At the 13th Speciality Films & Flexible Packaging Global Summit 2026 in end-August in Mumbai, flexographic press manufacturer Multitec plans to demonstrate how intelligent flexo technology can resolve the industry’s most pressing operational hurdles.
Addressing the rapidly shifting dynamic across material manufacturers, converters, and brand owners, Ashima Raj Ahuja, director at Multitec, says that success in the next era of packaging manufacturing will depend on adaptability, process control, and eliminating operational complexity.
According to Ahuja, converters are navigating a structural market transformation defined by shorter production runs, a proliferation of stock-keeping unit (SKU) variants, and heightened print quality expectations.
In response to these evolving standard requirements, Multitec aims to engage summit delegates on building manufacturing systems where the machinery adapts seamlessly to production demands, rather than forcing operations to bend to machine limitations. The central objective is proving that the right flexographic press technology directly enhances manufacturing flexibility while securing long-term productivity and margin stability.
At the centerpiece of Multitec’s showcase is the S3S 670 mm mid-web flexographic press. Designed to handle diverse flexible packaging applications, the press incorporates intelligent automation alongside a highly modular architecture.
Ahuja explains that as job lengths continue to shrink and product variations multiply, the ability to execute rapid job transitions while maintaining high print quality with consistency and repeatability creates a decisive competitive edge by dramatically curbing non-productive press downtime.
Alongside operational efficiency, Multitec frames sustainability as a discipline rooted directly in the press room floor. She notes that true environmental responsibility begins long before packaging reaches end consumers, starting instead with setup waste reduction, optimized process stability, lower energy consumption, and right-first-time production.
Every meter of substrate saved during setup represents a direct sustainability gain. Multitec’s flexible press design, the company says, provides converters with the mechanical agility needed to run emerging recyclable substrates as circular packaging regulations and eco-friendly material structures continue to advance globally.
Looking to future industry trends, Ahuja predicts that digital connectivity, data-driven manufacturing, and intelligent automation will quickly transition from optional upgrades to baseline expectations across the market. Rapidly shortening product lifecycles will force converting plants to prioritize agility and overall equipment effectiveness above raw mechanical speed.
For Multitec, taking part in the Elite Plus summit fosters a collaborative technical dialog as it enables a look beyond historical paradigms. “In an era where packaging manufacturing is changing at an unprecedented rate, converting leadership should invest in forward-looking technology that simplifies operational complexity. Converters do not need more complexity, but rather intuitive technology that makes complex manufacturing simpler to manage,” she says.
