external printing. These new packaging opportunities ensure that brands can gain consumer engagement in an e-commerce environment similar to that in an individual face-to-face physical environment. “Your carton is your billboard. In the e-commerce world, some people come to your website, and the best way to contact them is to receive the carton at last. “
Post time: Feb-24-2021