FuturePrint Podcast

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In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, we speak with Franziska Valerie Hagenauer, founder of FVH Lab, a nature-inspired design specialist working at the intersection of biomimicry, AI, computational design and digital fabrication. Franziska will be speaking at the forthcoming FuturePrint AI for Industrial Print Conference, Jan 22, which is a part of FuturePrint Industrial Print in Munich 21-22 January. 

Franziska explains how she helps sustainable technology innovators translate complex technical advantages into intuitive, emotionally resonant physical demonstrators. Rather than relying on data sheets and specifications alone, her work uses forms inspired by nature to communicate performance, efficiency and sustainability in a way that is instantly understood.

The conversation explores the role of biomimicry as both a design and storytelling tool. Natural structures are universally recognisable, emotionally engaging and effective at differentiating technologies on crowded trade show floors. Franziska outlines her process, starting with a discovery workshop to identify key technical strengths, followed by research into biological analogues that visually express those attributes.

AI plays a critical role in this workflow, particularly in the early concept phase. Franziska describes how AI tools accelerate research, support idea generation and help visualise concepts through high-quality renderings that combine sketches with natural patterns. Computational design and parametric modelling then allow these concepts to be translated into producible 3D forms.

Importantly, Franziska challenges the idea that AI simply needs more data. Instead, she emphasises the importance of high-quality, reliable input and human creativity. Looking ahead, she shares her perspective on how AI, when combined with nature-inspired thinking, could help industry address sustainability challenges rather than simply optimise efficiency.

This episode offers a refreshing and thought-provoking perspective on how AI and biomimicry can reshape industrial design, manufacturing communication and sustainable innovation.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

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In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson catches up with Joanna Stephenson, Managing Director of Think B2B Marketing, to explore how packaging, consumers and print are changing – fast.

With nearly 30 years’ experience across Dow Chemical, Sun Chemical, LINPAC and now her own specialist agency, Joanna shares a rare, 360-degree view of the packaging value chain – from R&D and compliance to brand strategy and marketing execution.

Joanna explains why:

• Marketing must be treated as a growth engine, not a cost line
• Sustainability has moved far beyond “trend” status and is now a licence to operate
• New regulations (EPR, PPWR, Scope 3) will radically change what brands demand from their suppliers
• Generational shifts – from Gen X to Millennials and Gen Alpha – are reshaping how and what people buy
• Connected packaging and GS1’s move to QR codes create huge opportunities for printers as enablers of digital experiences
• AI and continuous learning will separate strategic partners from commodity providers

If you’re a printer, converter, supplier or brand-side packaging leader trying to make sense of sustainability, regulation, connected packaging and AI – and what they really mean for your business – this conversation with Jo is packed with insight, challenge and practical direction.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this FuturePrint Podcast episode, we speak with Rainer Stricker (WeldTone) and Mikael Boedler (Inkatronic) about a fast-emerging application for industrial inkjet: UV insulation coatings for EV battery and electronics components.

Rainer explains Weldtone’s background in functional adhesives and insulation coatings, and why the next generation of EV architectures (including cell-to-pack and cell-to-chassis) is increasing the performance requirements placed on insulation layers - especially as insulation must coexist with high-strength structural bonding processes.

Mikael shares how Inkatronic’s application centre model - combining in-house engineering, CNC capability, automation and PLC programming - enables rapid iteration and upscaling trials. Together, Weldtone and Inkatronic are developing inkjet-based insulation processes that deliver selective deposition, tight thickness control, and fast UV curing.

The discussion compares inkjet with traditional insulation approaches such as PET film wrapping, powder coating, and spray coating. Inkjet’s key advantage is its digital selectivity: coating only where needed, reducing waste and post-processing, and enabling reliable insulation on more complex 3D-shaped parts (connectors, housings, cooling elements), not just flat surfaces or simple geometries.

Both guests also address adoption dynamics: mass production is already underway in China for certain applications, while Europe is in a rapid evaluation phase - with the main bottleneck being access to validated demonstration equipment for sample generation, qualification, and process-window development.

Rainer and Mikael will present and demonstrate the process at FuturePrint Industrial Print, Motorworld Munich, 21-22 January, including live printing and curing on representative 3D customer parts.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, we speak with Alexander Hinterkopf, Managing Director of Hinterkopf, one of the world’s leading suppliers of printing and forming technologies for cylindrical packaging.

Founded in 1962 and based near Stuttgart, Hinterkopf has built its reputation at the intersection of printing and container manufacturing - supplying systems for aluminium tubes, plastic squeeze tubes, and monoblock aerosol containers used across pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and consumer goods.

In the conversation, Hinterkopf explains how a period of disruption following the 2008 financial crisis became the catalyst for the company’s move into digital inkjet. What began as an attempt to replace analogue offset printing evolved into something more powerful: digital post-decoration - printing finished containers on demand, at the very end of the manufacturing process.

We explore why printing on the round is technically challenging, how Hinterkopf solved registration and precision issues, and why variable data and late-stage customisation are inherent strengths of digital inkjet in cylindrical packaging.

The discussion also looks at who is driving adoption. Rather than large incumbents, early growth has come from entrepreneurial service providers and startups, particularly in the US, offering brands speed, flexibility, and short-run capability that traditional workflows cannot match.

Sustainability is another key theme - not as marketing rhetoric, but as manufacturing efficiency. Reduced waste, elimination of labels, and support for monomaterial packaging all position digital post-decoration as a practical response to regulatory and environmental pressures.

Finally, Hinterkopf shares his view on where the market is heading, and why digital inkjet is becoming a permanent, complementary force in industrial packaging.

Alexander Hinterkopf will be speaking at FuturePrint Industrial Print, 21-22 January in Munich.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, we explore an exciting new collaboration reshaping the future of industrial inkjet. Fabio Tallarico of Seiko Instruments GmbH and Jan Janhsen of Fraunhofer IPA join us to discuss how their organisations are working together to advance functional printing, high-viscosity jetting, and inkjet-based manufacturing.

Following the closure of Seiko’s in-house lab, the company sought a new approach to R&D — one that could provide scientific depth, hands-on experimentation, and access to advanced facilities. Fraunhofer IPA, one of Europe’s leading applied research institutes, became the ideal partner.

Together, the teams now collaborate on:

• waveform development and drop analysis
• print testing across varied substrates and ink types
• evaluating high-viscosity, conductive, UV, and water-based inks
• exploring jetting limits and application-specific performance
• investigating new functional applications including adhesives, coatings, and 3D structures

For Fraunhofer, the partnership ensures its research remains grounded in real industrial challenges. For Seiko, it broadens access to cutting-edge measurement tools, material expertise, and scientific knowledge — accelerating development of the next-generation RC2560 printhead.

The conversation also highlights wider trends shaping industrial inkjet:
 the shift toward sustainable materials, increasing demand for functional layers, advances in additive manufacturing, and the future potential of AI in waveform optimisation and process control.

This collaboration demonstrates how innovation grows faster when companies work together — sharing knowledge, testing boundaries, and combining scientific insight with practical engineering.

A must-listen for anyone interested in industrial inkjet, functional printing, advanced manufacturing, or collaborative R&D.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Marcus Timson is joined by Nathan Safran, Vice President of Research at PRINTING United Alliance, for an in-depth exploration of the biggest forces reshaping the global print industry.

Safran shares findings from the Alliance’s latest research—covering AI adoption, automation, convergence, economic signals, and where PSPs are creating new value.

Key Themes Discussed:

• AI moves mainstream:
  85% of PSPs now view AI as critical to competitiveness, with 83% saying it opens new business opportunities—not just productivity gains.
• Real-world AI applications:
  From generative design and marketing personalisation to advanced forecasting, quality inspection, and in-house software development, PSPs are adopting AI at a pace not seen before.
• The importance of data:
  AI success depends on clean, structured, reliable data. PSPs must put their “data house in order” to unlock higher-value use cases.
• Automation + AI:
  A powerful combination that is reshaping prepress, production, onboarding, and back-office functions across sales, finance, and operations.
• Convergence as a structural trend:
  Commercial into wide format, wide format into labels or packaging, and a broader shift toward multi-segment capability as buyers choose vendors who can do more.
• Growth opportunities for 2026:
  Strategic diversification, AI-led transformation, and offering adjacent digital services such as design, data management, and campaign execution.

Safran emphasises that print companies are increasingly transforming into technology-enabled service providers, and that PSPs who embrace both data and AI will have significant competitive advantage.

A fascinating, forward-looking conversation packed with insight for anyone in print, manufacturing, or related markets.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, host Frazer Chesterman speaks with Victor Perraudin, Research and Development Engineer at Ardeje Printing, a specialist developer of industrial drop-on-demand inkjet systems.

Founded in 1997, Ardeje Printing has grown alongside the digital printing revolution, focusing not on graphics but on bespoke industrial inkjet solutions where print performs a functional role. Perraudin explains how Ardeje works at the intersection of materials science, fluid dynamics and system integration, supporting customers with applications that go far beyond flat substrates and conventional inks.

The conversation explores Ardeje’s Origin D100 R&D platform, designed to bridge the gap between laboratory experimentation and production deployment. Using this system, Ardeje supports applications ranging from silver inks for printed electronics, antennas and conductive tracks, to carbon nanotube sensors, quantum dot deposition and sol-gel printing.

Perraudin discusses growing interest from sectors such as photovoltaics, batteries, EV technologies, medical devices and construction, where inkjet is increasingly seen as a precise, low-waste method for functional material deposition. He also highlights the challenges shaping the next phase of industrial inkjet, including printing on complex 3D geometries, REACH-driven reformulation of UV inks, and demand for high-viscosity, non-conventional fluids.

Looking ahead, Perraudin outlines a future where drop-on-demand inkjet evolves from decoration to integrated functional manufacturing, supported by smarter data-driven processes and deeper collaboration across the inkjet ecosystem.

Ardeje will be presenting at FuturePrint Industrial Print in Munich, where functional inkjet applications will be firmly in the spotlight.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode we dive into one of the most significant – yet often misunderstood – transformations underway in global retail and packaging: the shift from traditional barcodes to next-generation QR codes powered by GS1. Our guest, Camilla Young, leads this programme for GS1 UK and has rapidly become one of the most compelling voices in the space.

With a commercial background spanning major CPG brands such as Pernod Ricard, BIC, Hasbro and Johnson & Johnson, Camilla brings a rare blend of brand insight, consumer understanding, and technical clarity to a topic that is reshaping how products are made, sold, tracked, understood, and recycled.

We explore:

• What GS1 actually does and why global standards underpin the entire retail and supply chain ecosystem.
• The forces driving change: consumer expectations, sustainability pressure, EU regulations, digital shopping, and AI.
• The difference between ordinary QR codes and GS1 Digital Link QR codes – and why next-generation barcodes can now scan at POS.
• The vast potential for connected packaging, from traceability and recalls to accessibility, authentication, and first-party consumer engagement.
• Why printers, converters, and packaging suppliers have a critical role in ensuring print quality, verification, and correct implementation.
• How this shift will enable digital product passports, carbon transparency, circularity, and smarter supply chains.

Camilla shares clear, practical explanations that demystify what is coming – and why the print and packaging sector should be fully informed and preparing now.

For more information:
 GS1 UK – gs1uk.org
Global GS1 – gs1.org

Follow Camilla on LinkedIn for updates, case studies, and live examples of next-generation barcodes being deployed around the world.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Frazer Chesterman speaks with Jim Raymont, Director of Sales at EIT 2.0, and PK Swain, Chief Operating Officer, to explore the critical role UV measurement plays in modern industrial inkjet manufacturing. As EIT 2.0 prepares to exhibit at FuturePrint Industrial Print Munich, the conversation goes deep into the practical realities of curing, process control and efficiency on the production floor.

Jim explains how EIT 2.0, formed in 2022 as a specialist offshoot of the original EIT, builds on nearly four decades of UV measurement expertise. PK brings additional perspective from senior leadership roles at major UV source manufacturers, offering insight into both the technology and business impact of getting curing right - or wrong.

Together, they highlight a recurring challenge across the industry: when curing problems arise, finger-pointing often replaces diagnostics. EIT’s instruments act as a neutral communication tool, helping source suppliers, formulators and end users establish clear process windows and quickly identify issues before scrap, downtime and cost escalate.

The discussion also tackles common misconceptions around UV LED curing. While LEDs are stable and energy efficient, they still degrade over time and are vulnerable to real-world production variables - contamination, speed changes and incorrect settings. Measuring UV output is the only way to maintain control.

The episode closes with a look at sustainability, LED adoption and why UV measurement should start at process development - not when problems occur. A must-listen for anyone serious about industrial print performance.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Ed sits down with Anna Tobler, CEO of Ergosoft, ahead of her participation at the FuturePrint AI for Industrial Print Conference in Munich this January. Anna shares her journey from a career in IT and financial services to leading one of the print industry’s most respected software companies, known globally for its RIP technology across textile, décor, large format and industrial printing.

Anna outlines the shifting dynamics shaping today’s print environment – from shorter runs and rising quality expectations to increasing workflow complexity and the pressure on operators to “know everything.” With hardware becoming faster, more stable and more capable, she argues that workflow, automation and software intelligence are now the real differentiators. The conversation highlights how smart job preparation, bottleneck elimination and AI-enhanced decision-making can significantly boost productivity and reduce errors.

A major focus of the episode is Ergosoft’s development of Casey, the company’s AI agent designed to deliver instant, 24/7 multilingual support. Anna explains how Casey was trained on Ergosoft’s expert knowledge base and continuously evolves with every update, giving customers immediate access to guidance, troubleshooting and best practices. She also shares some of the surprising and amusing lessons learned while fine-tuning Casey’s behaviour – including the need to stop it from offering cooking recipes or praising competitors a little too enthusiastically.

Looking ahead, Anna discusses the accelerating pace of technological change, the growing importance of intuitive front-end experiences powered by complex back-end logic, and the challenge of using AI to empower rather than overwhelm users. It’s an insightful conversation full of practical perspective on the future of workflow, software and AI in print.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany