Beyond Workflow: The Future Is System Selling, Not Machine Selling 路 Henrik Christiansen 路 FLOW 2026
The future of printing isn’t about individual machines. It’s about how everything works together.
At FLOW 2026 in Bad Hersfeld, Pat McGrew meets Henrik Christiansen for a preview of one of the industry’s most important conversations: the transition from traditional print production to fully integrated, automated manufacturing systems.
Drawing on his work on smart factories and his latest book, Henrik introduces a concept that deserves more attention: the flow of goods. While the printing industry has spent decades optimizing digital workflows and moving information between systems, the physical movement of materials remains an essential part of achieving truly efficient production.
From prepress and printing to finishing, robotics, and material handling, the next step is connecting every part of production into one coordinated system.
And Henrik takes the discussion even further. The future isn’t about selling individual machines, but complete production systems where orchestration ensures that information, equipment, and materials work together.
A fascinating introduction to the thinking behind FLOW and why the next revolution in print manufacturing is about the entire production process, not just the machines.
Recorded at FLOW 2026 路 Bad Hersfeld, Germany 路 INKISH
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Tue November 3rd
From a Simple Prompt to a Finished Print Prod...
What if creating an entirely new personalized print product could start with a simple sentence rather than hours of design, programming, and complicated template development? Axel Marciniak from Printess introduces a new approach to web-to-print, where artificial intelligence does far more than generate attractive images. With the Printess AI Assistant, natural language can be used to create editable designs, product templates, personalization options, and even the logic behind complex web-to-print applications. For printing companies, the implications could be significant. Faster product development, fewer technical barriers, and the ability to offer customers increasingly sophisticated personalization without requiring extensive programming expertise. As the printing industry moves toward connected workflows, e-commerce, and intelligent automation, Printess demonstrates how AI could change not only the way products are designed, but also how they are created, sold, and produced. An interesting look at what happens when artificial intelligence becomes an active part of the print production ecosystem.