ANZ’s first ePac production facility is located 8 kilometers from Melbourne’s Central Business District and is located in the new Newlands Road food manufacturing hub, in the heart of the thriving industrial district of Coburg. It is led by Jason Brown, former General Manager of Ball & Doggett Group Division.

He said: "Our fast production turnaround time, no set-up costs, and digital process from computer to printing enable us to enable small and medium-sized brands to achieve higher quality packaging at the best price and lower minimum orders."

"This strategic cooperation with Hewlett-Packard has and will enable us to continue to transform the flexible packaging industry, and ultimately continue to be disruptive in the new category, serving more brands and communities."

HP Indigo 25K is a new flexible material digital printing system launched by HP, replacing the original HP Indigo 20000. 

Mark Daws, Director of Labeling and Packaging, Currie Group ANZ, said: “Since the launch of HP Indigo 20000 in 2015, we have adopted the technology in our region, which in turn has driven the digital transformation of the flexible packaging industry. Obviously, brands need Having a localized supply chain to provide them with the speed to market and agility they need in today’s rapidly changing world. ePac’s investment in the region will only strengthen this transition, and we look forward to cooperating with the locals in the coming months. Teamwork because they started this adventure." 

The typical customer that the new ePac factory aims to attract is Adelia Fine Foods, a local company that provides nutritious, high-quality and delicious breakfast and snack foods. The company has turned to ePac to expand its business scale and utilize ePac’s digital products, which also means To reduce its environmental footprint.

Relocating to Melbourne and installing two new HP Indigo is the next stage of the company’s market acceleration. At that time, 26 new HP Indigo digital printing presses will be added globally and a global fleet of 76 printing presses will be created by the end of the year. .

In the past 18 months, HP and ePac have mobilized to enter the Asian market in response to changes in consumer behavior accelerating by the global pandemic. The new factory in Melbourne and similar projects in South Korea and Indonesia are part of the plan.

The 5-year-old ePac has 20 sites in full operation. Melbourne is currently underway, serving thousands of customers around the world, with annual revenue of approximately US$200 million. Packaging giant Amcor has just taken a stake in the business.

ePac is entirely based on HP Indigo's digital printing technology, providing services for local brands of all sizes, with special attention to small and medium-sized enterprises that produce snacks, sweets, coffee, natural and organic food, pet food, and nutritional supplements.

It offers a delivery time of 5 to 15 working days, focuses on small and medium-sized orders, and enables brands to order on demand, avoiding expensive inventory and obsolescence.

The global flexible packaging market is expected to reach US$248.6 billion this year, with an annual growth rate of 4.1% since 2016, and is expected to further grow at a rate of 3.2% to US$291 billion in five years.

Arnon Goldman, General Manager and Director of HP’s APJ Industrial Graphics Department, said: “As the world shifts its focus to using more sustainable and innovative materials, HP recognizes the increasing importance of flexible packaging. We look forward to making more like ePac. Of processors remain competitive and provide their customers with high-quality packaging solutions. 

"Our goal has always been to innovate with our customers and bring new value to partners and brands through HP Indigo, enabling them to flourish in a fast-growing industry. We are very happy to achieve this goal through ePac and support them Transform with customers."

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Print 21 is Australia and New Zealand's premier graphic arts and printing industry management magazine. This bi-monthly publication combines the highest production value and showcases the best performance of graphic art printing, decoration and paper quality.