ePac Founded as First All-Digital Flexible Packaging Firm

ePac, a joint partnership between Arion Partners and Emerald Packaging has announced it will begin operations in Madison, Wisc., in April 2016. The new company is dedicated to the growing short-run, multiple SKU, quick-turn flexible packaging market.

ePac, is the first “Greenfield” flexible packaging company in North America based exclusively on a digital technology platform. Building on Emerald Packaging's success as the first flexible packaging HP Indigo 20000 beta in the United States, this new partnership marks a significant commitment to the growth of digital printing. With the HP Indigo 20000 as the print platform, complimentary front-end workflow and down-stream finishing systems have been engineered to leverage the unique value provided by digital technology.

ePac digital solutions will provide consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) the ability to rapidly produce test market packaging, quickly roll-out marketing promotions, and eliminate excess inventory through print-on-demand and design-to-print services.

Arion Partners’ Jack Knott, Virag Patel, and Carl Joachim will serve as the management team for ePac. Knott has an extensive background in creating and managing flexible packaging companies, most recently with Exopack Holdings and Coveris Holdings. Patel has significant experience in global market development for Exopack and Coveris, while Joachim has successfully developed production digital printing businesses for Xerox, Océ and Ricoh.

“SKU proliferation, declining run lengths, and the growing desire among CPGs to offer market-specific packaging are key drivers behind ePac’s go-to-market strategy,” Knott said. “With our total operation engineered around a digital platform, ePac will offer a new, cost effective alternative for customers.”

ePac is the evolution of initial entry into digital printing by Emerald Packaging through a joint venture with OEC Graphics.

“We’ve proven there is a market for digital flexible packaging," Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packaging, said. "To capitalize on that success, it makes sense to form an entity entirely dedicated to this business model as opposed to one attached to an analog printer. With the significant expertise brought by the Arion team, we’re confident that our growth in digital will rapidly accelerate.”

ePac will start customer engagement immediately in preparation for beginning operations in April of 2016.

Source: ePac.