FuturePrint Podcast

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In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson speaks with Julien Bianchi, CEO of Polytype, to explore the remarkable evolution of a company whose roots stretch back more than a century.
Originally emerging from Switzerland’s precision engineering tradition and the newspaper press industry, Polytype has transformed itself into a global leader in direct-to-shape packaging decoration. Julien explains how the pivotal founding of Polytype in 1962 marked the moment the company shifted its focus toward packaging, applying high-speed printing expertise to aluminium tubes, plastic packaging and other complex three-dimensional surfaces.
The conversation explores why Polytype deliberately chose the technically challenging path of direct-to-shape printing, and how that decision has shaped the company’s engineering philosophy and competitive advantage over decades.
Marcus and Julien also discuss how Polytype balances its long-standing expertise in dry-offset analogue printing with the growing opportunities of digital inkjet. Rather than viewing the technologies as competitors, Polytype sees them as complementary tools within a broader decoration toolbox.
The episode also delves into Polytype’s digital ecosystem strategy, including the development of its proprietary CALMAR inkjet platform, its open approach to ink supply, and the company’s partnerships with research institutions such as the iPrint Institute in Fribourg.
Finally, Julien shares insights into Polytype’s global footprint, the importance of service and long-term customer relationships, and how the company is preparing for the future through investments in automation, sustainability, and digital manufacturing.
A fascinating discussion on innovation, leadership, adaptability, engineering culture, and the evolving future of packaging decoration.
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What is FuturePrint?
FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events.
We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:
FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Leaders Summit, 29 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Industrial Print, 14-15 April '27, Munich, Germany

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A violent highway pileup changed how a CEO leads—and what he believes about safety, risk, and time. Marcus sits down with Javier Quesada of Kento Digital Printing to unpack how a near-fatal crash became a turning point for his leadership and why he now treats inaction as the most dangerous strategy of all. The conversation moves from personal recovery and gratitude to hard-nosed choices facing corrugated packaging: do you pause and wait out the cycle, or invest in capabilities that create speed, flexibility, and differentiation when the market tightens?

We explore why the corrugated industry’s current downturn is a cycle, not a cliff, and how long-term demand is buoyed by the shift from plastic to paper-based packaging. Javier makes a clear case for digital printing and digital converting as practical tools—shorter runs, rapid changeovers, data-driven workflows—that help plants specialise and stand out when competition is toughest. He shares how to de-risk adoption with small pilots, align teams around purpose, and turn fear into movement. Along the way, we touch on timeless wisdom from Baltasar Gracián: time is the only thing we truly own, so spend it building.

You’ll hear a grounded outlook toward 2026, a fresh take on resilience that avoids empty slogans, and concrete steps leaders can take now: map bottlenecks, integrate MIS with scheduling, tidy prepress, set clear quality gates, and invest in people. If you work in print, packaging, or manufacturing strategy, this story-driven chat will help you weigh caution against momentum and reframe uncertainty as a lever for progress.

Subscribe for more candid conversations on print technology, leadership, and the future of packaging, and share this episode with a colleague who needs a nudge toward action. Your review helps more people find the show—what’s one move you’ll make this week?
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What is FuturePrint?
FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events.
We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:
FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Leaders Summit, 29 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Industrial Print, 14-15 April '27, Munich, Germany

Send a text
Thousands of parts per minute, each one different. That’s the new reality for direct-to-object printing, and it changes how brands think about cost, speed, and flexibility. We sit down with Ken Stack, Executive Chairman of Engineered Printing Solutions, to unpack why single pass inkjet and smart automation have pushed DTO past the tipping point and what it actually takes to run true production on real-world objects.

Ken brings three decades across industrial inkjet, M&A, and strategy, and he explains how EPS moved from pad printing heritage to leading high-speed, direct-to-object systems. We dig into the big drivers: shrinking run lengths, soaring labour costs, and the need to print on plastics, powder-coated metals, and glass with reliable adhesion. You’ll hear what separates multi pass promotional rigs from single pass production cells, why the printer is often just 20% of the total system cost, and how picking, pre-treatment, inline inspection, and sorting deliver the ROI that CFOs want. From golf balls and helmets to beverage and pharma caps, the examples are concrete, and the numbers are blunt.

We also map the global picture. North America is charging ahead on automation and reshoring, supported by accessible capital and the pressure to localise. Asia and Latin America show strong momentum, while Europe remains more cautious despite high-value short-run needs across many languages. Ken is candid about the hard parts: training vision systems to inspect 2,000 caps per minute, handling odd geometries at micron-level accuracy, and choosing heads and inks that balance gap, viscosity, and durability. The future focus is clear—make automation cheaper and easier, expand surface compatibility, and standardise core print platforms with vertical-specific handling.

If you care about packaging agility, versioned products, or cutting setup fees and downtime from your lines, this conversation lays out a practical path. Subscribe for more deep dives, share this episode with your ops team, and leave a quick review to tell us which object you want to print next.
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What is FuturePrint?
FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events.
We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:
FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Leaders Summit, 29 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Industrial Print, 14-15 April '27, Munich, Germany

Send a text
In this episode, we are joined by Fredric Petit and Franko Vrhovac from Emerald Technology Ventures and we discover more about investment into new print and packaging technology. 
Emerald is not a traditional fund. It operates at the intersection of venture capital and open innovation, acting as a matchmaker between startups and more than 50 global corporates seeking new technologies and solutions across industrial innovation. With over 25 years of experience and more than $1bn in assets under management and advisory, Emerald helps corporates identify promising startups - and invests when commercial traction is proven.
The conversation unpacks why packaging became a priority for investors six to seven years ago - driven by shifting waste economics, rising consumer pressure, corporate 2030 targets and tightening regulation. It also explains why printing is now emerging as a key lever for change, from sustainable marking and reduced consumables to improved uptime and fewer SKUs.
Crucially, the episode clarifies what investors look for: clear differentiation, a focused value proposition, a credible team, and evidence of market pull. Sustainability matters, but it must come with a compelling business case.
Finally, Fredric and Franko share how Emerald’s “Sprint” programmes connect corporates and startups to accelerate pilots and real-world adoption - turning interest into implementation.
A practical listen for founders, innovators, converters, brands, and anyone navigating the future of print, packaging, and industrial sustainability.
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What is FuturePrint?
FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events.
We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:
FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Leaders Summit, 29 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Industrial Print, 14-15 April '27, Munich, Germany

Send a text
This episode is 2 of 2 and is an interview with keynote speaker Güneri Tugcu 
Following the themes of 'When Packaging Talks Back', we ask 'Will Print Listen'?
What if the most valuable thing you print isn’t colour or coverage, but credibility? We explore how connected packaging turns labels and care tags into living product identities, and why printers who embrace this shift can move from commodity supplier to trusted strategic partner.

We dive into the rise of digital product passports in fashion and beyond, where serialized QR codes and NFC bring traceability, compliance, and authentication to the front line. That task sits squarely in print’s wheelhouse—if we evolve. We talk through the real blocker (culture, not hardware), and show how hiring for curiosity and consultative skills can complement world‑class engineering. Instead of chasing the same specs as ten competitors, bring brands a clear outcome: compliance readiness, anti‑counterfeit protection, first‑party data, and consumer engagement powered by the codes you print.

Compensation models often sink good ideas, so we unpack how capital‑equipment sales incentives clash with recurring software and analytics. The answer isn’t a full rebuild. Start small with a blended pilot team—press veterans, product thinkers, and sustainability voices—tasked to run workshops, shape simple offers, and co‑sell with marketing, legal, and procurement in the room. We share practical steps to reposition as a partner: frame connected packaging as the foundation of data, trust, and long‑term brand value; measure learning speed, not just revenue; and invite diverse minds to pressure‑test solutions before they hit the line.

By the end, you’ll have a roadmap to stand out in tenders on more than price, earn a seat at higher‑level conversations, and future‑proof your business as regulations tighten and buyers demand richer product experiences. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with your team, and leave a review telling us the first pilot you’ll run.
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Apple Podcast
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What is FuturePrint?
FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events.
We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:
FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Leaders Summit, 29 September '26, Valencia, Spain
FuturePrint Industrial Print, 14-15 April '27, Munich, Germany