When looking at the obstacles constraining the migration rate of digital packaging, we find that there are many. In the last few articles, we have looked at a few of them including the unique requirements of packaging, technology development, and the issue of adaptation. It’s interesting that when we look at one of the newer requirements of packaging, sustainability, we tend to limit it to the ecological focus, when the more consequential focus relates to adaptation.

In biology “adaptation is the physical or behavioral characteristic of an organism that helps an organism to survive better in the surrounding environment.” Interestingly, this can also be said for business. In 1952, Giovanni Bertoldo started his printing company LIC in Verolanuova, Italy, in the province of Brescia. In 1961, utilizing offset equipment, they started to produce shoeboxes to support the needs of the shoemaking region of Italy. In 1982, they realized that all of their customers needed to deliver the shoeboxes in corrugated boxes, so they added corrugated flexo printing. As the business grew, in 1991, they added their first BHS corrugator to manufacture their own corrugated board in-house. In 1997, they added display production to leverage their production capabilities to support their existing and new customers including standup floor displays, counter displays, and shelf-ready packaging, recently adding digital signage as well.

Remaining relevant and profitable is also a function of selecting and implementing the appropriate technology to support the current and future operation of the business. LIC’s equipment list proves that point. Their selection of KBA, BHS, Bobst, Göpfert, Revicart, Oppliger, and Emba shows an understanding of how the design and quality of their equipment will translate into quality production for their customers.