Parag Patel 路 ePac & Fujifilm FP790: Scaling Digital Packaging 路 PACK EXPO Chicago
At PACK EXPO in Chicago, INKISH Editor-in-Chief Morten B. Reitoft meets Parag Patel, President of Technical Services at ePac Flexible Packaging, following the announcement of a global strategic partnership with Fujifilm and the introduction of the Jet Press FP790 into ePac’s production platform.
In just ten years, ePac has grown from a single production facility in Wisconsin into an international digital flexible packaging business serving thousands of customers across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Patel explains how the company’s unique “plant in a box” concept has enabled rapid international expansion through standardized production technology, integrated software, and a decentralized management structure that allows local teams to adapt to their markets.
The conversation explores how ePac has demonstrated that digital flexible packaging can be a profitable and scalable business model. From micro-businesses in Indonesia to larger brands in the United States, ePac has built its success around serving customers with different requirements while maintaining a consistent production platform.
The decision to introduce Fujifilm’s FP790 is another step in that development. Rather than replacing its existing HP Indigo technology, ePac sees the water-based inkjet press as a complementary solution that can expand production capabilities, support larger customers, and create new opportunities for growth. Patel also discusses the company’s majority investment by Butterfly Equity, the capital-intensive nature of the business, and why continued investments in technology and people remain essential.
Sustainability is another important topic. Patel explains why ePac is investing in recyclable packaging solutions and material flexibility, preparing for changing customer demands and environmental requirements across different markets.
Despite its impressive international growth, Patel believes ePac is still far from reaching its potential. With the global flexible packaging market offering enormous opportunities, the combination of established digital technology, new inkjet capabilities, and a scalable business model could take the company considerably further.
An interesting conversation about entrepreneurship, global expansion, technology partnerships, and why continuous innovation is essential, even for a company that has already helped transform its industry.
No Data Found.
Content for this section will appear here once available
Mon October 19th
Virag Patel 路 ePac & Fujifilm FP790: Expandi...
At PACK EXPO in Chicago, INKISH Editor-in-Chief Morten B. Reitoft meets Virag Patel, Co-Founder and CEO of ePac Flexible Packaging, following the announcement of a global strategic partnership with Fujifilm and the introduction of the Jet Press FP790 into ePac's production platform. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, ePac has grown from a single facility in Madison, Wisconsin, into an international digital flexible packaging company. Patel reflects on the journey, the importance of taking risks, and how a willingness to experiment with new technologies has become an essential part of ePac's culture. Innovation sometimes involves failure, but according to Patel, learning from those experiences is what allows a company to continue growing. The decision to invest in Fujifilm's FP790 follows nearly two years of evaluation and represents an expansion rather than a replacement of ePac's existing HP Indigo technology. Patel explains why having multiple technologies available creates opportunities to serve different market segments, support customers as their businesses grow, and explore applications that were previously outside ePac's reach. The conversation also addresses the majority investment by Butterfly Equity and how access to capital, combined with financial discipline, can support the company's next phase of expansion. Equally important is ePac's highly automated workflow and scalable production model, which have enabled the business to serve thousands of customers across different geographical markets. Looking ahead, Patel sees opportunities beyond ePac's traditional flexible packaging applications, including new product categories such as labels, sleeves, and other packaging formats. For him, printing technology is ultimately a vehicle for reaching new markets, rather than an end in itself. An interesting conversation about entrepreneurship, calculated risks, strategic partnerships, and why ePac believes the next decade could offer even greater opportunities than the first.