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The 2023 agenda and speakers has been announced! The program features expert speakers from Georgia Pacific, ePac, Avery Dennison, EFI, Fujifilm, Siegwerk, Xeikon, DuPont, Michelman, and more

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Workshop: Tues. June 13, 2023 Conference Day 1 Morning: Wed. June 14, 2023 Conference Day 1 Evening Tracks: Wed. June 14, 2023 Conference Day 2: Thurs. June 15, 2023
Workshop: The Changing Landscape for Digital Printing in Packaging - Improvements for Brands, Converters and Consumers
Part I & II
Part I - Packaging market developments in 2023
  • Where digital fits into the packaging world
  • The changing role of packaging, new functions enabled by digital print
  • Choices for printing labels, cartons, corrugate, flexibles, rigid plastics, glass and metal
  • Litho, flexo, gravure and special decorating methods
  • Electrophotography SWOT
  • Inkjet SWOT
  • The importance of workflow and digital finishing
  • Emerging routes to market
  • Comparing analogue and digital printing
Part II - The economics of digital print
  • Cost model comparison
  • Capacity of equipment, time to market - complementary or competitive to analogue print

Sean Smyth | Print Expert, Smithers
Networking Break
Part III & IV
Part III - New technologies in 2023
  • Digital printing technology map, and digital finishing
    • Insights from Labelexpo 2022
  • Workflow
  • Materials
  • Finishing
Part IV - The future packaging world
  • Sustainability
  • Changing retail landscape
  • The opportunities in e-Commerce packaging
  • Changing customer requirements, how big brands are being disrupted by smaller brands
  • Changing supply chains enabled by digital print – the democratisation of label & packaging production

Sean Smyth | Print Expert, Smithers
Registration & Welcome
Registration Opens & Continental Breakfast
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Session I: State of the Digital Print Industry
< Session Description >
In this opening session, we are going to highlight some key topics and perspectives of what is happening in the industry. This includes a state of the industry, a deep dive into today’s consumer, and hearing from a brand on their perspective on digital print and the future.
State of the Industry
In this opening presentation, hear from Sean Smyth all about the current and changing landscape within the digital print in packaging industry.
Sean Smyth | Print Expert, Smithers
A Look at Today’s Consumer
Abstract to come
Keynote: Brand Perspective on Digital Print and the Future
Speaker and abstract to come
Networking Break
Session II: Improving the Supply Chain & Workflow with Digital Print
< Session Description >
Supply chain has been a buzz word across industries with issues, workforce decrease, etc. over the last few years. The digital print industry has felt this too, and with that it’s important to find ways to improve across supply chain and workflow processes. See from experts how digital printing has helped their supply chain and company succeed.
Panel: Throughout the Supply Chain - How Digital Printing Can Help Across the Industry
This panel will bring together experts from all values of the supply chain to discuss how adopting digital printing helped their supply chain. Panelists will talk through issues that occurred, past or present, and how digital print can assist in tackling the problem and move to enhance their business and the industry. 

Moderator:
  • David Zwang – Principal, Zwang & Company
 Panelists:
  • Bob Seay, VP – Digital Print Solutions, Georgia-Pacific
  • Greg Tucker, CEO, Bay Cities
  • Chuck Slingerland, Corrugated Sales Manager, NA, Durst Image Technology
  • More to come!
Improving the Supply Chain with Digital
Digital print offers improved supply chains in corrugated packaging, through enabling decentralized production with local design control. 
  • Challenges in supply chain
  • Pressures on turnaround time and changes
  • Decentralizing production
  • Linking sites and presses
  • Flexibility in design, production and materials

Liz Logue | VP of Corporate Business Development/ IJ Strategy, Inkjet EFI
Session III: The Life of the Converter
< Session Description >
Now more than ever, it is important to get into the mind of the converter to best know their current practices, what they are doing to help with the supply chain and digitalization, how best to work with the rest of the supply chain, and what they see with the future of digital print.
Accelerating Sales with the Versatility of Digital Print Production
Digital print and finishing deliver game-changing technologies that accelerate your packaging sales and increase your value to client accounts. Join us to discuss how digital manufacturing solutions for corrugated products hasten speed to market, simplify change management, and add versatility that conventional print and finishing simply can’t match.
Brett Kirkpatrick | Director of Trade Business, The BoxMaker
High-Speed Digital Printing for 2pc Beverage Cans
The discussion will include an assessment of various technologies to digitally print beverage cans with direct-to-shape printing.  In addition to economic advantages vs. traditional printing technologies at smaller scales, sustainability benefits will be highlighted.  In particular, the novel Velox digital printing technology offering unique on-shelf presence with the ability to print on the neck and the chime of the can will be highlighted.   
Dan A. Abramowicz, Ph.D. | Executive VP Technology & Regulatory Affairs, Crown Holdings
Lunch Break
Session IV: The Truth is Out There: Inks, Materials, & More
< Session Description >
This session will dive into the story of inks, new innovations, and the future of inks and packaging working together within the industry. In the process, the record will be set straight on some common myth within the space.
Bridging the Gap with Hybrid Inks
Conventional printing methodologies can be timely and cumbersome, but the finished product is unmatched in terms of color vibrancy and coverage.  However, Hybrid Ink Technology can bridge the gap between digital and conventional printing.  Kao Collins’ Hybrid Inks contain a unique blend of dyes and pigments that boost both color vibrancy and optical density.  Having the ability to easily modify images while reducing make-ready time and producing bold, colorful images is an enticing advantage for the fast-paced environment of any print shop.  
Stephen Buchanan | Business Development Manager, Kao Collins
Design and Development of Inkjet Inks for Digital Print for Packaging
DuPont has been developing inkjet pigment inks for over 30 years, beginning in the home & office, and now moving toward inkjet printing for packaging applications. In this presentation, Joe will discuss how DuPont collaborates with our supply chain partners to sustainably design and manufacture water-based inkjet inks that meet regulatory and NGO requirements for food contact materials. He will also discuss DuPont’s development strategies on pigment dispersions and polymer binders that enable us to formulate and deliver high-performance inks to meet the printhead, printer, and converting requirements. Finally, he will discuss several areas our technology organization is emphasizing to deliver sustainable offerings to our customers.
Joseph Yourey | Global R&D Leader, Digital Inks, DuPont
Digital Printing with Single-Pass UV Curable Ink
  • Where “single-pass UV inkjet” falls as a technology within the larger digital print segment
  • Overview of the commonly found single-pass UV inkjet printing applications
  • Potential benefits to digital vs analog printing in terms of imaging and/or accounting
  • Considerations of UV single-pass printing beyond imaging & costs

Tom Shea | Regional Manager, Inkjet US & Canada, Siegwerk
Networking Break
Session V: A Closer Look at Direct to Shape
< Session Description >
In this session, we will focus on digital printing direct to cans, bottles, etc. and how beneficial this growing part of the industry can be for companies and the future.
Direct to Object Printing & Connected Packaging
Discussing how direct to object printing can provide low minimum orders, drive sustainability, and create a digital experience through manufacturing process to consumer engagement.
Paul Lender | Business Development Manager - Digital Materials, Avery Dennison
Presentation to come
Welcome Reception
Session IV: Diving into the World of Labels
< Session Description >
The labels industry is ever changing, and this session will ensure you are up to date on recyclability, innovations, and what the experts are saying about the future of the industry.
Presentation to come!
Panel: Where Are Labels Heading?
We will hear from experts within the space about the world of labels and digital print; what is currently happening by talking through from issues and opportunities, and what is being seen for the future.
 
Moderate:
  • Mark Turk, President/CEO, International Label & Printing, and Board Member, TLMI
Panelists:
  • Donna Covannon, Director of Marketing NA, Xeikon
  • Patrick Park, Business Development Manager, Americas, UPM Raflatac
  • Tim Bohlke, Director of Sustainability, Resource Label Group
  • Kelly Kell, Global Innovation Lead, Food, Avery Dennison
Networking Break
Session V: Let’s Get Personalized
< Session Description >
Personalization is becoming increasingly popular, but how do you do it in the right way? This session will talk all about personalizing with digital print, how it works, and how easy it can be for you and your customers.
Presentation to come
Vista Presentation
Abstract to come
Javier Adan | Product Director, International, Vista
Welcome Reception
Registration & Welcome
Registration Opens & Continental Breakfast
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Session VI: Connecting to the Consumer: Smart Packaging & Beyond
< Session Description >
To start Day 2, presentations will highlight the importance to connect to the consumer, whether it’s on the design and planning side, or on adding smart packaging and the digital world to the conversation.
Presentation to come!
Fireside Chat: Brand Perspective on Consumers, the Digital World, and Packaging
Doris will moderate this important conversation, bringing together a few brands to discuss the importance of understanding what the consumer needs and wants, and how packaging can help connect to them. Even further, they will focus on whether today’s consumers are truly adapting and using the smart packaging and digital space and where the future of smart packaging can lead too.
 
Moderator:
  • To be announced
Panelists:
  • Morgan Potts, Founder & CEO, Granarly
  • More panelists to come!
Networking Break
Connected Packaging: Put your packaging to work for you
Smart/Connected features are changing the value that flexible packaging can deliver to brands and consumers.  This session will explore how brands of all sizes can leverage new flexible packaging technologies to demonstrate transparency, drive consumer engagement, meet regulatory requirements, fight counterfeiting, and help consumers make informed recycling/repurposing decisions. Join us as we explore the real-world use cases and come ready to interact.
Ryan Kiley | Director of Market Development, ePac
Session VII: Let’s Talk About It: Digital vs. Non-Digital
< Session Description >
In this new session, expert panelists will talk about their experiences, either fully in the digital space, having their hands in both digital and analog, and those that do not touch digital at all. This will allow for a healthy, engaged conversation to really talk about the pros and cons of each, and why you should pick your print of choice.
Digital vs. Analog: A Roundtable Discussion
Roundtable that will bring digital and analog users alike to talk about the industry, their reasons for their type of printing, and where they see the future heading for their company and industry.
 
Moderator:
  • David Hess, Account Director – Adidas, HH Global
 Panelists:
  • Chris Knecht, Commercial Lead and Product Development Manager, Georgia-Pacific Hummingbird
  • Carl Joachim, Co-Founder & CMO, ePac
  • Neil Cook, Segment Marketing Manager – Packaging and Commercial Print, Fujifilm
  • More panelists to come!
Networking Lunch
Session VIII: The Continued Importance of Sustainability within the Sector
< Session Description >
The importance of sustainability and recyclability continues to grow across all industries, especially digital print. Here, discussions of the way digital print can be more sustainable, help across the supply chain, and meet consumers needs will be highlighted and explored.
Let’s Talk About Data, Numbers, and Meeting Sustainability Goals
Packaging Print in Production: It’s not about print, it’s about process improvements
Today’s production and supply chain are designed to address consumer needs for mass produced goods.  However, consumers are demanding more personalization and sustainable products and ways of purchasing them that meet their life style preferences. Delaying print can support the supply chain in addressing these changing consumer demands. In this session, you will hear about: 
  1. Examples of how companies can re-engineer their production workflows to address evolving market needs 
  2. Detailed benefits associated with add-on printing using inkjet technology 
Considerations to be aware of as you evaluate inkjet add-on printing 
Shane Tansey | Sr. Business Manager, Fujifilm Integrated Inkjet Solutions
Session IX: Dusting off the Crystal Ball – A Future Roadmap
< Session Description >
To end the conference, a panel full of industry experts from across the supply chain will look into the future and talk about where they see the industry heading. This will be a great way to round out the key topics discussed throughout the 2-days and start to think about what could be talked about in the future conferences to come.
Why digital printing on corrugated is not taking off?
Abstract to come
Javier Quesada | CEO, Kento Digital Printing
Panel: Opportunities for the Future of the Digital Print Industry
The digital printing sector continues to develop and innovate so that it can move into new ventures and opportunities in line with technological and societal changes. This panel looks to explore the views and thoughts of participants for opportunities (and threats) for the sector.
 
Moderator:
  • David Zwang, Principal, Zwang & Company
Panelists:
  • Susan Bailey, Senior Manager, Business Development and Applications, Michelman
  • Karen Kromat, Sustainable Program Manager, Case Paper
  • Charlotte Bedford, Food Contact Regulatory Affairs Manager, Crown Holdings
  • Charles Ho Fung, Senior R&D Packaging Design & Strategy, Molson Coors Beverage
Closing Remarks by Sean Smyth, Consultant, Smithers