Robert Moran
Halls 9 and 11 of Italy’s Fiera Milano morphed into packaging’s personal situation room, May 27-30, as Print4All 2025 called its print force to stand ready, perform conditional analysis, brace for some level of unavoidable conflict, infiltrate elements of resistance, educate new recruits, embrace rapid-fire change and refortify competitive postures. The event examined innovations and new trends in the printing market, by focusing intently on major drivers shaping the sector.

Orchestrated by Acigma, the association of Italian manufacturers of machinery for the graphic, paper and converting industry that works to guarantee maximum visibility and definitive competitive advantage in Italy and abroad to all members; and its counterpart, Argi in the digital and offset printing realms; the trade show attracted 245 exhibitors and was self-billed as “Not your ordinary printing af(fair!).

“Print4All represents a strategic moment for the entire printing and converting ecosystem: a tangible platform to showcase technological advancements, while setting about tackling the transformative products and processes now reshaping the market–from the green transition to sophisticated automation,” explained Enrico Barboglio, director of Acimga and CEO of Stratego Group. “With a strong international component—33 percent from 17 different nations–Print4All assures the supply chain comes together to share both vision and technology. …The message reminds us that the fair is an inimitable business affair.”

Barboglio told FLEXO Magazine, “Available data gives us a picture of a sector that, despite difficulties, is holding its own in the face of the political-economic crisis, which certainly is a positive.”

“Acigma members are focused on export,” Barboglio reported. “It’s 60 percent of business. America is the number-one country of interest. It attracts 50 percent, maybe 60 percent of all Italian machinery exports. The US market is huge—95 percent of our members want to serve it.”

He assessed the fourth edition of Print4All on its final day and claimed it met the mark on sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI), automation, digitization, productivity and efficiency. “I’m happy and members are pleased with 2025’s educational content. The showcase premiered in 2016 then repeated in 2019, 2022 and now, 2025. …Feedback to date contends the right people are here and the right topics are being addressed.”

Later he noted, “This year’s program addressed our ‘3 Gs’”:

• Geographical Diversity—Attendees and exhibitors hail from 29 nations
• Generational Outreach—Acigma and Argi invited young people to attend. They were offered a guided tour of the exhibit floor with the objective being to demonstrate that printing is an exciting industry and a dynamic field on the production side. Young people need to understand printing is a viable and rewarding career path. Acigma and Argi are working hard to bring them to that realization
• Gender Equality—Print4All 2025 saw the launch of a “Girls in Print” program to help member companies act in a more inclusive way when it comes to recruitment, retention and merit-based promotional practices. Acigma and Argi realize we have to change the face of our historically male-dominated profession. The time is now. The moment has arrived

Shop Talk
Crediting innovation as the driver, Barboglio said, “Today’s printing market has the ability to adapt to current challenges, such as energy costs and raw material shortages; is healthy and constantly evolving; with a focus on sustainability, automation, and digitalization.”

“The most talked-about innovation in the world of printing is undoubtedly the introduction of artificial intelligence,” Acigma’s director proclaimed. In his view, cobots–collaborative robots– that every manufacturer now offers–are an integral part of a smart factory. Operators now interact with increasingly intelligent printing systems that demand cooperation with very different colleagues—precise and unrelenting machines.”

“Use of AI is essential to stay up-to-date and meet the increasingly complex needs of consumers, through the integration of customized solutions and better management of business processes,” according to Barboglio. “Machine learning algorithms are analyzing large amounts of data in real time, identifying patterns and optimizing operational processes. AI is revolutionizing data management and dramatically improving operational efficiency and maintenance.”

Acigma’s director contended, “AI provides a clear advantage, but poses a series of challenges. Future trends point to significant progress. What’s ahead? More powerful and energy-efficient devices, optimized AI models, and improved integration with 5G networks. …Already, AI is being seen as a fundamental tool for predictive maintenance, print fault detection, quality control, and process optimization. It’s maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste. There is no turning back. By 2050, projections point to 25 percent of energy likely being absorbed by AI.”

Acigma’s radar further confirmed:

• Advanced automation is now fully integrated into printing and converting systems, transforming production processes. Digitalization means machines—whether flexo, digital, offset, or hybrid–are both more efficient and more flexible
• Green Printing is a well-established reality, supported by technologies that meet the needs of responsible production and comply with stringent government regulations. Companies continue to align with the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover). Sustainability means new materials, low-impact inks, and technologies that reduce energy consumption across the production chain, leading to better waste and scrap management
• New materials promote creativity. On one hand, technological advancements enable maximum flexibility and high-quality results on various substrates; on the other, new sustainable, biodegradable, or interactive materials offer added value to the final product

Research Reports
Simone Bonaria, chair of Acigma’s Flexo Development Group, and COO BFT Carbon, provided a global overview of the flexographic printing machinery trade and indicated, “A recent survey, ‘Flexo Printing: Trends, Forecasts, and Emerging Markets,’ highlights the importance of training.”

He said, “When it comes to identifying and resolving issues, suppliers believe printers are sufficiently autonomous—a positive sign. However, production delays remain a problem, with respondents reporting a high frequency of delays caused by printing errors. Not all companies have adopted systems to analyze and quantify economic impacts; fewer than 50 percent report knowing businesses with adequate IT systems.”

To mitigate flexo printing errors, Bonaria explained that package printing’s suppliers focus on three areas: training on services and products, adopting control systems, and improving communication between printers and suppliers.

“Operators’ perspectives sometimes differ from those of suppliers,” he later observed. “The primary cause of flexo printing errors unanimously cited by printers is the lack of operator experience or training. This factor outweighs issues related to substrates, inks, or incorrect equipment settings. Unsurprisingly, training is viewed as the main remedy for errors, a sentiment universally echoed.” 

Looking to the future and generational turnover, Bonaria noted, “It is essential to ensure that company production expertise becomes a solid asset that benefits both businesses and young professionals, enabling them to learn from past mistakes and solutions.”

Elaborating on that thought he explained, “We’re working to understand global markets, gain perspective into how and where production volumes are growing, and how flexo can position itself as the dominant force within package printing and converting.” He admitted a primary objective of OEMs today is to “develop a fully automatic printing press,” and credited the approach with being rooted in “a lack of operators.” The Flexo Development Group is now devising specific actions in flexo education, particularly on the secondary school level.”

Similarly, Stratego Group’ and Largo Consumo issued a “Pack Around 2024” study, that tracked technological investments based on a framework of sustainability, an essential driver of innovation.

Its written report, distributed at Print4All 2025, noted. “Research provides a picture that is in line with the main trends of the moment. These include recycling, reduction (both in terms of weight, i.e. using less material, and in terms of eliminating superfluous and non-essential elements, i.e. over-packaging) and transition to materials from renewable sources.”

Analysts indicated, “A very large majority of the companies surveyed are planning investments to produce packaging in recycled or recyclable materials, to reduce the weight of packaging – a process that requires a balance between reducing the material used and maintaining the optimal mechanical and functional characteristics of the packaging.”

“Significant investment is also beginning to be seen in the use of bio-based materials, in optimizing shapes and sizes from a logistics and shelf positioning perspective, and in extending the life of packaging by working on solutions that can be refilled and reused several times before disposal,” according to the recently released report. .

Sound, Secure Strategies

Print4All 2025 delivered the data, demonstrated the most modern tools, cultivated imaginations, reported out imminent changes and encouraged initiating preparations for tomorrow’s business climate–immediately, if not sooner. It sought to minimize surprise, maximize productivity and most importantly encourage entrepreneurial spirit.  

The event saw the birth of Acigma’s Flex-Converting Alliance with solutions offered under the single brand FlexCa, with Bimec, CMG, SmartJet, and Uteco e Vision working together for the future of the printing and converting industry.

Wim Buyle, Uteco and VP FTA Europe indicated the focus is on “disruptive, regenerative innovation.” He also maintained, “Efficiency is being pursued at all costs—both human and planet driven. Sustainability is crucial, as is safety and well-being.” His favored application, he dubbed “BAT.” It stands for, “Best Available Technology.”

FTA Member/Affiliate Exhibitors

3M, Apex, ALE, Asahi Photoproducts, AV Flexologic, Bieffebi, Boettcher, BST Eltromat, BW Converting—Baldwin Technologies, Camis, Canon, CERM, Color Consulting SrL, Comexi, Daetwyler, Erhardt + Leimer, Esko.

Also: FujiFilm, GAMA, GEW, Glunz & Jensen, Grafikontrol, hp, Hybrid Software, Koenig & Bauer, Lohmann, Manroland Goss, Mark Andy, Omet, Pamarco, PrimeBlade.

Plus: Rossini, Sei Laser, Siegwerk, SOMA, Synaptik, tesa tape, Tresu, Troika Systems, Uteco, Windmoeller &  Hoelscher, and Xeikon.