Packaging Impressions Parlor: Data Points to Drive Your Time at PRINTING United Expo

With the largest North American printing industry event less than two weeks away, it’s a good time to start planning how to maximize your time at the PRINTING United Expo. From Sept. 10 to 12, the Las Vegas Convention Center will be packed with the latest printing equipment, materials, consumables, and technology. While it’s near impossible to see everything in just three jampacked days, here are some research-backed recommendations for package printers to maximize their time in Las Vegas.

Digital Production Technologies Open New Opportunities

Since its 2019 debut, PRINTING United Expo has been among the leading destinations for learning about digital printing and production technologies in packaging. While conventional processes such as flexography and offset are responsible for the majority of printed packaging output, digital printing has made noticeable inroads in all packaging segments — delivering a multitude of benefits and opening new opportunities.

Click to Enlarge | CREDIT: NAPCO Research

In NAPCO Research’s 2023 study, Digital Packaging: Opportunities to Thrive, package printers that have invested in digital printing were asked to share the top benefits of the technology (Figure 1). A combination of efficiency and creative advantages emerged, with 36% citing short-run capabilities, 34% highlighting fast turnarounds, and 31% each deeming versioning and personalization as top benefits.

With brand owners reporting their own desires for faster turnarounds in their printed label and packaging work, along with an expected increase in their total quantity of SKUs, digital printing is poised to play a more substantial role in packaging’s future. The industry’s top digital press OEMs will be on hand in Vegas to highlight their latest offerings.

Key Packaging Issues at the Forefront

Sustainability is arguably the No. 1 issue impacting the package printing industry, as a confluence of brand owner demands, consumer backlash, government legislation, and retailer mandates have pushed eco-conscious initiatives to the forefront. With one-third of brand owners in Digital Packaging: Opportunities to Thrive citing meeting sustainability or environmental goals and objectives among their top packaging challenges, along with 77% of package printers stating sustainability presents a challenge to their businesses (Figure 2), increasing sustainability is imperative to this segment of print.

Click to Enlarge | Credit: NAPCO Research

When exploring the floor at PRINTING United, it will be important to ask equipment OEMs about their products’ sustainability attributes, spanning energy usage, waste reduction, and beyond. But it will also be important when meeting with consumable and substrate suppliers to ask about their latest advancements in sustainability. There have been a ton of advancements across the packaging segments and in all applications regarding sustainability advantages. Brand owners have made clear that sustainability is no longer a “nice to have” aspect of their packaging and are seeking out package printers that make it a priority. PRINTING United Expo will be an ideal venue to explore the latest innovations taking packaging into an environmentally friendly future.

Another key technology that has become ubiquitous at industry conferences and events as it gains adoption in print and packaging is artificial intelligence. PRINTING United Expo will feature multiple educational sessions on the topic. NAPCO Research has an educational session about AI scheduled for 9:15 am, Tuesday, Sept. 10, in the Knowledge Center.

Exhibitors on the show floor are also expected to feature equipment and software solutions that leverage the power of AI. As reported in the PRINTING United Alliance State of the Industry Surveys, First Quarter 2024 and Third Quarter 2023, AI adoption increased in the short span from September 2023 to March of this year (Figure 3). As the technology continues to advance and workforce challenges proliferate across print, the use of AI is expected to continue. PRINTING United Expo 2024 will be an ideal destination to learn from experts and OEMs about the potential of this technology.

Click to Enlarge | CREDIT: NAPCO Research

In addition to the technology on the show floor, package printers attending PRINTING United Expo can also take advantage of the several educational sessions taking place throughout the event. Of particular note is the annual Packaging Impressions Forum, which will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. To register for this session, click here.