ePac Installs HP Indigo Press in Sheffield
ePac has a multiyear agreement with HP to convert its flexible packaging fleet to HP's Indigo 200K digital press
ePac has installed an HP Indigo 200K digital press at its Sheffield production site, in an important step for the packaging company's European expansion strategy.
It marks the first to be introduced at one of its European sites, with six HP Indigo 200K presses already in use across ePac's US operations.
Installation was completed at ePac Sheffield in April with the aim to bring additional capacity and productivity to the site, help maintain steady growth and deliver flexible, short lead time packaging solutions.
This model was chosen for its ability to deliver a 30% increase in speed and a 45% improvement in productivity compared to its predecessor, along with its gravure-matching quality, broad ElectroInk portfolio and handling of surface and reverse printing.
ePac said this will open the door to new applications and advanced brand protection features along with helping to shorten turnaround times to meet dynamic brand demands, offer richer customisation, and strengthen environmental credentials.
The business specialises in short- and medium-run digitally printed flexible packaging such as pouches, and currently delivers over one million pouches monthly.
HP and ePac have embarked on a multiyear strategic agreement to convert its flexible packaging fleet to HP's Indigo 200K digital press, with a European expansion plan announced at Drupa 2024.
The two companies have worked together since ePac's launch, according to the ePac website it is the first supplier built entirely on the HP Indigo 20000.
Johnny Hobeika, managing director of ePac Holdings Europe, explained how HP Indigo remains "integral" to ePac's mission.
Hobeika said: "Their technology has enabled us to grow from a single-site operation to a pan-European network. This latest investment is not just a tech upgrade; it's a reaffirmation of our shared vision for high quality flexible packaging.
"We have witnessed firsthand the ways in which digital print has transformed communities and created new economies in recent years. Now, with our focus on expanding in the EMEA region, we're building momentum and unlocking new opportunities for brands ready to embrace digital."
Noam Zilbershtain, HP Indigo's VP & general manager, said: "The excitement around the first HP Indigo 200K installation in their European facilities underscores our strong collaboration and shared goal to redefine the flexible packaging industry. This milestone marks a significant leap forward, bringing advanced technology, innovation and unparalleled service to customers across Europe."
In line with new guidelines for sustainability from the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, ePac has also upgraded its packaging specifications to recommend recyclable flexible packaging structures and advises clients on compliance.
ePac was formed in 2016 at its first location in Madison, Wisconsin, using a single HP Indigo press producing 5,000 pouches per month.
With its headquarters in the US, ePac now has locations across North America and Europe, and in Australia, Ghana and Indonesia. There is a total of five production sites across Europe and the UK with two of these in England.
ePac's first UK site in Silverstone opened in 2019 and in 2023 it expanded into an additional 2,500sqm site at a Sheffield business park to enhance ePac's ability to serve European markets.
In 2022, the company placed the biggest single order yet for HP Indigo presses at the time, in a move to radically scale up its global operations.