FuturePrint Podcast

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In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson speaks with Javier Quesada, CEO of Kento Digital Printing, about how hybrid technology is reshaping the corrugated packaging industry.

With nearly two decades in the box-making business at companies like Saica and DS Smith, Quesada brings a rare dual perspective: the pragmatism of a packaging producer and the vision of a technology innovator. He explains how this background shaped Kento’s mission to make digital printing work for the corrugated sector – not as a replacement for flexo, but as a complementary, cost-efficient tool that adds value where it matters most.

The discussion explores the three main barriers that have slowed digital adoption in corrugated – high ink costs, capital expenditure, and inline converting – and how Kento’s hybrid approach directly tackles each. By combining flexo, digital, and rotary die-cutting in one line, converters can achieve shorter runs, faster changeovers, and reduced waste. Kento’s modular system also allows companies to start small and scale up over time, opening digital transformation to independent converters that historically lacked access to high-end technology.

Looking ahead, Quesada reveals Kento’s latest innovation: a high-viscosity, water-based inkjet system designed to cut energy use, enhance colour performance, and maintain the structural integrity of corrugated fibre. It’s a practical step toward greater sustainability and lower production costs.

Throughout the conversation, Quesada’s message is clear: the future of corrugated is evolution, not disruption. Hybrid systems, modular design, and smart partnerships will drive a new era of efficient, sustainable, and achievable innovation in packaging.

This episode offers valuable insight for converters, OEMs, and brand leaders looking to balance commercial realism with technological progress.

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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 speaks with Justin Noble, Director of Sales at Xaar, about the company’s evolution from a pioneering printhead manufacturer in graphics to a driving force in industrial and functional inkjet.

Justin’s journey from engineering to leadership mirrors Xaar’s transformation – from developing printheads for décor and ceramics to enabling digital deposition in manufacturing, electronics, and energy. The conversation explores how inkjet’s second act is unfolding not on paper or packaging, but inside factories: coating EV batteries, applying dielectrics to semiconductors, and delivering precision fluid layers that analogue processes can’t easily achieve.

Justin reflects on lessons learned from Xaar’s early dominance in ceramics, the costly but formative thin-film experiment, and the strategic refocus on high-viscosity jetting – a breakthrough that allows digital to move into industrial processes traditionally served by spraying, slot-die coating or screen printing.

They discuss the rise of hybrid manufacturing, where analogue and digital techniques combine to create new efficiencies, and the power of partnerships – with universities, innovators like Added Scientific, and global OEMs – to expand what’s possible.

This is a story of resilience, reinvention and relevance – showing how Xaar’s pragmatic engineering and open collaboration are helping re-imagine the future of industrial production.

If you’re interested in where inkjet meets manufacturing, how hybrid systems will define the next decade, and how companies can convert innovation into impact, this conversation 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

Industrial inkjet is evolving fast, and IACS is one of the companies quietly making it work at production scale. In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, co-owner Jasmine Geerinckx joins to share how this small Belgian firm has become a trusted integration partner for machine builders across multiple sectors – from pharmaceuticals and packaging to wood and logistics.

Jasmine explains how her engineering roots and early exposure to digital print at Barco Graphics shaped her understanding of both the challenges and the long-term potential of inkjet. She describes how IACS, founded by Erwin Kempeneers in 2008, has evolved from consultancy to manufacturer, developing its own modular InkDock (TM) ink supply systems – compact, reliable units that have now shipped nearly 500 times worldwide.

We explore how IACS technology is being used in real-world applications such as cargo straps, pallet marking, and folding cartons, often in harsh environments where reliability is paramount. Jasmine explains why digital printing is displacing hot stamping and flexo in many cases, and how late-stage customisation, traceability, and regulatory pressures are accelerating adoption in packaging and pharma.

The conversation also delves into collaboration – the lifeblood of industrial inkjet. IACS works closely with partners such as RISO, Chemstream, and IST, developing fully integrated, real-world solutions that connect chemistry, hardware, and production.

Whether you’re an OEM, brand owner, or manufacturer exploring digital transformation, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the practical side of industrial print. Jasmine’s grounded, open approach highlights how incremental progress, smart partnerships, and robust design are redefining what’s possible on the factory floor.

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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, Elena Knight speaks with Mikael Boedler, Head of New Business Development at Inkatronic, about one of the most critical transitions in industrial inkjet – moving from lab-scale innovation to full factory production.

Drawing on years of experience supporting OEMs, research institutes, and manufacturers, Mikael shares real-world insights into what it takes to turn a promising lab prototype into a stable, repeatable, and profitable industrial process. From process stability and ink system design to substrate preparation, curing, and collaboration across the supply chain, he outlines the key ingredients for successful upscaling.

The discussion also features a fascinating case study in which Inkatronic helped a manufacturer replace screen printing with a digital inkjet process – achieving flexibility, precision, and mass customisation at scale.

As Mikael explains, true success lies in designing with the end in mind, validating every step under realistic conditions, and fostering tight collaboration between chemistry, hardware, and production partners.

🎧 Listen now to learn how inkjet is unlocking new manufacturing possibilities — and why the factory floor is its ultimate proving ground.

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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, Marcus Timson speaks with Lisa Faratro, Director of Environment and Sustainability at CPI Group, Europe’s largest book manufacturer. With over 400 million books produced annually across 14 sites in the UK and continental Europe, CPI sits at the heart of an industry often assumed to be in decline—yet books are proving more resilient and more sustainable than many imagine.

Lisa shares her journey from production management to leading sustainability strategy across CPI’s European operations. She explains how the role evolved from an add-on responsibility into a standalone leadership position, reflecting the company’s commitment to making environmental performance as central as financial performance.

The conversation explores how CPI has pioneered print-on-demand and digital workflows to slash overproduction, cut warehousing, and reduce waste—turning sustainability into an operational advantage. Lisa also discusses the complexities of materials such as paper and plastics, why trade-offs must be judged in context, and how collaboration with competitors, publishers, and industry peers is vital for real progress.

Far from being eclipsed by screens, books are enjoying a resurgence. From tactile, beautifully produced editions to efficient “book of one” models, Lisa highlights how innovation is reshaping not just production but also the cultural relevance of print. She emphasises the need to keep sustainability front-of-mind, integrated into everyday decision-making and long-term investment strategies.

As a founding partner of A Manifesto for More Sustainable Print, CPI is helping lead an industry-wide effort to define sensible baselines, encourage collaboration, and inspire change across print sectors.

This episode offers valuable lessons for anyone in print and beyond: how sustainability, when embedded deeply into strategy and operations, can drive efficiency, resilience, and cultural impact.

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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, which was recorded Oct 17 in webinar format, we explore the evolution—and accelerating future—of industrial inkjet technology with three experts shaping its direction across manufacturing, materials, and design.

Ken Stack, Executive Chairman of Engineered Printing Solutions, reflects on the journey from promise to production. He charts how sectors like graphics, ceramics and textiles made the digital leap, and explains why direct-to-shape printing—once limited by geometry—is now achieving true production speeds thanks to advances in robotics, automation, and ink chemistry.

Mikael Boedler, Head of New Business Development at Inkatronic, shares how inkjet is evolving from decorative to functional manufacturing. Through precision deposition of coatings and materials, inkjet now enables breakthroughs in electronics, biomedical devices, and advanced industrial coatings—transforming how materials are applied with micron-level accuracy and minimal waste.

Royce Dodds, Design and Digital Print Specialist at Wilsonart Germany, discusses how AI and digital workflows are reshaping decorative printing. From AI-generated surface designs to sustainable on-demand production, he explains how digital technology empowers creativity, reduces waste, and makes bespoke décor commercially viable.

Together, these leaders reveal a technology at a tipping point—moving from the periphery of prototyping to the heart of industrial production. Inkjet is now more than printing: it’s a core enabler of digital manufacturing where physics, chemistry, data, and design converge.

Join us to hear why industrial inkjet’s next decade promises smarter materials, agile production, and the fusion of automation and creativity.

🎧 Listen now on FuturePrint Podcasts and discover why print is no longer the end of production—but the process itself.

If you would prefer to view the recorded Webinar, please click here.

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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

Digital is moving from promise to production in packaging. In this episode, Marc Graindourze, Business Manager for Industrial Inks at Agfa, explains how water-based consumables, process control and smart partnerships are unlocking fibre-based packaging at industrial speed.

We cover why folding carton and corrugated are “natural fits” for inkjet right now; how water-based formulations simplify indirect food-contact compliance; and why primers and varnishes matter just as much as the ink itself. Marc breaks down the roles of primer (holding pigment at the surface for sharp text and colour), ink (delivering density and gamut), and varnish (providing rub and water resistance) — and why separating these functions improves stability, consistency and cost control.

You’ll hear a concise tour of preprint versus postprint in corrugated: preprint offers ultra-high throughput and tighter process control, but inks must survive the corrugator’s heat and pressure; postprint brings agility for shorter runs, with adapted waveforms and careful gap control. We discuss how connected packaging, track-and-trace and regulatory drivers are pushing brands toward digital — alongside sustainability moves away from plastics and toward recyclable fibre.

Beyond the lab, Marc emphasises the collaboration imperative: OEM engineering expertise plus ink chemistry, validated with real field tests and clear market access. The economics are improving too — not only on print cost, but across the workflow: faster time-to-market, reduced inventory and less waste. The goal is not a one-off “hero” print, but consistent, repeatable quality at speed.

If you work across packaging, inks, or OEM systems — or you’re a brand owner exploring digital — this is a practical roadmap to making inkjet work on fibre at production scale

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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 Didier Rousseau, CEO of KELENN Technology, and Anaïs Bianchi, Head of KT Labs, about how this pioneering company is redefining the boundaries of industrial inkjet innovation.

KELENN has built a unique position in Europe as one of the few companies capable of mastering the full spectrum of inkjet technology — from chemistry and materials to drive electronics, process integration, and automation. At the heart of the company is KT Labs, a research hub that blends scientific precision with real-world application, enabling innovation to move quickly from concept to industrial deployment.

Didier and Anaïs share insights into several key areas of development, including the shift to sustainable water-based inks that can replace UV formulations, high-performance drive electronics designed for reliability and flexibility, and groundbreaking progress in 3D structural electronics, where circuitry is printed directly onto complex parts to create functional components in a fraction of the usual time.

They also explore KELENN’s work in direct-to-shape printing, a technology that allows vivid, high-adhesion decoration on three-dimensional surfaces — reducing waste and energy use. These innovations demonstrate how digital print is becoming integral to advanced manufacturing.

As KELENN prepares to showcase its technology at FuturePrint Industrial Print, Munich (21–22 January 2026), Didier and Anaïs discuss their vision for the future — a future where inkjet is not just a printing method but a platform for smarter, more sustainable production.

Listen in to discover how KELENN Technology is helping reshape the industrial landscape through innovation, precision, and collaboration.

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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 sits down with Richard Darling, Director of Sales and Marketing at Global Inkjet Systems (GIS), to explore where industrial inkjet technology really stands today — beyond the hype, beyond the headlines, and right at the heart of production.

With over 25 years in inkjet, including senior roles at Xaar and Ricoh, Richard brings a unique, long-term view of how the sector has evolved. Together, they unpack the key themes from LabelExpo Barcelona — from the rise of new single-pass platforms and the growing accessibility of high-performance machines, to the increasingly global mix of engineering and innovation shaping our industry.

They discuss why the label and packaging market feels more evolutionary than revolutionary, how cultural approaches to development differ across regions (Europe, China, Korea, India, the US), and why “speed to market” has become the new strategic advantage for converters and OEMs alike.

Richard also reflects on what makes GIS tick: a company best known for being “under the bonnet,” providing the drive electronics, ink systems and software that help print systems actually work. He explains why packaging that cleverness into accessible, easy-to-use platforms is now central to the next stage of digital print’s maturity.

The conversation covers everything from functional printing and EV applications to the realities of hybrid systems, localised manufacturing, and why another “ceramics moment” is unlikely — and unnecessary.

If you’re in the business of industrial print, labels, or manufacturing innovation, this episode offers rare clarity on where the opportunities lie — and what will really matter as inkjet moves into its next gear.

🎧 Listen now and discover why the future of inkjet isn’t just about speed — it’s about fit, flexibility, and systems that simply work.

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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 reconnect with Richard Bunney, Group Managing Director at Dantex in a reflective and future focused discussion following their highly successful outing at LabelExpo Barcelona. Richard walks us through the strategic call to relaunch the PicoColour as a smart, lower-risk entry point into digital, alongside the proven performance of PicoJet. We dig into why digital print is drawing the biggest crowds, how converters and brand owners are collaborating on capital decisions, and what pressure points—agility, cost per label, sustainability—are driving that shift. You’ll hear how the team moved faster than a typical R&D cycle without sacrificing quality, and why a family-run, customer-first culture showed up not just in messaging, but in the stand’s design and energy.

Dantex's booth at LabelExpo also proved that trade shows don’t have to feel like a maze of similar looking booths featuring machines and hard sells. Richard explained more about how a hospitality-first stand—open space, a warm welcome, real conversations—helped Dantex convert interest into action, including on-stand sales and a 60% jump in active leads compared with Brussels. This isn’t a brag reel; it’s a blueprint for designing experiences that buyers trust.

We also look west and the dynamically growing US market. With a fast growing install base, a focused portfolio, and a strengthened sales and service footprint, Dantex’s U.S. subsidiary is turning proof into momentum. Expect a strong showing in Chicago for LOUPE Americas, with the compact, small-footprint platform moving from concept to commercial, and significant interest from Mexico and Brazil through regional partners. 

If you care about digital label printing, trade show strategy, or building trust in complex B2B sales, this conversation offers practical signals you can use.

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow the show, share it with a colleague who’s planning their next expo, and leave a quick review—your feedback helps us bring more insight to more listeners.

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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