Kevin Karstedt

With the COVID-19 pandemic creating unprecedented challenges, members of the Independent Carton Group have been working hard to keep their plants operating safely. ICG members have also been on the front lines of contributing much needed protective equipment for medical professionals and first responders.

There have been some notable developments in the digital production landscape for folding cartons, but overall the landscape has not changed significantly in the past year and a half.

With all the news chatter around digital printing for packaging coming out of PRINT 13 and Labelexpo this fall, I thought it appropriate to bring the Digital4Packaging readership some insights we have on the topic.

Digital printing for folding cartons has been in the news a lot over the past year. The success seen by HP Indigo with its 30000 carton press and by Xeikon with its 3500 series press are evidence that the industry is looking to address unmet needs in the supply chain.

PRINT 13 started out very nicely for me as my first official meeting was a breakfast meeting on Sunday morning with Benny Landa as he shared the updates on the packaging versions of the new nanographic digital press line that was introduced at drupa last year.

I am often asked to give my impressions on various topics around packaging and how it is managed through the supply chain from concept to consumer. The flexible packaging sector is of particular interest.

JoAnn is a syndicated packaging writer who is arguably the most prolific “packaging person” on social media. I have been following her for years and thought it extremely appropriate to have her featured on the Digital4Packging Blog.

In our recent webinar titled: Should Digital Printing be Part of Your Brand Strategy? we spoke to over 400 attendees who were looking for better understanding of the capabilities and uses of digital printing for packaging.

Relative to digital printing for packaging, drupa 2008 was a time for investigation and generalized discussion regarding product concepts and market requirements.

True to its history of introducing new technology to the printing world, drupa 2012 offered plenty of new things, including a great deal of packaging specific offerings in printing and finishing technologies.