LATEST TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS PUT FORWARD AT GLOBAL NETWORKING AND EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM
Demand for a greater variety of products, more frequent seasonal promotions and shorter runs are the over-riding market trends shaping today's folding carton market. That is why Xeikon, together with its Aura partners, is hosting the Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations at its premises in Belgium, from March 10 to 12. During the three-day event, visitors will learn more about the latest digital trends and innovations in folding carton production and have the opportunity to get up to speed with the newest technologies and share insights.
"Brand owners do not want to make any compromises on their profit margins, on the image quality of their packages, or on the protection against counterfeiting and we will be demonstrating how we can help them meet these expectations while delivering a flexible, creative and cost-effective route to market," explains Filip Weymans, Xeikon's Director Segment Marketing Labels & Packaging.
Integrated solutions dedicated to folding carton production
At the event, Xeikon and its Aura partners will showcase their industry expertise through a number of folding carton applications produced using the Xeikon Folding Carton Suite. The tailored combination of a Xeikon 3000 Series digital press, a range of substrates, specific workflow and software components, toners and consumables as well as auxiliary equipment enables print providers to deliver packaging applications with a unique look and feel as well as build new revenue streams with higher profit margins.
"Today's brand owner requirements have evolved," continues Weymans. "With our Folding Carton Suite, we can help them achieve a quicker time-to-market and more intensive test marketing. This enables them to be more responsive to change – whether that is the result of legislation, marketing or design requirements."
The suite is also supported by Xeikon's extensive network of Aura partners which are all leading suppliers in their field. The collective knowledge base covers all aspects of digital production and offers visitors unique access to information to help deliver tailored solutions that address the customer's specific production needs.
Creative folding carton applications showcasing state-of-the-art technologies
The spectrum of solutions and profitable possibilities digital print is capable of supporting will be showcased by four different applications. Visitors will also have the opportunity to talk with leading experts and collect a detailed brochure detailing the range of technologies and configurations that are available through Xeikon and its Aura partners.
In a world that is evolving and where brands are looking for protection against fraudulent businesses, security features play a vital role. Xeikon along with partners Metsä Board, Meech, Actega, Kurz, ATT Software and Bograma will be looking into addressing these specific security issues.
Personalisation is a growing trend that also fosters greater customer loyalty. Xeikon will be showcasing personalised pastry boxes for children facilitated by CHILI Publish and produced on a Xeikon 3500 digital press. A food safe odourless varnish from Actega will be applied to a Stora Enso substrate with finishing completed by Zünd. The whole process will be automated by the Xeikon Vectorizor.
The typical chocolate box will be made picture perfect by the Xeikon 3500 with QA-I and SuperBlack toners. Printed on a Stora Enso substrate and varnished with food safe water-based Actega, its golden elements will be applied by a unique digital foiling equipment Kurz DM-liner. It will be finished by Highcon's digital converting unit for cutting and creasing folding cartons.
Last but not least coffee lovers will appreciate a high quality box with foiling and raised varnish produced on a Xeikon 3500 digital press. Actega varnish will be added on a Metsä Board substrate and the box will be finished by Zünd's cutting table to complete the final look.
A Xeikon 9800 digital press will also demonstrate booklet and leaflet production on 40gsm uncoated roll-to-roll stock. The printed rolls will then be converted into leaflets by MBO finishing solutions.
Addressing the challenges
The leading market trends and the resultant influences on brands and print buyers are among the topics being discussed during the Xeikon Café's business programme.
This includes:
Bob Leahey, InfoTrends, expanding on brands and packaging in Europe: The Digital Print Advantage;
Corey Reardon, AWA Alexander Watson Associates, talking about the global labeling and product decoration market;
Mieke Hovens, Freelance graphic designer, presenting highlighting security design considerations;
Nico Potvin, Kadanza, highlighting future proof, sustainable label and packaging management;
Guy Colebourne, C&P Packaging, Carton printer presenting their business model driven through web2print
In addition to the extensive range of on Folding Carton applications on display, visitors to the Xeikon Café will also learn more about the dedicated solutions for Self-Adhesive labels, Heat Transfer and In-Mold Labels.
