Xeikon North America hosted this year’s Xeikon Café, May 15th and 16th, at their headquarters in Itasca, Ill., near Chicago. In addition to spotlighting nearly 40 solution partners, Xeikon management from both sides of the Atlantic, and many industry experts, the event focused on Xeikon customers who have had great success in their businesses incorporating Xeikon solutions. Some of these customers talked about the successes they had in standard label and graphic arts applications and some discussed how they grew new opportunities and even new businesses.

The event kicked off with a press briefing with the Xeikon management team who gave an overview of where the company has been and where it is going. Benoit Chatelard, President and CEO of Xeikon, proudly stated the 40% year-over-year growth of the company in the past two years and how the company is growing in a very stable labels sector while continuing to offer new solutions to its graphic arts customers. From these presentations, it’s clear that Xeikon continues to innovate in their key solution areas: dry toner and inkjet digital printing solutions, workflow, and digitally imaged flexographic printing plates.

The “podium time” was artfully directed by Gina Testa, longtime industry expert and principal at her eponymous consulting firm. Gina made sure that all the presentations were tied to the main themes of innovation, thinking outside the box, and growing business. In addition to being the program’s main brand director, Gina led a series of customer and brand owner panels that highlighted the need for printers and packaging converters to continue developing and offering product innovations for customers of all sizes.