Tetra Pak has once again been recognised for its continued transparency and action on environmental issues by CDP, the global environmental disclosure system. The company achieved an A- score for Forests, marking ten consecutive years in CDP’s leadership band (A or A-), and an A- score for Water Security for the third-year running. This long-standing leadership on forests and water security is reinforced by the company’s Approach to Nature, a comprehensive framework introduced in 2024 to accelerate action across the value chain. The approach focusses on halting and reversing nature loss and enhancing water resilience through more than 20 measurable targets, spanning sourcing, operations, and collaboration with suppliers and customers. By addressing impacts upstream and downstream, and investing in restoration initiatives such as the Araucaria Conservation Project in Brazil, Tetra Pak aims to contribute to nature-positive food systems and global water security. It has already been recognised as industry leading-, earning the SEAL Business Sustainability Award for its Approach to Nature Framework.1 Tetra Pak also disclosed progress on climate change, receiving a B score from CDP. In 2024, Tetra Pak reduced greenhouse gas emissions across its own operations by 54% compared to a 2019 baseline, keeping on track to achieve net-zero by 2030. Across its value chain, emissions were cut by 25% versus baseline, a five percentage-point improvement on 2023. Francesca Priora, Vice President Climate & Nature at Tetra Pak, said: “At Tetra Pak, we commit to making food safe and available, everywhere, and we cannot achieve this at the expense of our planet or people. Our approach to realising this ambition is rooted in concrete actions and measurable targets. Our continued presence in CDP’s leadership band for Forests and Water Security, along with our solid progress on climate actions, demonstrates our commitment to deliver on our ambitions in climate, nature, circularity, social sustainability, and food systems. By building resilience across our industry, we aim to help shape a future where communities worldwide have safe access to nutrition while protecting the planet’s resources.”

The print and visual communications sector across MEASA witnessed a landmark moment as FESPA successfully wrapped up its first-ever regional education series recently, an ambitious four-day tour spanning three countries and four dynamic cities. Designed to strengthen industry knowledge and inspire innovation, the series brought together print leaders, manufacturers, brand specialists, and technology experts from across the MENA region. The FESPA Leadership Exchange (FLEX) MENA 2025 series concluded in Cairo, Egypt, where the Egyptian visual communications community welcomed the programme with overwhelming enthusiasm. The event delivered a rich blend of insights, from the latest Print Census findings and the evolving expectations of retail brands to the future of textile printing, colour management, brand identity, sustainability, and regional market opportunities. Across every stop, participants engaged in high-level discussions, debates, practical frameworks, and factory visits with C-suite leaders—an immersive experience that highlighted both the challenges and the immense potential shaping the future of print in the region. A Region Energised for FESPA Middle East 2026 The impressive turnout throughout the MENA tour underscored growing momentum as the industry looks ahead to FESPA Middle East 2026, taking place in January 2026 in Dubai. Attendees expressed strong interest in exploring the event’s standout features, including: The FESPA Conference, offering deep dives into technology, trends, and strategy The Club FESPA Lounge, designed for premium networking Sustainability Spotlight, highlighting environmentally responsible innovations The World Wrap Masters Middle East, celebrating skill and creativity in vehicle wrapping Engagement opportunities with leading global suppliers showcasing next-generation print technology Leadership, Insight, and Regional Collaboration The series’ success reflects the dedication of FESPA’s global leadership and contributors. Special thanks were extended to Christian Duyckaerts, Debbie McKeegan, Alberto Masserdotti, and Neil Felton, whose strategic insights shaped the programme. Guest speakers Amit Radia and Dr. George Simonian added valuable regional perspectives, enriching discussions around innovation, market direction, and the future of visual communications across MEASA. Looking Ahead: A Long-Term Commitment to MEASA With FLEX and the upcoming FESPA Middle East exhibition, FESPA reaffirmed its commitment to empowering the print and signage community across the region. The organisation continues to champion education, collaboration, and technological advancement—ensuring that MEASA’s fast-evolving print ecosystem remains connected to global best practice and future-ready innovation. FESPA Middle East 2026 will take place from 13–15 January 2026 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai. The event is set to welcome professionals from print, signage, textile printing, and visual communications, uniting the region’s talent to shape the next chapter of the industry.

The Office Automation Group (OAG), in collaboration with Konica Minolta, proudly announced its outstanding participation and commercial success at the 14th Print Pak Exhibition & Conference 2025, held from 13th to 15th November at the International Expo Center, Lahore. Returning after a significant six-year hiatus, the exhibition served as a milestone event for Pakistan’s printing and packaging industry. It offered an essential platform to reconnect with industry professionals, commercial printers, and key decision-makers. OAG effectively leveraged this opportunity to highlight the latest Konica Minolta advancements in digital printing and embellishment solutions, reaffirming its leadership and competitive positioning in the local market. Strong Visitor Turnout and Engagement The exhibition attracted an impressive 4,000 visitors over the three-day event. OAG’s booth alone engaged nearly 300 high-value visitors, including digital printers, offset and commercial printing businesses, government departments, educational institutions, and print service providers. The strong turnout demonstrated the continuing growth and demand for innovative digital print technologies in Pakistan. Showcasing Konica Minolta’s Flagship Technologies OAG featured three of Konica Minolta’s flagship production systems: Accurio Shine 3600 – Spot UV & Foil Embellishment System AccurioPress C4080 – High-Speed Color Production Press AccurioLabel 190 – Digital Label Printing Solution Live demonstrations remained a major attraction, drawing heavy footfall from commercial printers, label producers, and government stakeholders. Visitors witnessed firsthand the efficiency, print quality, and value-added capabilities that Konica Minolta’s technology brings to the evolving print landscape. Record-Breaking Business Results The event delivered exceptional commercial outcomes for OAG and Konica Minolta, with confirmed sales totaling 27 production systems, including: 1 unit – AccurioShine 3600 16 units – AccurioPress C4080 10 units – AccurioPress C4065 These results exceeded expectations and further strengthened Konica Minolta’s brand trust and market dominance in Pakistan’s digital printing sector. Visit by Konica Minolta Leadership The event was further distinguished by the presence of senior Konica Minolta leaders: Osamu Miyauchi, Managing Director & CEO, Konica Minolta Middle East Kazim Mankani – General Manager, Sales & Marketing Nayyar Ansari- Business Development Manager Their participation underscored Konica Minolta’s ongoing commitment to supporting technological growth and industry development in Pakistan. A Significant Milestone for OAG and the Industry The 14th Print Pak Exhibition 2025 marked a major achievement for OAG and Konica Minolta in terms of customer engagement, market visibility, and business performance. The event not only reinforced customer confidence in Konica Minolta’s advanced digital printing solutions but also solidified OAG’s position as the leading digital printing technology provider in Pakistan.

Konica Minolta, a leader in production printing toner color sheetfed, has unveiled the new AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED Series. The upgraded AccurioPress C7100 and AccurioPress C7090 presses optimize performance to deliver new and sophisticated print products designed to grow the entire business. Advanced high speed, increased productivity, and elevated uptime, ensured by the new AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED and C7090 ENHANCED machines from Konica Minolta, help achieve the shortest turnaround times. When combined with print speeds of up to 100 pages per minute (ppm) and 90ppm respectively, and great media flexibility with stocks of up to 400gsm, printing operations can broaden their application versatility. Working smarter to deliver unrivalled flawless results With the easy to use and fast set up series, operators can work smarter, reduce manual adjustments for unattended, uninterrupted printing, and deliver flawless print results, even faster. Essential to this is the new Intelligent Color Control technology that utilizes a new algorithm to measure colors during production. The key benefit is enhanced color management and color reliability. This means that print providers will achieve desired quality and consistency every time, job after job. Operations can also reach their ambition with the series’ ability to deliver: ·        Intelligent Automation - the optional IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Care Unit ensures perfectly consistent color quality and front-to-back registration on every print in real time. Recalibrations or inspections during print production are eliminated, boosting productivity. ·        Flawless Quality – high quality consistency on fast and long print runs is assured by the latest Simitri V toner. It delivers stunning results on media up to 400gsm. With ultra-sharp 3,600 x 2,400 dpi resolution and Intelligent Color Control checking 13 colors on the fly. While faster and more accurate color management and easy streamlined workflows are enabled by S.E.A.D. X Image Processing. ·        Advanced Capabilities – Intelligent paper feeding for all formats up to 900 mm length and the flexibility to handle embossed and textured media, enables simple handling and supports one operator operation for even the most complex projects. ·        Enhanced Finishing – Among the options are the in-line TU-510e 4-edge trimming unit that cuts, creases, and perforates to produce full-bleed trimmed book jackets, imposed cards, business cards, coupons and more. The removal of off-line finishing means fewer operator touchpoints for faster and more efficient print runs. Another digital transformation step forward The revamped AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED Series is another step forward in Konica Minolta’s mission to support the digital transformation of its clients’ companies by sector and industry. Its human-centric partnership approach is focused on helping customers to streamline their businesses through fewer human touchpoints and higher productivity with tangible benefits including high-quality output with less waste. “The AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED Series enables printing operations to serve more customers and complete more jobs with innovative technologies that power success,” said Karl Friedrich Edenhuizen, Senior Product Manager, Color Devices, Professional Printing, at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe. “Customers are asking us to help them find new revenue streams with less expertise. With these systems we’re helping them achieve more with fewer operations while enabling greater creativity on the fly. They enhance our customers’ digital transformation (DX) journey and continue to support our mission of helping them ignite new opportunities, identify new, profitable revenue streams, and optimize workflows. In our 20th year of digital print innovation, we are delighted to welcome to our portfolio this highly advanced series.”

Written by Pratik Shah, Creative Head - PrintXpand The printing industry work environment is very dynamic with accuracy, speed and control of cost playing major roles. The use of manual control over various print jobs, materials, machines and delivery schedules is prone to inefficiencies and errors. This is where the ERP for printing industry comes as a necessity and not fancy. Enterprise Resource Planning systems designed specifically for print businesses help centralize operations, improve visibility, and streamline workflows. From job estimation and production scheduling to inventory control and invoicing, ERP software plays a vital role in transforming how print companies operate. In this blog, we explore the key benefits of ERP software for printing industry and explain why it is becoming a core requirement for modern print businesses. Understanding ERP for Printing Industry ERP for printing industry is the centralized software platform that brings all the main business functions of a printing company to one platform. As opposed to generic ERP systems, print focused ERP solutions are designed to support industry unique issues like variable job specification, quick turnaround, and sophisticated costing designs. These systems often work alongside or integrate with print MIS software and web to print MIS platforms to create a seamless flow of data from order placement to final delivery. ERP systems bring together various departments within an organization such as sales, production, inventory, and finance hence providing consistency and transparency in operations. Common Challenges Faced by Print Businesses It is prudent to know the difficulties that print businesses encounter on a daily basis before learning the advantages of ERP software. Most printing companies are using spreadsheets or disjointed software to track orders and production. This causes poor job costing, wastage of materials, late deliveries as well as the absence of real time visibility. Manual scheduling can lead to machine downtimes or production bottlenecks. Any type of inventory mismanagement may result in excess stock or even a sudden out-of-stock of key materials. There is also the increased expectation of customers. Customers are pressuring them to deliver faster services, correct manufacturing costs and quality services. The inability to have a centralized system makes it harder and harder to live up to these expectations. This is where mis software for printing industry integrated with ERP brings significant value. Key Benefits of ERP Software for Printing Industry Streamlined Production Planning and Scheduling Enhanced production planning can be given as one of the most critical advantages of ERP for printing industry. The ERP systems enable print companies to schedule jobs according to the availability of machines, capacity of the workforce, and delivery dates. ERP minimizes the wastage of time through automation of job sequencing and production schedules to maximize utilization of resources. Managers will be able to monitor the progress of the jobs real-time and make immediate changes when priorities are shifted. Such control assists print firms to print in time. Accurate Job Costing and Quotation Management Proper costing is a significant issue in the printing business because of the changes in the prices of materials and the different specifications of the jobs. ERP software for printing industry enables real time job costing by factoring in materials, labor, machine time, and overheads. Using precise costing information, the sales teams are able to make accurate quotations within a short duration. This minimizes the chances of quoting the jobs at a lower cost or losing business on offers that take too long to respond to. Integrated print MIS software ensures that cost estimates align with actual production data, improving profitability. Improved Inventory and Material Management ERP systems give full access to the inventory stored in warehouses and production floors. Print businesses are able to monitor the raw materials e.g. paper, ink and plates in real time. Stockouts can be prevented by automation of reorder alerts and waste can be minimized by proper monitoring of consumption. This becomes particularly useful when the quantity of print jobs, or even custom jobs is high. By integrating ERP with mis software for the printing industry, companies gain tighter control over material usage and inventory costs. Enhanced Workflow Automation and Job Tracking ERP software automates some of the repetitive jobs like creating jobs, approving workflow and updating the status. This minimizes the number of errors in manual processes and enhances efficiency in operations. All departments operate on the same data which leads to improved coordination of the sales, production, and dispatch teams. Job tracking can be done in real time and is better at enhancing accountability and detecting early delays. When combined with web to print MIS, ERP creates a smooth flow from online order placement to production and delivery. Better Order Management and Delivery Accuracy Order management is a critical area where ERP software for printing industry delivers significant value. ERP systems trace all the order stages all the way through order entry and up to final dispatch. This guarantees good order filling and prompt deliveries. The customers are constantly informed about the status of the orders, and this enhances transparency and confidence. Better customer relationships are also achieved because it results in increased accuracy on delivery and reduction of reprints and customer complaints. Real Time Visibility and Reporting ERP systems have centralized dashboards and reports which make the management have a clear picture of the business performance. Real time availability of metrics like job profitability, production efficiency, material consumption and delivery timelines are available. This information based understanding assists decision makers to detect inefficiencies, manage expenses and strategize how money will be invested in the future. These insights can enable print businesses to scale operations in a strategic manner and react fast to market changes. Quality Control and Process Consistency It is paramount that the quality is kept with the printing industry. ERP software assists in the management of quality control through standardization of the workflow and keeping production records. The system may have quality checkpoints that would guarantee adherence to the internal standards and customer demands. Past job information assists in correcting the common problems and enhancing processes in the long run. This leads to the reduction of reworks and customer satisfaction. Improved Customer Satisfaction and Retention The customers are direct beneficiaries when print business runs smoothly. The improved turnaround time, correct pricing and guaranteed delivery times improve the overall customer experience. ERP system enhances interdepartmental communication which makes sure that the requirements of the customer are well understood and implemented. In the long-term this reliability creates long term relationships with customers as well as augmenting repeat business. Conclusion ERP for printing industry is now an important tool that businesses seek to implement in an attempt to enhance efficiency, cut costs and remain competitive. ERP software, by consolidating production planning, inventory management, job costing, and reporting, enhances the print operations, which previously were fragmented into different processes, into flowing operations. When combined with web to print MIS and print MIS software, ERP systems create a powerful digital foundation for growth and scalability. The ERP solution will be of great help to print businesses intending to modernise operations and provide customers with steady value. PrintXpand can assist digital transformation of the printing industry by providing expertise in companies that aim to acquire advanced print technology solutions and integrate these systems with each other.

Canon Middle East has successfully concluded the first official graduation ceremony of its Canon Certified Printing Consultant (CCPC) program, marking a significant milestone in the professional printing industry and reinforcing Canon’s long-term commitment to developing consultative expertise in an evolving print landscape. The three-day CCPC Graduation Event, held in Dubai, celebrated the successful completion of a rigorous, year-long program designed to develop highly skilled printing consultants capable of navigating today’s increasingly complex commercial print, packaging, workflow, and application environments. Launched in 2024, the CCPC program represents Canon’s strategic response to the changing needs of the printing industry, where customers are seeking trusted advisors who can translate technology into measurable business value. The comprehensive curriculum combines advanced theoretical learning with hands-on, real-world applications, including complex commercial print cases, workflow-driven projects, and innovative digital printing applications. “The printing industry today is no longer about products alone – it is about insight, confidence, and long-term value creation,” said Shadi Bakhour, B2B Business Unit Director at Canon Middle East. “The CCPC program was designed to develop true printing consultants who can understand customer challenges, design the right solutions, and guide businesses through transformation. This first graduating cohort demonstrates exactly why this approach is critical for the future of print.” Throughout the program, participants were challenged to develop and present real commercial print cases reflecting complex sales cycles and operational realities. In parallel, they designed practical digital printing applications that demonstrated the effective use of production technologies, workflow automation, sustainability considerations, and business impact modelling. Graduates presented their work to evaluation panels comprising Canon Middle East leadership and external industry printing experts, ensuring a high level of assessment credibility and industry relevance. The graduation ceremony also featured an application gallery showcasing the creativity, technical depth, and business thinking demonstrated by the participants. The seven CCPC graduates – Ahmed Assal, Ahmed Hasouba, Ajish Paul, Muhammed Shabaan, Emre Polat, Nowfel Kurukkalparambil, and Omkar Viswas Rao – received their professional certifications following a rigorous evaluation of application creativity, business impact, economic viability, technology selection, workflow optimization, competitive advantages, print quality, and presentation excellence. “What makes CCPC unique is the depth and structure of the journey,” said Ayman Aly, B2B Marketing Director at Canon Middle East. “This is not a short-term training initiative. It is a one-year transformation that blends technology, applications, workflow, and business strategy, preparing consultants to support customers in an industry that is rapidly evolving toward personalization, automation, and sustainability.” The graduation ceremony welcomed Canon Middle East leadership alongside industry professionals and external guests, reinforcing the growing importance of consultative expertise and continuous professional development within the printing ecosystem. Building on the success of its inaugural cohort, Canon Middle East also announced the continuation of the CCPC program, with a new intake planned for 2026, further reinforcing Canon’s commitment to shaping the future of professional printing through knowledge, expertise, and innovation.

 An industry-wide working group today announces the launch of the ‘Sustainable Print Manifesto’, an independently developed, industry-wide initiative created to provide a simple, practical and universally relevant framework to increase sustainability across all print sectors. The project is grounded in the belief that the print industry must collaborate more, not less, if it is to accelerate progress. Today, too many sustainability efforts remain fragmented - shaped by local regulation, technology limitations, individual company priorities, or regional nuances. The new Sustainable Print Manifesto aims to rise above these silos, offering a globally relevant blueprint for continual improvement, shared learning, and improved collective progress. The manifesto’s purpose is simple: to create a shared language for sustainable print. One that demystifies complexity and empowers every print business to take meaningful action to be more sustainable. Whether commercial print, packaging, wide format, textiles, labels or industrial manufacturing, the Manifesto is deliberately print-agnostic and compatible with any process, technology, or business model. Unlike traditional top-down standards, the Manifesto has no single author. It has been shaped collaboratively through 11 working-group meetings, a multi-stakeholder summit in Valencia, a series of webinars, and multiple in-depth articles. Over the past 12 months, printers, manufacturers, brands, retailers, technologists, consultants, and trade bodies have contributed insight, challenged assumptions, and co-authored a document designed to unify the industry around clear, actionable sustainability principles. Brands and retailers have also been consulted throughout its development, ensuring the document aligns with real-world requirements, expectations, and future-facing sustainability priorities. Rather than replacing the work of associations or existing frameworks, the Manifesto is designed to act as a neutral, unifying north star - one that sits above technical and regulatory silos and is accessible to any business, anywhere in the world. A clear set of 9 practical principles At the heart of the Manifesto is a set of nine practical, non-competitive principles that any organisation can adopt immediately. These principles focus on real-world actions that improve environmental performance today - without large investment or radical operational change. They include: designing print for purpose; producing efficiently; choosing better, lower-impact materials and inks; minimising waste; reducing carbon and energy consumption; improving water stewardship; applying finishing only where it adds value; recycling and reusing operational materials; and communicating impacts transparently using accurate, data-led reporting. Grounded in lifecycle thinking, the nine principles provide a universally relevant, accessible framework that scales for businesses of any size, in any sector, anywhere in the world. Towards a more collaborative, unified and ambitious future As the initiative grows, industry organisations, suppliers, printers, finishing companies, technology providers, and brands are invited to pledge their support. The ambition is to create a global community committed to learning, acting, and helping each other advance sustainable practice - ultimately positioning the print industry as a beacon of responsible innovation for the wider manufacturing world. Representing one of the founding partners, Carlos Lahoz from HP commented: ‘I believe in the value of print and the positive impact it has in the world. But I also believe that there's still room for improvement. To accelerate innovation and progress, collaboration is key. Collaboration built on trust and transparency, towards a shared goal. This is what this manifesto aims for, and this is why I pledge to its principles.’  This commitment to collaborative progress is echoed by many of the organisations backing the Sustainable Print Manifesto. Founding Partners and Supporting Associations To make this independent initiative possible, a group of visionary founding partners have provided financial and strategic support to underwrite its development. These include: HP, CarbonQuota, Gallus, Domino Printing Sciences, FuturePrint, Sun Chemical, Nazdar, Kavalan, io.tt, CPI Books, The PackScout, CIMPRESS, and Bespoke. The manifesto also has the backing of key global trade bodies, including: BPIF & IPIA (UK), VIGC (Belgium), and PRINTING United Alliance (USA). Call to Action The Sustainable Print Manifesto is now available for download, and all organisations within the print and packaging value chain are invited to read it and share it, action its suggestions and even pledge their support. While this document will continue to evolve as the collaboration grows, today it marks a collective commitment from across the industry to create a clearer, more coherent and more impactful pathway towards a sustainable future for print.