Eede, The Netherlands – Xeikon is pleased to report that the 2015 edition of the Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations saw a 35% rise in visitor numbers with more than 700 industry innovators keen to learn about enhancing digital print production. Hosted by Xeikon in collaboration with its Aura partners, the three-day event at Xeikon’s R&D and production site in Belgium was held to help label and packaging printers as well as converters, print buyers, brand owners and marketers worldwide transform profitability. Visitors were able to learn more about the latest trends and innovations in digital production and had the opportunity to get up to speed with the newest technologies and share insights.

“We are delighted to see the Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations platform is growing, in terms of both industry and customer support. We received very positive feedback from the event attendees. The relaxed approach to this educational review of market drivers, trends and emerging technologies enabled them to have far reaching conversations and get a clearer business path for their journey ahead,” says Wim Maes, Xeikon CEO.

“We are also very pleased to see an increased diversity in the type of print professionals that attended the event,” Maes continues. “Not only printers and converters appreciated the Xeikon Café as a platform to get more insights in optimizing their digital print production. Also brand owners gained a better understanding of how digital print is the answer to their needs in terms of shorter runs and greater product variety to name just some. For marketers that attended the event, I can say the Xeikon Café 2015 certainly was an eye-opener as they discovered how digital print technology creates new creative opportunities.”

Extended educational platform

During the Xeikon Café, a series of presentations were held as part of the Business Conference program where highly experienced market experts and Xeikon customers shared business insights and experiences on digital printing. Running alongside, the Technical Conference program provided a number of technology-driven seminars given by Xeikon and its Aura Partners. In total more than 100 sessions were held, covering all aspects of digital production. “One of our objectives with the Xeikon Café is to provide an informal knowledge exchange platform. Also for the 2015 edition, we certainly reached this goal with a large number of high quality presentations, all providing outstanding industry related information. Leading market trends and their influence on brands and print buyers were just some of the most interesting topics,” adds Maes.

Collaboration with Xeikon Aura Partners provides myriad of information

At the Xeikon Café 2015 edition, no less than 33 Aura Partners exhibited their integrated solutions and industry expertise through more than 15 different applications ranging from folding carton to self-adhesive, heat transfer and in-mold labels. The wide range of applications illustrated exactly the extent of what digital production can achieve. Combined with the many networking opportunities, this event was also much appreciated by the attending Xeikon Aura Partners.

“We are pleased to see also our Aura Partners embraced the Xeikon Café 2015 edition. Digital printing answers many of the challenges today’s print producers, print buyers and brands face. Because there is more to print production than printing, we have gone one step further and developed together with our Aura Partners total solutions. These solutions, or suites, are carefully selected and thoroughly tested combinations of equipment, technologies and capabilities. Having these solutions demonstrated live at the Xeikon Café, we managed to educate visitors how to produce not only head-turning prints, but fully finished products,” Maes concludes.

Xeikon invites anyone that was unable to attend the event to visit the www.xeikoncafe.com website for more impressions, images or to request a free sample package.

ABOUT THE XEIKON CAFÉ PACKAGING INNOVATIONS

The Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations is a platform offered by Xeikon and its Aura partners, offering the opportunity to understand, evaluate and experience digital production, and enabling printers and converters to consciously make a business decision. Through demonstrations, presentations, workshops and discussions, participants receive first-hand actionable information and advice on industry innovations and trends.

Participating partners are:

• Under the software category: Advance Track & Trace, CERM, CHILI Publish, Esko, Hybrid Software, Label Traxx, OneVision Software, Four Pees
• Under the equipment category: AB Graphic International, Bograma, Esko, Grafisk Maskinfabrik A/S, Highcon, Kurz, MBO, Meech International, MOSS, Rietstack, Schobertechnologies, Seilaser, SMAG Graphique, Tronics, Zünd
• Under the consumables category: ACTEGA Terra, Kurz, Michelman, Rotometrics
• Under the print media category: Avery, Metsä Board, Stora Enso, Taghleef Industries, Treofan Group, UPM Raflatac

For more information, visit www.xeikoncafe.com.