Carmen Berry, Conference Producer, Smithers

• Updates and Innovations in the Digital Print for Packaging sector
• Market data from new Digital Print for Packaging Report
• Then longer term (10 years digital print forecast)
• Why progress is slow – actions to accelerate adoption to benefit supply chains
• AI in digital packaging – what are the benefits to brands, converters and suppliers?

Sean Smyth | Consultant, Smithers

Panelists include:

• Liz Logue, VP of Corporate Business Development/IJ Strategy, EFI
• Sean Smyth, Consultant, Smithers
• Dani Tulchinski, Senior Product & Technology Ecosystem Manager, Sealed Air
• Windell McGill, Product Launch Manager – ION Digital Press, Paper Converting Machine Company
• TJ Seiwert, Sr. Manager of Design Operations, WK Kellogg Co.

At the decade’s midpoint, investments in sustainability, supply chain productivity, and alternative revenue streams like media are bearing fruit. At the same time, the industry is revisiting its fundamentals through a shopper lens, reconceiving value, convenience, and experience to align with an empowered shopper. This presentation will explore how the shopper is redefining shopping itself, upending commercial models, product innovation, and in-store engagement to suit emerging demands, while creating new mandates for both manufacturers and retailers to keep pace with the shopper.
 
Leon Nicholas | Vice President, Retail Insights & Solutions, Smurfit Westrock

Welcome to a captivating exploration of the profound connection between packaging design and emotions. Join us on a journey where packaging design becomes a vessel for authentic connection with today's most influential consumer generation.
In this keynote, we present the revolutionary “Gen Z Packaging Design Playlist" – from dopaminergic explosions of color to bold minimalism, neo-vintage nostalgia to surrealist distortion - each revealing how postpandemic anxiety has shaped Gen Z's visual preferences.
 
Hernán Braberman | Creative Director, Tridimage

As global momentum toward sustainability accelerates, businesses and customers alike are reimagining waste management through the lens of zero waste. This presentation explores the intersection of customer sentiment, corporate case studies, infrastructure readiness, and emerging policy frameworks to chart a viable path toward a zero-waste future. Key insights include findings from Scrapp's 2024 Road to Zero Waste Report, highlighting the evolving perceptions of recycling, zero waste, and sustainable packaging materials. Case studies from high-end beauty brands to small e-commerce businesses demonstrate innovative approaches to balancing sustainability with brand identity and customer expectations. 
Mikey Pasciuto | Chief Sustainability Officer, Scrapp

To successfully design for recycling, one must first understand the lifecycle of packaging materials. The journey begins with resource extraction, progresses through manufacturing, distribution, usage, and ultimately ends with disposal. Each stage presents opportunities for improvement and innovation. The aim is to create packaging that minimizes environmental impact throughout its entire lifecycle. This holistic approach necessitates the consideration of material selection, production methods, and the end-of-life options available for consumers.
 
Tim Bohlke | Director of Sustainability, Resource Label Group

Panelists Include:

Mike Rottenborn, CEO, Hybrid Software Group
Leigha Rolin, Packaging Designer, ATLEX Packaging
 

The Foundation collaborates with companies from design phase to launch and/or final products to bring more certified products to market for this large community. My presentation focuses on the importance of bring accessible design into products and packages today and how dollars are being left on the table by not including ease of use design.
Deb Gokie | VP Consumer Health and Ease of Use, Arthritis Foundation

Sustainability in packaging isn’t going away—it’s evolving, becoming more specific, measurable, and essential. To see where we’re headed, we need to understand how we got here.
This presentation traces the journey of packaging, printing, and sustainability—connecting historical context with forward-thinking projections. Kelly Williams will explore how the convergence of sustainability and digital printing is enabling more agile, distributed packaging ecosystems and reshaping the future of branded packaging.
 
Kelly Williams | Co-Founder, Greenkey

This session will present a fully automated system producing up to 600 digitally printed, right-sized boxes per hour. Designed for retailers, brands, and 3PLs, th3s system integrates seamlessly into fulfillment workflows for unprecedented efficiency and sustainability.
Kerry Sanders | VP Market Development, EFI

It is very exciting times in the packaging market! The interest in implementing digital printing into the various packaging applications is at an all-time high. Driven by both an understanding of the benefits of digital print from a Brand perspective and the need to effectively address the reduction in average job lengths across the industry, The development of digital printing systems to address these markets, especially in single pass applications, has led to much higher speeds with good reliability and uptime. But what about the Ink? This presentation will highlight the importance of ink in the progress of the analog to digital transition in packaging, discussing current challenges and trends in the various application segments including corrugated, metal decoration, flexible packaging, labels etc.
Paul Edwards | Vice President Digital Division, Inx International

Co-presentation by HP Industrial Print (Amir Raziel) and Esko (Jan De Roeck) Digital print has long promised transformation and strong adoption but has yet to fully deliver on its potential. Achieving success at scale requires a strategic approach, starting with a focus on supply chain optimization and tangible, achievable benefits rather than looking at the print shop floor in isolation. Engaging key stakeholders within brand and converter organizations—those who directly benefit from digitally printed packaging—is essential to driving adoption. The ultimate goal is customization at scale, unlocking new opportunities for brands to connect and engage with their consumers. This session is a co-presentation whereby HP Industrial Print (Bob Raus) and Esko (Jan De Roeck) explore collaboration and platform integration to provide an innovative solution that enables businesses to leverage digital print technology effectively and realize its full potential.

Bob Raus, Automation Category Manager, HP Industrial Print
Jan De Roeck | Marketing Director, Industry Relations and Strategy, Esko

Digital printing continues to disrupt the packaging industry, and it is bringing new opportunities for customers. Kirit will elaborate Digital printing technologies-electrophotography-dry toner and liquid toner; ink jet-UV ink jet, water-based ink jet-dye and pigmented technology, latest trends in each technology, Digital printing capabilities and limitation for the label’s substrates for compact desktop Digital label printers to large production-class digital presses. How Digital printing and sustainability align each other? Why brand love Digital printing?
 
Kirit Naik | Global Senior Manager New Materials and Technology, UPM

In a world where consumers average 1-5 seconds of engagement1, print embellishments break through the noise with packaging that creates differentiation and unique visual identity. Visual and tactile elements influence behavior, making consumers as much as 70% more likely to pick up a product with attractive or unique packaging2. 

In the evolving space of packaging and label converting, embellishments are now coupled with digital technology to provide two key benefits: faster go-to-market and added individualization expected by the newest generation of consumers. Unlike traditional analog methods, digital embellishment offers rapid prototyping, customization and cost-effective short runs, aligning with the increasing demand for personalization and sustainable practices. Gone are the needs for hot foil stamping or embossing plates, plus the make-ready and labor to support them— today’s digital embellishment technologies deploy advanced UV varnish chemistry and inkjet readiness, reducing raw material and energy consumption. Intelligent registration systems and variable print capabilities support print run lengths from 1 to 100,000, making digital embellishment a perfect complement to offset, toner, flexographic or inkjet web presses. These advantages reduce barriers for small brands to compete effectively, while maintaining efficient production processes for producers and converters.
Sean Roberts | National Director of Digital Embellishments, Konica Minolta US

• How AI is changing business overall
• Where can AI be applied and help improve processes
• What does this mean for the packaging industry
• AI and digital printing with design

Kelly Lawrence | Founder and CEO, Lawrence Innovation LLC

Sean Smyth | Consultant, Smithers