Digital Printing (CONT’D FROM PAGE 30)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
“Having digital in place helps [converters’] turnaround time, and how they’re more nimble and flexible to change with the things that brands want,” Mascara said. “Brands will understand that something might be a little more ex- pensive, but if they can switch this packaging in a matter of a month and get the product out faster, then they’re going to go the way of digital.” Brands are also focusing more on sustianability, and digital printing is widely viewed as more sustainable than analog. That’s partly due to the elimination of printing plates, which lowers waste and emissions. Although brands will adopt AI much faster than con- verters, Mascara explained, the technologies will also aid digital printing for packaging. “Brands are going to be using big data. They own the data. They know where things are going. They know the consumer,” Mascara said. “AI is going to be able to help them predict how they’re going to do their campaigns, how their product is going to go to market, who it is going to be targeted to, and AI is going to really help in the de- sign aspect.” For converters, “AI is really going to be tied into the production side: all the information and data that’s coming [and] how your production is going through the converting process,” he said. Converters won’t start using AI regularly until all their digital printing systems are established and connected to the broader production systems, Mascara explained. “As soon as they get that out of the way, then they can start using AI for predicting how they’re going to be doing their scheduling, and doing it faster.” When a piece of digital printing equipment is added to an existing production system, “it’s got to connect to pre- press, it’s got to be easy for the operators to run,” he said. “Then that’s where AI comes into play, with that operation- al efficiency.” “Digital is a big play, and it’s really becoming the center of production,” whereas previously it was “kind of on the fringe,” Mascara said. With the focus on system connectivity and mainline production, OEMs need to evolve their product offerings for smoother integration and alignment with real-world manufacturing environments, according to the report. “All of this change is not going to happen if the OEMs are not active as well,” Mascara said. As equipment purchasers become more sensitive to in- tegration risks and system cohesion, OEMs that focus on interoperability and data flow are viewed as better posi- tioned to support customers, the report says. In 2026, OEMs are expected to gain an even better understanding that “it’s the whole workflow system they have to deal with, and they can’t just drop off a piece of equipment and expect it to work,” Mascara said. “There’s a shift that we’re predicting, coming from the OEMs, of how they’re putting AI into their equipment.”
SAUER SYSTEM www.sauersystem.com
Sauer provides intelligent solutions for scoring, slitting, slit-scoring, and perforating on corrugators and floor slitters; and glue tab cutting, creasing, slotting, trimming and scrap chopping on presses. New, featured offerings include FRX Adjustable Folding Rail System and G3 Scoring System: the latest proven creasing technology on the market.
STAFFORD GROUP www.go2stafford.com
Interactive website for Stafford Corrugated Products and Stafford Cutting Dies. Featuring online ordering of replace- ment parts. Also, visitors can automatically calculate sheet size for most die-cut standards.
SUN AUTOMATION GROUP ® www.sunautomation.com
SUN Automation Group is the global leader in providing innovative solutions to the corrugated industry. SUN engi- neers and builds the SUN625 Rotary Die Cutter, provides sales, service and support in North and Central America for Latitude Machinery Corporation, manufacturer of Mini to Jumbo FFG and RDCs. Additionally, SUN is the North Amer- ican, UK and Ireland sales and service provider for Para Machinery’s line of equipment, and is the North American sales provider for Highcon. SUN also powers the corrugat- ed industry’s premier IIoT platform, Helios, and is the OEM source for Langston/Staley equipment parts and service. THACKER INDUSTRIAL SERVICE COMPANY www.thackerindustrial.com Specializing in corrugated machinery, T.I.S.CO. offers quali- ty-made products, support services, and more. T.I.S.CO. has a reputation of dependability, not only in the product, but in service and support. With more than 25 years’ experience, T.I.S.CO. installs equipment and machinery, moves or sets up entire plants, rewires and rebuilds - all over the world. VT GROUP www.vtgrouponline.com VT offers prepress services for the POP display and corru- gated shipping container industry including graphic design, optimized digitally imaged printing plates and innovative pre-mounting solutions. Our large-format digital printing fa- cility (Digital Impact) is a leading short-run manufacturer of distinctive POP displays and signage where litho-like graph-
ics are preferred. WPR SERVICES www.wprservices.net
WPR Services was established in 2016. What originally start- ed as a technical services company expanded its product offerings to include a machine center learning platform POWtalk™. Our analysis of video, audio, machine metrics, employee ergometrics, and person to person conversation provides a way to identify safety and process inefficiencies.
32 March 2, 2026
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