Redacción Alabrent
Digitalization, automation, and sustainability were the key themes running through the technology on display. Artificial Intelligence, increasingly integrated into processes, is making the printing and converting industry more efficient and flexible. A strong emphasis was placed on green solutions – from recyclable and circular materials to energy efficiency and technologies that can be applied to existing machinery.Several new trends emerged within the printing sector, all made possible by technological innovation: from tactile printing with multisensory effects to one-step digital embellishment, and even the ability to print on a wide range of natural and recycled materials. The finishing sector also saw significant innovation, becoming increasingly smart and customized, ideal for short-run and bespoke production.
In the converting and corrugated sectors, the focus was once again on digital solutions – including integrated systems often developed through partnerships between multiple brands – and innovative accessories, such as tear tape and reinforcement tape, designed to boost efficiency while meeting sustainability criteria.
SPECIAL AREAS
Three dedicated focus areas highlighted key growth opportunities for the market: corrugated cardboard (Corrugated Experience), new materials (PrintMat), and the importance of training and inter-association collaboration (WeArePrint4All Hub).
Corrugated cardboard took center stage in the Corrugated Experience, a journey through the stands of specialized companies and a dedicated hub that showcased the potential of this material – evolving from a simple packaging medium into a sustainable, high-impact visual communication tool.
PrintMAT, on the other hand, celebrated the more creative side of printing, featuring applications from textiles to glass – all capable of conveying a product’s essence through new tactile sensations.
At the heart of the event was the WeArePrint4All Hub, the cultural epicenter of the show. It hosted training sessions, debates, and networking opportunities, encouraging dialogue among stakeholders across the value chain and offering broad-ranging content on strategic themes for the industry’s future. The Hub also saw key "debuts," including the official launch of Gruppo Converting by Acimga - the new specialist group within the machinery sector, dedicated to a strategic supply chain encompassing printing, packaging, and the converting of flexible materials – and the presentation of Girls Who Print Italia, a new association promoting initiatives to break down barriers related to gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability within the printing and converting world.
An entire day – Friday, May 30 – was also dedicated to welcoming young people and raising awareness among the next generation about the career opportunities this industry has to offer.
THE INNOVATION ALLIANCE: STRATEGY EVOLVES, SYNERGY REMAINS
Once again this edition, Print4All was part of The Innovation Alliance, the cross-sector event that brought together four exhibitions under a single, integrated vision - an expression of the innovative strength of capital goods technology serving the manufacturing industry. A comprehensive ecosystem ranging from materials and plastics processing technologies, with a focus on sustainability, showcased by GreenPlast, to packaging and processing at IPACK-IMA, from printing and converting at Print4All to warehouse logistics at INTRALOGISTICA ITALIA. A clear common thread united them all: innovation, digitalization, and sustainability as strategic drivers.
The recently concluded edition attracted a total of 108,458 professional visitors from 143 countries, who explored the latest technological solutions offered by 1,857 exhibitors - 39% of whom came from 38 foreign nations. Conceived to highlight the innovative capabilities of capital goods technologies, this event - unique in Europe - confirmed its systemic vocation, demonstrating how integrating multiple trade shows can generate value greater than the sum of its parts.
Building on these results and looking ahead to future needs, The Innovation Alliance is now entering a new phase: each of the participating exhibitions will follow its own timeline, aligned with the specific requirements of its sector and its positioning within the international trade show calendar. This strategic choice will allow each exhibition to enhance its effectiveness and relevance, without compromising their shared identity and unified vision.
The Innovation Alliance will continue to thrive through tangible synergies among the individual exhibitions, shared content, joint initiatives, and supply chain platforms, sustaining a dynamic ecosystem focused on innovation and constantly engaged with the evolving needs of the manufacturing sectors. This evolution marks the project’s maturity and its ability to adapt while remaining coherent - further strengthening the alliance between the represented industries, even beyond the framework of simultaneous scheduling.
Upcoming events
- Plast: Fiera Milano, 9–12 June 2026
- Print4All: Fiera Milano, 25–28 May 2027
- IPACK-IMA, GreenPlast and INTRALOGISTICA ITALIA: Fiera Milano, 28 May – 1 June 2028