2019 programme
From innovation to implementation: debating the true potential of digital
9.10 Delegate registration: tea, coffee and refreshments
9.30 Introduction and welcome from the chair
David Pittman, editor, Digital Labels & Packaging
9.35 KEYNOTE: The consumer conundrum: looking small but thinking big
Mark Shayler, director and owner, Ape
Brands have to move faster and smarter in today’s world of belief-driven consumers, who are no longer solely influenced by the traditional hierarchy of marketing. Mark will explore how big brands are changing their behaviour in an attempt to understand who their consumers are and stay relevant, and how small brands have disrupted the status quo.
10.20 Technology in digital packaging: current status and future predictions
Sean Smyth, technical editor, Whitmar Publications
With technology moving a pace and myriad applications appearing, Sean will give an authoritative insight into what’s happening in all the major sectors. He will highlight trends and potential future winners that will give delegates a unique view of where the digital market is moving.
10.50 Tea, coffee and networking break
11.20 Digital print: the challenge for designers
Jen Newell, head of realisation, Pearlfisher
Jen will discuss how to overcome challenges to ensure digital print remains the right solution for designers and clients alike. Through innovative examples and strategies, she will share how digital print can be used to create meaningful experiences that add value and better meet the desires of today’s consumers looking for more premium offers, new levels of customisation, originality and sustainability.
11.50 How to combine attractive packaging and sustainability
Alexis Tonneau, project manager graphics – sustainability, Kurz
Today, sustainable packaging concepts made of paper, cardboard and paperboard often represent the opposite of fancy packaging: a rather matt varnish, brown or earthy cardboard or a structured surface can sometimes appear less premium. However, packaging finished with metallic effects can also be sustainable and recyclable.
12.20 Automating workflows: current progress and future challenges
Dr Adrian Steele, managing director, Mercian Labels
Whilst digital label printing uses increasingly mature and well understood technologies, the real challenge in taking advantage of digital print is automating complex order patterns. Covering the past 15 years of using Xeikon digital print technology in a mixed digital-flexo environment, the presentation will cover challenges to automating order processing, raw materials, tooling and pre-press before the digital print engine, and post-print finishing and transport to deliver complex, high quality custom printed labels as efficiently as possible.
12.50 Lunch and networking break
Table top exhibits and The Printer Innovation Zone – a showcase of print jobs from the Industry Group Members.
14.00 How will I recognise you? The power of distinctive assets
Steve Osborne, managing director, Osborne Pike
By creating a set of associations in the consumer’s mind and having ‘distinctive assets’ (such as logo, colour, shape) that trigger those associations time after time, a successful brand significantly improves the odds of being bought. Increasing, enhancing and ‘weaponising’ those assets is essential as we enter an era in which digital disruption is changing the environment of brands profoundly. In his talk, Steve will help you understand how this change affects the whole supply chain.
14.30 The Nozomi: A New Era for Digital Print
Martin Shipp, chief operating officer, The Delta Group
Martin Shipp will be discussing the Delta Group’s journey through digital print that lead them to pioneer the industry, and offer unprecedented value, through the acquisition of the Nozomi C18000 single-pass corrugated digital press – the first of its kind in the UK.
15.00 Successful digital activations from around the world
Alberto Kechler, eCommerce Growth Platforms Lead, Marketing Europe , Mondelez International
Discussing the brand owner’s successful application of digital printing for cartons, flexibles and labels in markets around the world, Alberto will look at what the company has learnt over the years and highlight some of the things to watch out for to ensure success.
15.30 Disrupting brand packaging with digital
Johnny Hobeika, managing director, ePac Holdings Europe
Implementing a new business model has been behind ePac Flexible Packaging’s major success in the US. As the company expands further and sets up operations in Europe, Johnny will explain how its digital-only approach is disrupting brand owners’ expectations of time-to-market, marketing promotion, anti-counterfeiting and engagement with their customers.
16.00 The digital print debate
Panellists:
Jenny Cairns, innovation and sustainability manager, ButterflyCannon
Ester Takacs, head of packaging development, Quorn Foods
Bill Hine, managing director, Hine Labels
David Pittman, editor, Digital Labels & Packaging
Picking up on the themes of the day, the panel will discuss their experiences with digital print technology for brands and the trends they are seeing in the market.
16:30 Final questions and closing remarks
More to follow…