28 February 2023 / Published in Uncategorized

What was the Future of Flexo

An important event on the future of flexo packaging was held on 2023, February 21st, 22nd, 23rd at the prestigious Ferrari Museum in Maranello, organized by the companies Z DUE, Tamburini, I&C Gama and Reproflex3.

What was the Future of Flexo?
Three days of in-depth analysis on the latest technological innovations in the field of flexo printed packaging, but also case histories, panels with machine manufacturers and converters who took turns on stage, involving all flexo segments. We are talking about flexible packaging, paper, labels, but also tissue and corrugated cardboard, without forgetting a mention of the flat cardboard.

More than 400 guests took part with interest in the work program which saw a focus on flexible packaging on the first day, with the innovations proposed by Andrea Sandrolini (product manager of Z Due), Andrew Hewitson and Trevor Lowes (both CEO of Reproflex3) which, thanks to specific patented algorithms, have managed to bring a new way of producing to the market flexo printing systems. We are talking specifically about ProjectBlue, BlueEdge and Vortex, which in the last three years, thanks to the partnership of the Italian service with the British colleagues of Reproflex3, have revolutionized the flexo domain contributing to an increase in print quality without any kind of investment necessary to regarding printing technologies.

The partnership between Z Due and Tamburini
On the occasion of the “Future of Flexo”, the recent partnership between Z Due and Tamburini was also presented, which launched a new brand of sleeves that can be applied both in the flexible packaging sector and in corrugated cardboard. A partnership, the one between the two Italian flexo services, which represents the beginning of a common path that will lead the two companies to collaborate more and more, guaranteeing a wide range of products and solutions for all flexo markets, also in light of the focus on the Tamburini tissue sector.

Big data and machine learning
The I&C Gama team presented the latest studies in the field of Big Data & Machine Learning, with a focus on cost control relating to the inks and fluids used in both the printing and converting phases. Datas, those emerging from the report presented by Sante Conselvan and Dario Cavalcoli of I&C Gama, which were subsequently taken up in the SisTrade case histories, thanks to the interventions of Paulo Souto and Natacha Santos, who provided an overview of the solutions offered to printers and converter from the Portuguese software house for the flexible and corrugated cardboard market, and partner of I&C Gama. Software which, among other things, facilitates the financial recovery of BlueEdge or Vortex clichés used on “ancient” machines or in any case not included in the Industry 4.0 circuit, according to the report by Andrea Novi, the Emilia Romagna area manager of Golden Group.

Flexible packaging, labels and tissue
The first two days, moderated by Marco Andrea Mussini (CEO of Domino Communication) also saw as special guests, in the moments dedicated to converters, Alberto Palaveri, Sales Manager of Sacchital and President of Giflex on 21 February, and Aldo Franco General Manager of Eurolabel on February 22nd. During the panels dedicated to converters, Sustainability stood out among the main topics for the Future of Flexo. A theme, according to the speakers, which requires attention and cohesion among the players in the sector, especially in light of the recent provisions and proposals on packaging by the EU institutions, with which it is necessary to set up a discussion and debate table. The result of a survey conducted last year by Eurolabel among a heterogeneous public (from operators to consumers), on which were the more specific topics to which to devote greater attention in the area of Sustainability, also generated particular interest. It emerged that the Plastic Free theme appears to be in last place in the ranking, while first place went to “Inclusion”.
In these two days, Aldo Peretti of Uteco, Fabio Cerizzi of W&H, Andrea Dalla Valle of Koenig & Bauer Flexotecnica, Enrico Gandolfi of Lombardi Converting Machinery and Andrea Formigoni of Dec Impianti met in a round table dedicated to printing machine manufacturers. with a final contribution from Eleonora Emili, Packaging Purchasing Manager of the brand owner Grissin Bon. Automation, machine learning and hybrid printing technologies are the topics that have united all the manufacturers in analyzing the state of the art and the development prospects of flexographic printing machines.
The focus of the second day was the tissue market with an in-depth case history by Paolo Lazzareschi, Gambini’s R&D manager, and Danilo Gatti, printing business manager of the tissue machine manufacturer A.Celli.

Corrugated cardboard
The third and final day, moderated by Andrea Spadini (editor-in-chief of Converter magazines) was dedicated to the corrugated cardboard sector, which saw the initial contribution of Michele Lancellotti, CEO of Imbal Carton, presenting his company’s path towards a new era of sustainable production. For Z Due, Umberto Cantone and Giorgio Cattani, respectively sales manager and R&D manager, presented numerous solutions for the corrugated sector.
The panel with the converters saw an open debate between Eno Tordini, owner of the TS box factory, Marco Vecchi, SIFA technical office manager, and Maria Eugenia Sada, purchasing manager of the Sada group. Also for the Sada group, the case history presented to the audience by Gerardo Budetti, R&D manager, was much appreciated.
To conclude, in the final technical table, Giorgio Cattani and Umberto Cantone for Z Due, Michele Pinelli (project manager of Koenig & Bauer Celmacch) took the stage for a direct discussion with the audience, who among other things presented a case history on choices by Celmacch to adopt Vortex technology for the testing of its printing machines, and Carlo Tarello (sales manager of Bobst).

This important event was accompanied by an exclusive dinner in the trophy room of the Ferrari museum where, surrounded by the latest world champion single-seaters, around a hundred guests were able to enjoy the beautiful evening which began with an evening visit to the museum and concluded with moments of fun thanks to the surprises planned by Marco Mingozzi (coordinator of the Future of Flexo) for his guests. An evening in which Sante Conselvan also wanted to give Aldo Peretti, CEO of Uteco, an acknowledgment for his twenty-year commitment in the flexo industry.