Print4All: Redefining the Future of Printing and Packaging
Paola Sarco, an innovative leader and a driving force behind Fiera Milano’s Building & Industrial Exhibitions, has been at the forefront of shaping the future of the printing, packaging, and converting industries. In this interview, she shares her insights into the evolving landscape of these industries, including the pivotal role of innovation, sustainability, and collaboration with research institutions and academic partners. As she looks ahead to major milestones like the Print4All 2025 and 2027 editions, Sarco highlights how Italy’s expertise in technological advancement and manufacturing excellence positions the country as a global leader, offering inspiration and value across the international market. With a vision that integrates cutting-edge technology, dynamic partnerships, and the enduring importance of human creativity, Sarco is helping to redefine industry standards for the modern era.
How would you assess the overall success of Print4All 2025 in terms of visitor engagement, exhibitor satisfaction and business opportunities?
The success of Print4All 2025 cannot be measured solely through its numbers, significant as they may be. Perhaps the most meaningful achievement is that the exhibition has strengthened its position as one of the leading reference points for the European printing and converting industry, as demonstrated by the extensive network of stakeholders – including industry associations, publishers and academic institutions – that contribute to the development of its content and initiatives. It is precisely this convergence of expertise, experience and perspectives that makes the exhibition a qualified platform for discussion around the transformations that are reshaping the industry. In a business environment characterised by increasingly rapid change, companies are looking not only for innovation, but also for the tools to interpret the market and anticipate its future developments. It is through this ability to generate vision, foster dialogue and connect the entire value chain that Print4All 2025 has reaffirmed its role as a strategic platform for the evolution of the industry.
Print4All 2025 attracted 20,297 professionals from 68 countries and featured 245 exhibiting companies. What do these results reveal about its international position?
These figures confirm the exhibition’s ability to engage with an increasingly international community. The presence of professionals from 68 countries demonstrates that the market recognises Print4All’s ability to identify and address the key trends that are transforming the industry on a global scale. But there is a second, equally important factor. Print4All takes place in Italy, one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of technologies for printing, converting and packaging. According to data from ACIMGA, the Italian association representing manufacturers of printing and converting technologies, Italy ranks among the world’s leading exporters in the sector, accounting for a 10% share of the global market. This makes Print4All a privileged observatory of the evolution of European manufacturing and of the innovations that are reshaping production processes across the entire value chain.
Which technologies, applications or market developments presented at the exhibition attracted the greatest interest?
The focus was primarily on solutions capable of addressing the market’s evolving demands for efficiency, flexibility and added value. In this context, artificial intelligence applied to production processes, automation, new materials, sustainable solutions, and finishing and embellishment technologies played a central role. Converting and corrugated packaging also confirmed their dynamism, driven by the growing demand for personalisation, sustainability and application quality. Print4All 2025 also highlighted how innovation is progressively shifting from individual technologies to the ability to develop increasingly effective applications tailored to the needs of brand owners and end consumers.
Digitalisation, automation, artificial intelligence and sustainability were major themes. Which of these trends will have the greatest impact on printing and converting businesses in the coming years?
Rather than a single trend, I believe the greatest impact will come from the convergence of digitalisation, automation, artificial intelligence, sustainability and innovation in materials. Companies are being called upon to manage all of these transformations simultaneously in order to meet a demand that requires greater efficiency, flexibility and personalisation. In this context, package printing, converting and corrugated packaging represent particularly dynamic segments, driven by the search for innovative, high-value-added solutions. If I had to identify the one defining trend that will shape the industry in the coming years, I would point to the ability to integrate technologies, materials and sustainability within a unified industrial vision.
How is Print4All adapting its format to reflect the increasing convergence of printing, packaging and converting technologies?
Convergence is not simply one of the themes of Print4All; it is the principle driving its evolution. Today, the most significant innovations emerge less and less within individual sectors and increasingly from the interaction between printing technologies, converting, materials, automation, packaging and communication. Looking ahead to 2027 edition, we are working to further strengthen this vocation through an extensive process of scouting and engaging scientific partners, research centres, universities and centres of excellence capable of bringing new perspectives to the key issues transforming the industry.
One example is the project Print Matter(s), developed in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome. Dedicated to materials innovation, this project was created with the aim of fostering dialogue between research, industry and real-world applications. Similarly, the initiative Corrugated Experience represents one of the most advanced expressions of convergence between printing, packaging and converting. Corrugated board is no longer simply a packaging material, but a true communication medium where sustainability, print quality, personalisation and application-driven innovation come together to create tailored solutions for every context. Our ambition is to move beyond the traditional exhibition model and create a platform where technologies, materials, expertise and industrial visions can engage in an ongoing dialogue. It is through this ability to connect different worlds that we see the future of printing and converting and, at the same time, the distinctive role that Print4All aims to play on the international stage.
How important is the Middle East market to Print4All and to the Italian manufacturers participating in the exhibition?
The Middle East represents an important area of interest for the Italian printing and converting technology industry. According to data from ACIMGA, in 2025, together with South Asia, the region generated more than €116 million in exports for the Italian industry, confirming its position – despite a slight decline – as one of the most relevant international markets for Italian manufacturers. Beyond the numbers, the Middle East continues to be a strategic region for the internationalisation of Italian companies, thanks to the presence of fast-evolving markets and operators seeking advanced technologies and high value-added solutions. In this context, Print4All serves as a privileged meeting point between international demand and one of the world’s most advanced manufacturing ecosystems for printing, converting and packaging technologies, representing the Italian know-how and manufacturing excellence that continue to distinguish themselves in global markets.
Which printing, packaging and converting sectors in the Middle East currently offer the strongest opportunities for European technology suppliers?
International market dynamics are highlighting the growing importance of packaging and converting, sectors that today account for more than 80% of the turnover generated by the Italian printing and converting technology industry. In particular, applications related to packaging, innovative materials, process automation and sustainability represent areas in which Italian manufacturers have developed expertise that is recognised worldwide. For this reason, we believe that Middle Eastern markets also offer significant growth opportunities for high-value-added European technologies.
How can the technologies and expertise showcased at Print4All support Middle Eastern printers in meeting demand for shorter runs, faster turnaround, personalisation and sustainable production?
One of the major transformations affecting the industry at a global level is the need to combine industrial efficiency with production flexibility. Today, customers are demanding faster production, shorter print runs, greater personalisation and an increasing focus on sustainability. Print4All is the place where these needs find concrete answers through the integration of printing technologies, converting, automation, data management and new materials. The Italian industry has built its leadership precisely on its ability to combine mechanical expertise, technological innovation and application know-how, developing solutions that enable companies to optimise production processes, reduce changeover times and increase operational flexibility. For Middle Eastern operators, participating in Print4All therefore means gaining access not only to new technologies, but also to a wealth of industrial expertise that can support the development of more efficient, sustainable and value-oriented production models.
What lessons from Print4All 2025 and the Print4All Conference will influence the organisation and content of the 2027 exhibition?
Print4All 2025 and the Print4All Conference, held on 2 July, confirmed that innovation is not only about technology, but above all about the ability of companies to develop skills, attract new talent and build connections throughout the value chain. This is an awareness that will significantly influence the journey towards 2027. For this reason, the next edition will further strengthen the dialogue between industry, research, academia and end users, with the aim of providing an increasingly comprehensive view of the transformations currently taking place. Alongside developments in printing and converting, topics such as materials innovation, sustainability, technology transfer and skills development will play a central role. In this context, initiatives such as Print4Future take on particular importance. The project will connect companies and students, helping to develop the skills that the industry will need in the years ahead. If there is one lesson we are taking forward to 2027, it is that even in an increasingly digital and automated environment, the human factor remains essential in transforming innovation into growth and competitiveness.
What can exhibitors and visitors expect from Print4All 2027, and what message would you share with industry professionals from the Middle East considering participating or visiting?
Print4All 2027, taking place at Fiera Milano from 25 to 28 May, will be the place to discover the technologies that are redefining the industry, but above all to engage with the industrial vision that will guide its evolution in the years ahead. Alongside technological innovation, we are investing in the development of content, relationships and projects designed to foster dialogue between industry, research and the market, enhancing that unique integration of expertise, creativity and manufacturing excellence that represents one of the key strengths of the Italian system. To professionals from the Middle East, I would say that visiting Print4All means gaining direct access to one of Europe’s leading hubs for printing and converting and to the Italian know-how that has made our country one of the global leaders in the production of technologies for printing and materials processing. It is an opportunity to build valuable relationships, engage with industry leaders and gain first-hand insight into the trends that will shape the market in the near future.
