Taku Ueno 路聽General Manager 路 Fujifilm FP790 & ePac: A Global Inkjet Partnership 路 PACK EXPO Chicago
At PACK EXPO in Chicago, INKISH Editor-in-Chief Morten B. Reitoft meets General Manager, Digital Printing, Graphic Communications Department, Taku Ueno from Fujifilm following the announcement of a strategic partnership between Fujifilm and ePac Flexible Packaging, marking an important milestone for the adoption of water-based inkjet technology in flexible packaging.
Fujifilm has been investing in inkjet technology for more than two decades, developing everything from printheads and inks to complete industrial printing systems. Ueno explains how the company’s combination of internal innovation, acquisitions, and technology partnerships has helped establish its position in the market. Developing the Jet Press FP790 required years of research, particularly to overcome the technical challenges of printing water-based inks onto plastic substrates.
The agreement with ePac is especially significant. As one of the world’s leading digital flexible packaging producers, ePac has built its business around digital printing, and the decision to introduce the FP790 represents an opportunity to expand its capabilities rather than simply replace existing technology. Ueno reveals that ePac had been a target customer from the beginning of the FP790 project and that reaching this agreement involved nearly two years of discussions and development.
The conversation also explores the international ambitions behind the partnership. While the immediate priority is ensuring a successful first installation, both companies see opportunities to expand the technology across ePac’s global production network. Ueno emphasizes that getting the first installation right is essential before taking the next steps.
An interesting conversation about long-term technology investment, the challenges of innovation, and why Fujifilm’s partnership with ePac could be a significant milestone in the digital transformation of flexible packaging.
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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.