Fespa is introducing a digital printed corrugated display at its giant Global Print Expo in Berlin in May, showcasing how digital technology can value-add for packaging.
The global federation for the speciality print industry says specialist knowledge is vital, and that short-run promotional packaging may represent a valuable new revenue opportunity capitalising on their experience of flatbed printing and cutting.
Digital printing on board was a key theme at the last drupa, with major companies such as EFI, HP, Screen, Durst, Heidelberg and Landa all promoting digital carton printing
Fespa says its Digital Corrugated Experience will showcase the commercial and production advantages of digital print for corrugated packaging and retail display applications, aiming to highlight to packaging converters and box-makers the benefits of integrating digital technology into their production mix.
The association says the exhibit will address all elements involved in printing corrugated materials, including substrates; workflow solutions; digital printing technologies; materials handling; primers, inks, coatings and varnishes; and cutting and folding.
Fespa says digital print complements traditional analogue methods, enabling converters and display makers to expand their offering with prototyping, short-run, versioning or customisation of boxes and displays. The exhibit is said to showcase of digitally printed corrugated applications, such as shelf-ready and transit packaging boxes, pallet surrounds, promotional packaging and POS displays, supported by like-for-like printing comparisons, samples and narratives helping visitors to evaluate commercially available solutions.
Neil Felton, CEO of Fespa says, "Fespa has been a leading force in the transition from analogue to digital print in the signage and graphics market, guiding our community of printers and sign-makers on the integration of digital inkjet technology alongside their analogue production processes as a driver of business transformation.
"When it comes to corrugated, many of our exhibitors have expertise in preparing, printing and finishing these materials for signage, display and packaging applications. This specialist knowledge is vital, not only for packaging converters, but also for the Fespa print service provider community, for whom short-run promotional packaging may represent a valuable new revenue opportunity capitalising on their experience of flatbed printing and cutting, and their existing supply chain relationships with brand owners and retailers."
Fespa says the launch of the Digital Corrugated Experience reflects growing interest from both the packaging and speciality printing communities in the technology solutions, materials and workflows required to take advantage of digital print for short run and customised packaging. This is supported by independent research by Smithers Pira, which predicts that digitally printed corrugated material will accelerate from a global value of $1.44bn today to be worth $2.35bn by 2020.
Duncan MacOwan, head of events at Fespa says, "Fespa’s Digital Corrugated Experience aims to offer an excellent return on time investment for corrugated box-makers, converters and large format print service providers who are interested in entering the short-run packaging market. In the space of a single day at Fespa Global Print Expo in Berlin, they will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the latest technological developments in digital printing and converting of corrugated board, and the chance to look at the entire corrugated production process. Through the applications showcase, they will discover the technology behind a range of finished products, while gaining valuable insights from the expert conference sessions."
Fespa Corrugated will be located in Hall 5.2 at Messe Berlin, and says the new area will have a different format to the rest of the Fespa 2018 exhibition. The federation says it will combine short educational Print Corrugated conferences with business-building discussions with industry-leading suppliers, among them HP, Lamina, Sun Automation, Inca Digital and BCS- Autobox. Participating conference speakers will include independent industry specialists, experts and brands.
Entries are still open for the Fespa Awards, which close on February 2.
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