DÜSSELDORF, Germany—drupa put the rhetorical question out there and answered them in rapid-fire format and you could tell from the buzz around the show that answers offered were hitting their intended targets.
- Are you ready to redefine packaging?
- Are you ready to be inspired?
- Are you ready to implement sustainability?
- Are you ready to do more with less?
- Are you ready to create the future?
More than 200,000 attendees, hailing from 50+ countries responded in unison offering a resounding, “Yes, we’re ready!”
Show planners called on all delegates—exhibitors and printers/converters alike—to “Think digital; be sustainable,” as they contended the event stood as, “the gateway to the future of the packaging industry.
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Acknowledgement that transformational change is upon us was universal. Interest in AI (artificial intelligence) soared. Examination of what is required to build and operate an intelligent production floor was intense. Sincerity was expressed, as it was reported time and time again that sustainability, digitalization, modularity and more, were revolutionizing workflows.
Optimization of production, a common refrain within the Flexographic Technical Association, was described as critical to increasing efficiency, conserving energy, reducing waste and building a better bottom line.
Process, design, the platform economy, predictive maintenance, fiber-based flexible packaging, crucial analytics and control systems that reduce downtime and manage resources more effectively, all had their place on the agenda.
Seamless integration where machines communicate and collaborate with each other to create a streamlined workflow, was called for. Demonstration after demonstration attested to their arrival. Sustainable, carbon neutral solutions, digital growth strategies and state-of-the art technological solutions to long-standing problems were sought out.
From plates and plate making to plate mounting and digital file preparation, right through to the debut of hybrid central impression presses and increased automation and robotics on more traditional models stood out. New principles in anilox roll management were unveiled, as were new ink formulation chemistries that addressed sustainability and compatibility with the more advanced substrates they are being applied to. Details on new product launches will be featured in future issues of FLEXO Magazine.