FuturePrint Podcast

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In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson is joined by Dr Peter Brown, Chief Commercial Officer, and Jamie Jeffs, Director of Industrial Instrumentation at 42 Technology – a UK Cambridge-based consultancy that bridges bleeding edge technology and real-world manufacturing.

Together, they demystify what AI really means for industrial print and packaging, with a particular focus on edge AI: running intelligent models directly on or near machines rather than in distant data centres. Jamie explains how advances in edge silicon and neural processing units now allow complex tasks such as machine vision, anomaly detection and even small language models to run locally – delivering faster response, improved cyber security and more control over sensitive production data.

Peter brings a physicist’s pragmatism to the AI hype cycle. He argues that every project should start with a simple question – “What problem are we trying to solve?” – and a hard look at the underlying data. In many factories, institutional knowledge, paper records and patchy logging still dominate. Before any AI can add value, sensing, data capture and basic analytics must be put on a solid footing.

The discussion ranges from practical use cases – predictive maintenance, stabilising complex print processes, smarter vision systems – to the strategic threat of global competition. Both guests stress that AI is unlikely to remove humans from the loop; instead, it will augment operators, capture expertise and help mid-sized businesses compete with better-resourced rivals.

If you’re curious about how to start an AI journey in print without being overwhelmed by the hype, this episode offers a clear, sober and encouraging guide.

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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 FuturePrint Podcast episode, host Marcus Timson reconnects with long-time partner and industry voice Marc Graindourze of Agfa to explore where industrial inkjet really is in late 2025 – and what comes next.

Graindourze starts by defining industrial print in simple, concrete terms: print that becomes part of the product, not just a label or message. Using décor laminates as a benchmark, he explains how inkjet has successfully replaced gravure by slotting into existing impregnation and pressing lines without forcing manufacturers to re-engineer their plants.

The conversation ranges across Agfa’s core focus areas – décor, packaging and direct-to-product printing – and highlights how the economics of digital have quietly improved. Lower ink consumption, faster changeovers and better process understanding mean that, on a total cost-per-square-metre basis, inkjet can now undercut analogue in many decorative applications. Examples include high-speed preprint corrugated with unique QR codes for e-commerce and edge banding for furniture.

Timson and Graindourze also preview the new FuturePrint Industrial Print event at Motorworld Munich (21–22 January 2026). Designed as a focused, hybrid alternative to traditional trade shows, the event aims to connect the specialist inkjet ecosystem – inks, printheads, integrators, software and automation suppliers – with decision-makers in automotive, med-tech, consumer electronics and other manufacturing sectors. A dedicated day on AI for industrial print will sit alongside exhibits, talks and live application “workshop” spaces.

Throughout, Graindourze stresses that success in industrial inkjet depends on collaboration and clarity. General-purpose UV and water-based ink sets can often be adapted for new applications, but only when industrial partners are explicit about their requirements and prepared to rethink workflows to exploit digital’s strengths.

For anyone interested in how inkjet is reshaping advanced manufacturing – and why Munich could mark an important inflection point – this is an episode not to miss.

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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 welcome back Nils Gottfried — FuturePrint Partner, Ambassador and Sales Manager at BHS Corrugated. With more than 30 years of experience across offset, gravure, colour management, wide format and industrial inkjet, Nils offers a uniquely broad perspective on the transformation of industrial printing.

Nils shares his career journey from early offset printing to pivotal roles at GMG Color and Fujifilm before joining BHS Corrugated to help drive the development and global rollout of the Jetliner single-pass inkjet platform. He discusses the major technical shifts that have enabled inkjet to reach true industrial speeds, and he emphasises the equally important human transformation required for converters to embrace digital.

The conversation explores the realities of corrugated printing — from substrate variation and legislative pressure (PPWR) to automation, skills shortages and the sustainability advantages of digital preprint. Nils explains why brands will increasingly drive adoption and why corrugated, despite its conservative reputation, is ripe for innovation.

We also look ahead to the next five years of industrial print and what Niels believes will be a significant acceleration in digital adoption.

A must-listen for anyone interested in industrial inkjet, corrugated packaging or the future of digital manufacturing.

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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, Marcus Timson is joined once again by Amir Raziel, Head of Strategy at HP Industrial Print, for a wide-ranging conversation about where print is really heading as we move into 2026.

Drawing on almost 20 years at HP across operations, sales, product marketing and strategy, Amir revisits his well-known framework of five key transitions – from AI-driven automation and resilient supply chains through to sustainable production, experiences and services – and explains how each of them has accelerated over the last 12 months.

He unpacks the reality of “printflation” in 2025: rising ink and paper costs, multiple price increases, cautious capital spending and slow delivery of some post-drupa promises. At the same time, research from firms like Keypoint Intelligence shows sustainability rocketing to the number-two concern for PSPs and converters, with regulation turning ESG from a marketing angle into a business imperative.

The discussion also tackles:

• How AI, workflow automation and software are shifting value away from raw hardware
• Why energy consumption and data-centre growth could soon constrain press investments
• The rise of Chinese vendors in labels and packaging – and how established players must respond
• Why trust, service and transparency are becoming critical differentiators

Amir shares practical advice for PSPs and converters on unlocking value today – from better conversations with brand customers to “non-stop digital print” and quick wins hiding in existing workflows. He closes with three strategic questions every print business should ask as it prepares for 2026.

If you’re leading a print or packaging operation and want a clear, strategic view of what’s coming next – and how to prepare – this is essential listening.

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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

Printing clean, durable artwork on the edges of a finished book sounds like magic—until you see how the right heads, inks, and control systems make it routine. We sit down with Martin Letzner and Thomas Amrein of Matti Technology to unpack how their single pass, head-agnostic approach delivers vibrant colour on three edges at up to 4,000 books per hour, straight to pallet with no smearing. The secret? High-viscosity inks that resist capillary wicking, higher pigment loads for pop, and smart transport with cameras and real-time warping to handle imperfect spines and shifting pressure in stacked books.

We walk through the journey from lab tests to turnkey machines built to slot into existing pre- and post-press lines. Thomas explains how close collaboration with ink manufacturers leads to tailored formulations that run dryer-free, while Martin highlights the operator-friendly design: traffic-light machine health, on-the-fly adjustments, and simple, one-button operation that cuts labour costs. Shorter runs are driving the roadmap toward automated format changes and, ultimately, true book-of-one capability—where every book can vary in size and edge artwork without stopping the line.

The conversation stretches beyond books. The same principles apply to products with book-like proportions—think cigar boxes, folding cartons, and flooring packs—where edge graphics and codes can unlock new branding and security options. With extended gamut on the horizon and more ink channels in development, Maty is pushing colour and consistency while keeping energy use in check by avoiding heavy drying. It’s a clear picture of how Swiss engineering turns a tricky, manual niche into a scalable competitive advantage for printers, finishers, and packaging converters.

Enjoyed the conversation and want more like this? Subscribe, share with a colleague who loves print innovation, and leave a review telling us where you’d use edge printing next.

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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, FuturePrint’s Elena Knight speaks with Geert De Proost, Director of Market Intelligence & Product Partnerships at Esko, about the accelerating drive toward digital, data-led and low-waste packaging workflows — and why sustainability is now a compliance essential rather than a voluntary goal.

Geert explains Esko’s role across the packaging value chain, supporting brands, pre-media and converters with tools for structural design, colour, pre-press, palletisation, workflow automation and business process management. Their mission: drastically accelerate packaging development while reducing waste, carbon impact and complexity.

A major theme of the discussion is the regulatory shift reshaping packaging. With EPR, the EU’s PPWR and emerging global sustainability rules, brands now face direct financial consequences if packaging isn’t designed and documented correctly. That pressure is driving a need for accurate, structured digital data — something Esko’s cloud platform is built to enable.

Geert also breaks down the three Manifesto principles most aligned with Esko’s work: optimised design for purpose, improved print efficiency, and leading with data and transparency. He reveals how combining structural and palletisation intelligence avoids “shipping air”; how colour and planning tools reduce makeready waste; and why digital data is the industry’s most urgent blind spot.

The episode also explores cultural change, the evolution of the packaging ecosystem, and where the biggest sustainability wins can be achieved today — especially in conventional printing, where simple workflow improvements can significantly lower waste.

Esko joined the Sustainable Print Manifesto to help drive cross-industry collaboration, and Geert shares his vision of a future where Esko acts as the data backbone connecting brands, converters, printers and recyclers.

A must-listen for anyone involved in packaging, print workflows, sustainability or supply chain transformation.

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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, FuturePrint speaks with Mark Boyt, one of the print industry’s most experienced and respected analysts, now Principal Analyst at Keypoint Intelligence. With more than four decades in print across 3M, Xerox and now Keypoint, Mark brings a unique, long-view perspective on how technology, culture and economics shape the sector’s evolution.

Mark discusses the slow but accelerating adoption of automation within print, revealing new research showing that nearly half of printers have not yet begun their automation journey. He explores why: the industry’s inherently conservative mindset, caution around investment, and the complexity of integrating disparate workflows.

A major theme of the conversation is robotics — where Mark believes print is significantly behind other industries, yet exceptionally well-positioned to benefit. He explains why robots are ideal for lifting, transporting and repetitive handling tasks that continue to pressure today’s production floors. He also addresses common misconceptions, such as fears around job loss, noting instead the potential to relieve labour shortages and free staff for higher-value work.

Mark also highlights the escalating role of AI as the “turbocharger” for automation, connecting workflow islands, optimising scheduling, and enabling more predictive and intelligent production.

The discussion ultimately presents a compelling vision of the near future: highly automated, AI-orchestrated production environments where robotics integrates seamlessly into print workflows. Mark shares clear, practical advice for printers on how to begin that journey, the importance of strategic planning, and why events like FuturePrint Industrial Print Munich offer essential opportunities to learn, see technologies firsthand, and build the roadmap for the next phase of print 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

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Frazer Chesterman is joined by Luca Rovacchi, Innovation Business Development Manager at Habasit, part of the wider Moovimenta Group. Luca shares the story behind one of the most intriguing new technologies to enter the digital print ecosystem – the Habasit Smart Printing Belt, an innovation that could fundamentally shift what precision means in industrial inkjet.

Luca begins by explaining Moovimenta’s mission – smarter, safer, more sustainable – and how its corporate accelerator works across the group to identify, develop, and scale breakthrough technologies. That innovation pathway led directly to the Smart Printing Belt, an evolution built on Habasit’s decades of leadership in belting, from synthetic belts in the 80s to Kevlar-reinforced constructions in the 90s.

The real leap, as Luca explains, comes from integrating a magnetic scale and sensor array directly inside the belt, enabling direct, real-time positional measurement with an astonishing accuracy of ±10 microns. This level of sub-pixel precision dramatically reduces banding, colour shifts, and registration errors, while improving uptime, yield, and consistency across long or repeat production runs.

Luca also discusses how the system requires no machine redesign, can be retrofitted, and is compatible with existing heat-press joining methods – opening the door for integration across textiles, corrugated, décor, ceramics, packaging films, metal packaging and more.

This is a rare genuine step-change in transport technology for digital printing – and one you’ll want to understand.

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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 Ed speaks with Ulrich Buckenlei, founder of Munich-based Visoric, about how gaming technology, AI and XR are transforming industrial training and manufacturing.

Ulrich explains how his background in military helicopter simulators led to Visoric’s core mission: taking real-time 3D game engines and using them to build photorealistic “serious” simulations of machines, workflows and factories. These digital twins let operators and engineers train, experiment and make mistakes safely – long before they touch a real line.

He shares how Visoric works across screens, tablets, browsers and mixed-reality headsets, and how AI now sits alongside these tools – not as a replacement for experts, but as a power tool that speeds up design, content creation and data processing.

Ulrich gives a behind-the-scenes look at a project with Siemens Power Academy, where browser-based 3D learning environments – and future AI “virtual experts” – are reshaping how technical knowledge is delivered globally.

The conversation also touches on generative design in automotive, the link to industrial print and surface decoration, and why leaders should approach AI with curiosity rather than fear.

A must-listen for anyone interested in AI, XR, industrial print and the future of advanced manufacturing.

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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 sits down with Bas Buser, one of the most respected voices in plasma surface treatment and global printing applications, to explore why plasma has become a critical enabler for industrial inkjet.

Bas explains the remarkable story behind Plasmatreat, founded over 30 years ago when Christian Buske pioneered Openair-Plasma, allowing plasma activation outside of vacuum chambers and directly inline with production systems. Today Plasmatreat operates worldwide, supporting automotive, electronics, medical, packaging, and now fast-growing areas of industrial print.

Listeners will discover why plasma treatment is now essential for UV and inkjet adhesion: increasing surface energy, cleaning contamination, introducing chemical functionality, and enabling inks to bond to plastics, metals, glass, and recycled materials. Bas shares real-world examples from automotive (50–70 plasma applications per vehicle), packaging (printing QR codes on varnished surfaces), electronics (conductive inks), and medical devices.

The conversation also uncovers plasma’s role in sustainability — from eliminating solvent-based primers and reducing oven energy use to increasing material choices, lowering ink consumption and minimising rejects.

Bas emphasises the importance of collaboration across printheads, inks, integrators, OEMs and converters. He previews Plasmatreat’s involvement at FuturePrint Industrial Print Munich, where the team will demo live plasma treatments and invite visitors to test their own substrates.

Whether you work in inkjet development, printing, coating, converting or advanced manufacturing, this episode offers a rare level of clarity on one of the most important enabling technologies in modern industrial 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