Demographic change? More single households? Growing ecological awareness? Mobile commerce? Convenience? Brand protection? Industry, retail, packaging and machine manufacturers are looking for answers to complex social questions. Using the motto “You & Us – Sustainable Innovation“, the Wipak Group is about to intensify the collaboration with its partners. From resource-saving film types to interactive packages or services such as PackDesign: “Innovations that really deserve the attribute “sustainable” are created by means of close collaboration, offering added value to both our customers and to consumers“, explains Matti Rovamaa, the Wipak Group’s Vice President and General Manager.

The current motto “You & Us“ highlights Wipak’s mission and emphasizes the important role of customers for their own product development. “We are redefining partnership“, Rovamaa announces. Paper/film combinations based on renewable resources, stand-up pouches as a replacement of aluminum packages, quadro seal bags as an alternative to folding boxes, thinner multi-layer films or new, high-performance types such as NICE PP for high-temperature applications are good examples. “Innovations are created based on permanent dialog“, Rovamaa says. “There is however no silver bullet, only individual solutions. And it is these customized solutions that we need to identify in cooperation with our partners“.

Service provides added value

In addition to high tech as well as new development and production capacities, Wipak is banking on comprehensive service in Europe. “Design consulting, market studies, technical support, training, machine trials, or laboratory analyses are issues that are gaining more and more importance“, Rovamaa emphasizes. “We notice the growing demand of our customers for comprehensive support“. Example PackDesign: Wipak’s range of services offered on a pan-Europan scale covers printing technology consulting, optimization of package design and development of dummy packages.

Winnovations – Platform for ideas

The Healthcare division is another example for partnership. Wipak has created and installed Winnovations, an open, web-based platform to promote innovations and to accelerate their implementation. “Our goal is to create an environment that integrates all partners. We organize workshops, events and the web-based platform and invite customers, employees and suppliers to suggest their product ideas, allowing us to further develop them in close cooperation“, Wipak’s Nina Tillaeus describes the philosophy behind Winnovations.

Interactive packages to create a whole new world of experiences

“You & Us“ at the same time also represents our attempt to think beyond the traditional ways. “Packages that “talk“ or let brand images become alive will open up new marketing perspectives for industry and retail, giving us a leading edge against competitors in terms of how to address consumers,“ says Wipak’s Dr. Annett Kaeding-Koppers. In addition to the self-talking system that received the WorldStar Award, Augmented Reality is another important focus.

Using invisible codes and special apps for smartphones and tablets, three-dimensional packaging worlds can be created from conventional print images. “At Interpack, we are going to present different systems and their potential applications for food and medical device packaging“, Dr. Kaeding-Koppers explains. “These technologies will allow our customers to add increased value to packages“, adds Nina Tillaéus. “Videos, 3D models, voice, images, or texts –important information about the packaged products or about the company can be presented to consumers in a really entertaining way“. This way a completely new dimension is added to the package as an emotional brand ambassador.

Wipak at Interpack:

Hall 10 / Stand A 22