Edale, a Canon company and leading manufacturer of flexographic printing and converting equipment, welcomed packaging professionals from across the UK to its Rethinking Carton Production Open Day last week, a one-day event designed to encourage meaningful discussion about the future of carton manufacturing.
The day included expert insights from guest speakers Steve Lister, global sustainability strategist, and Jo Stephenson, Managing Director of Think B2B Marketing, who shared perspectives on industry change, innovation, and the evolving role of packaging. Jo also moderated an Open Forum which produced fascinating insights into the future of carton production and the issues it faces.
Louise Bailey, Head of New Business at Edale, said: "The aim of this event was never just to showcase technology, it was to start a conversation. We know the carton market is evolving quickly, and this was a chance to bring people together, share honest insights, and explore the realities of what the next phase of production might look like. The level of engagement and openness in the room was fantastic."
The Open Forum saw wide-ranging and in-depth discussions on the misconceptions of single pass flexo carton production and its possibilities. One prominent attendee who is widely respected in the field declared that “it will be the cornerstone of disruption in the carton market”, despite a relative hesitancy from traditionalists within the industry.
This hesitancy was explored further as several attendees acknowledged that flexo is still, in some circles, seen as inferior in quality to traditional offset or litho processes, despite significant technological progress in recent years. Some even shared that they are aware of those who avoid using the term "flexo" in their marketing materials for fear of deterring brand owners.
The discussion highlighted a clear need for better industry education around today's flexo capabilities, particularly where single-pass systems can now deliver high-end, embellished cartons with print quality equal to, or exceeding, conventional processes.
The discussion also touched on the impact of upcoming sustainability legislation, including the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme and the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Attendees discussed how these policies are driving renewed interest in fibre-based packaging, with cartonboard emerging as a strong contender due to its wide recyclability, mono-material construction, and compatibility with existing recycling infrastructure.
It was agreed that brands seeking to reduce environmental impact, and avoid future penalties, are increasingly viewing cartonboard as a practical, premium and regulation-ready solution.
Louise added: “We were delighted to welcome such a knowledgeable and engaged group to the event. The conversations were open, insightful and reaffirmed that many in the industry are actively seeking smarter, more efficient production models. We’re proud to play a part in supporting that shift.”
Attendees also had the opportunity to explore the complete single-pass carton production process through a live demonstration of Edale’s FL5 and insight into Edale’s Carton Cost Calculator tool which provided an unbiased view of the data, comparing inline vs. traditional carton production.
To learn more about Edale’s FL5 single-pass carton production line or to book a one-to-one session with the Edale team, visit www.edale.com or contact marketing@edale.com