News & Events

The packaging print industry includes corrugated packaging, folding carton, flexible packaging, labels, rigid containers, and glass packaging. Of course not all of these print jobs are within the scope of what we do, but the technology, innovation and research occurring most certainly does.

From a technology and innovation standpoint some printing standards in the publishing/direct mail/transactional industry are beginning to be utilized by the packaging industry. One example is taggnats – microscopic chemical markers that can be added to the substrate or the toner itself, to allow various forms of verification. They are already used for banknotes, identification documents and value papers as well as packaging for tobacco products, alcohol or pharmaceuticals. Taggants are embedded in the toner during the production process.

Another area is two-dimensional barcodes and quick-response (QR) codes which are used throughout the packaging industry to track and trace items. Digital printing technology is attractive for these applications because the printer can create unique bar codes for each unit. If a reader scans a bar code that is duplicate or invalid, it can identify an item that is suspected of being counterfeit.

Considerations in sustainability, private labeling, the impact of social media, contract manufacturing and packaging, and supply sources are issues that affect all aspects of the printing industry.