Print4All Conference 2026 opened in Varese, Italy, as a strategic bridge toward Print4All 2027 — bringing together the printing, packaging and converting supply chain at a time when automation, AI, sustainability and new production models are reshaping the industry.
For corruga.expert, the first day was not only about attending an international conference. It was about understanding where the corrugated board sector is being positioned inside the wider ecosystem of printing, converting, packaging machinery and industrial communication.
A strategic bridge to Print4All 2027
Print4All Conference is part of the official roadmap toward Print4All 2027, which will take place at Fiera Milano on May 25–28, 2027.
This makes the Varese conference more than a networking event. It is a platform where associations, machinery suppliers, printers, converters, packaging companies, media partners and international delegates begin shaping the agenda for the next major Print4All exhibition.
The official theme of the 2026 conference is “Humans Print the World”, developed through two major directions: Human+Machine and Human+Life.
For the corrugated board industry, this is highly relevant. The future of packaging production will not be defined only by faster machines. It will also depend on how people, data, automation, AI, materials and sustainability work together inside real production environments.
Why the first day mattered
The first day was built around dinner and networking, creating space for direct conversations before the main conference programme.
This format is important because many of the most valuable B2B contacts in the industry are not created only during official presentations. They often begin during informal discussions, personal introductions, sponsor meetings and international delegate sessions.
For corrugated board producers and suppliers, this kind of event matters because it connects the sector with a wider technology environment: printing, digital workflows, converting, finishing, automation, AI, sustainability and packaging design.
corruga.expert on site in Varese
Igor Tkalenko, CEO of corruga.expert, attended the conference as part of the international media and B2B community around Print4All.
For corruga.expert, participation in Varese has a practical purpose: to build contacts before Print4All 2027, identify relevant companies for future interviews, and follow how corrugated board is being integrated into the broader printing and converting conversation.
This is especially important because corrugated is no longer only a logistics material. It is increasingly connected with graphics, customization, e-commerce, retail displays, automation and sustainable packaging strategies.
Media partnership and international visibility
The official Print4All Conference platform highlights the importance of media, associations and international cooperation in building the road to Print4All 2027.
For corruga.expert, being represented among the media partners is not only a visibility point. It supports a broader editorial mission: to connect corrugated board producers, machinery suppliers, converters and packaging professionals across regions.
The previous Print4All Conference edition in 2024 already demonstrated the scale of this format, with hundreds of participants, dozens of speakers and sponsors, international delegates and structured B2B meetings.
Ukraine in the B2B meetings area
One of the strongest visual moments of the first day was the B2B meetings area, where Ukraine was represented by corruga.expert and Expert Form.
For Ukrainian companies and professionals, participation in such events is strategically important. It gives direct access to European suppliers, industry associations, media partners and potential technology contacts.
It also sends a simple message: even in extremely difficult conditions, Ukrainian professionals continue to stay connected with the European industrial community and look for new opportunities for cooperation.
The industry agenda: AI, automation, sustainability and bottlenecks
The official programme shows that Print4All Conference 2026 is focused on several themes that are directly relevant to corrugated board producers.
The agenda includes sessions on AI adoption, human decision-making in machine-assisted workflows, sustainable production, water-based inks, recycled and compostable substrates, production bottlenecks, slitting and rewinding, laser converting, anilox management, ESG in flexographic printing, inkjet, digital embellishment and packaging design.
For plant directors, these topics are not abstract. They are linked to daily production questions:
How can plants reduce bottlenecks?
How can automation support operators instead of replacing them?
How can AI be integrated into real workflows?
How can printing and converting become more efficient with shorter runs and higher customization?
How can sustainability become practical, not only a marketing message?
Why this matters for corrugated board
The corrugated board industry is moving closer to the wider printing and converting ecosystem.
E-commerce, retail-ready packaging, high-quality graphics, shorter runs, digital printing, automated converting and sustainable materials are making corrugated packaging more complex and more strategic.
For corrugated board producers, this creates both pressure and opportunity.
The pressure is clear: customers want faster delivery, better print quality, more customization, lower waste and more sustainable packaging.
The opportunity is also clear: companies that invest in automation, digital workflows, better converting processes and stronger market visibility can move beyond standard box production and compete in higher-value segments.
That is why Print4All Conference 2026 matters. It shows where the industry conversation is moving before Print4All 2027.
Corruga Empire as a networking tool
During the first day, corruga.expert also introduced Corruga Empire to industry professionals.
In this context, the game worked not as entertainment, but as a communication tool. It helped start conversations about the corrugated board industry in a more visual and interactive way — around markets, production, strategy, competition and investment.
This is useful because the corrugated board sector can sometimes look technical and closed from the outside. Corruga Empire makes it easier to explain the logic of the industry to new partners, young professionals, suppliers and international contacts.
Networking as part of market positioning
The first evening at Ville Ponti showed why physical events still matter in a digital industry.
Online communication is fast, but trust in B2B markets is still built through direct meetings, personal conversations and shared professional experience.
For corruga.expert, the networking format is also part of long-term positioning before Print4All 2027. It creates opportunities for interviews, technical articles, partnerships and future coverage of companies working in corrugated board, printing, converting and packaging machinery.
Investment and market signal
From an investment perspective, Print4All Conference 2026 confirms an important market direction.
The printing and converting industry is moving toward integrated production, automation, data-driven workflows, AI-assisted decision-making, sustainable materials and higher-value packaging applications.
For corrugated board, this means that future growth will not come only from volume. It will also come from technology, specialization, graphic quality, automation, faster changeovers, digital printing and stronger customer integration.
This is why corrugated board producers should watch events like Print4All closely. They show which technologies, suppliers and market narratives are likely to influence investment decisions in 2026–2027.
A strong opening in Varese
The first day of Print4All Conference 2026 combined three important elements: international networking, industry positioning and preparation for Print4All 2027.
For corruga.expert, the event is an opportunity to follow the direction of the market from inside the conversation — not only from press releases, but through direct contact with people, companies and associations shaping the future of printing, packaging and converting.
The key message from Varese is clear: corrugated board is becoming more connected with the future of printing and converting — and this connection will only become stronger on the road to Print4All 2027.
Source: Print4All Conference 2026 official programme, Print4All Conference official website, and corruga.expert on-site materials.
corruga.expert
