ePac Flexible Packaging has launched the world’s first and largest integrated network of packaging plants across the globe, to be known as ePacONE.
ePacONE – One Network Everywhere – is a proprietary Cloud-based manufacturing platform that enables all ePac locations to be connected and managed as a single manufacturing plant. With the ePacONE concept, jobs are automatically produced at the optimum locations based on proximity to customer, size, plant capabilities and capacity. This also enables ePac to split jobs and produce them simultaneously in multiple locations.
Practically, any customer will be able to securely log on to ePacONE, look for new packaging, and receive instantaneous structure recommendations and pricing. Customers will be able to upload artwork and get automatic customisable die lines, evaluate different options, see a 3D render of the new package and place the order, regardless of job size. Digital printing allows the order to be changed all the way up to the time of production.
ePacONE has been developed to serve brands of all sizes, regardless of run length. Having built its business on a model serving small and medium sized businesses with low minimum order quantities, ePac recently signalled its intent to target longer runs and fulfil larger jobs with digitally printed flexible packaging. ePacONE further this, and signals ePac’s ‘commitment to continue to innovate’ in the flexible packaging space by extending its value proposition to all brands.
This technology should be fully operational by the end of Q1 2023. Customers of any size will then be able to tap into ePac’s just-In-time manufacturing capabilities across the globe, short lead times of 5-15 business days once artwork is approved and other engagement options, such as ePacConnect.
ePac CIO Parag Patel said, ‘With ePacONE, we are again revolutionising the packaging industry through a one-of-a-kind proprietary platform, which allows us to extend our value to brands beyond the SMB space.
‘As one virtual flexible packaging manufacturing plant, we unlock ePac’s ability to print up to eight million linear feet per day, increasing to 17 million linear feet per day with our ongoing expansion. ePacONE is a natural evolution of our technology infrastructure, as we continue to lead the flexible packaging technological revolution and scale our solutions.’
Jack Knott, ePac CEO, added, ‘ePacONE does for the flexible packaging industry what the internet did for connecting stand-alone devices. ePac will be able to operate as one company with inter-connectivity between all assets.’
He continued, ‘ePacONE is analogous to what many of us lived through in the years leading up to our internet connected world. There was first the abacus, then the calculator and smart typewriters, next a desktop computer and eventually a laptop, smart phones and more. Each iteration kept getting smaller and faster, but the only development that made any of this valuable to advance the human race was the Internet. It connected us all as one and allowed us to use a computer individually or to share it with thousands.
‘As long as I’ve been associated with flexible packaging, everything has been mechanical, so all the new improvements have been around a single standalone asset. Separate mechanical machinery cannot be operated in a connected virtual mode and run as one. ePacOne accomplishes this.’
