Product innovation, automation, and sustainability are driving the growth roadmap of the Verona-based group. Flex Converting Alliance has now become a well-structured and growing reality, allowing Uteco and its partner companies to present themselves to the printing and converting market with a comprehensive package of solutions. At recent K fair in Düsseldorf, we met Mattia Carpinetti, Head of Product Marketing at Uteco, who was also featured in a video interview for an in-depth discussion.
Product innovation, sustainability, digitalization, and a global network of increasingly widespread services: these are the pillars on which Uteco is building its future strategy.
During K 2025, which proved to be an outstanding success for Uteco and the partners of FlexCA, we met with Mattia Carpinetti, Head of Product Marketing, to hear about the vision of the Verona-based group, today a leading player in the technological transformation of printing and converting sector. Together with companies that are leaders in their respective fields, Uteco offers the market a complete package of solutions, spanning from film production to flexo, digital, coating, laminating and converting technologies.
Our meeting with Mattia Carpinetti took place at FlexCA stand, right in the center of Hall 4, early in the morning before the fair opened. Throughout the event, Uteco and its partners presented a series of events, featuring the latest innovations, from the new Bimec slitter rewinders to collaborations with supply chain partners aimed at developing products and solutions for the market. Mattia, as Head of Product Marketing, was also in charge of introducing this entire series of events, so getting a few minutes with him wasn’t easy, but we managed it.
Strategic priorities: product development and a glocal presence
“Uteco is a company that has managed to evolve without losing its DNA”, says Carpinetti. “Since 2018, with the entry of the NB Renaissance fund, we have launched an ambitious development plan: we invest about 7% of our annual turnover in research and development, confirming our commitment to continuous innovation. In recent years, our product range has been completely renewed, while the company structure has evolved toward a more managerial model, with significant enhancement of our services and the opening of new support centers, for example in South America, Asia, and the Middle East”.
This profound transformation has also redefined how the brand is perceived in the market: from a family-run business to a structured international group, able to maintain the flexibility and customization capabilities that have always been its hallmark
Among the group’s priorities, Carpinetti explains, are the ongoing expansion of its product range and the strengthening of its service network. “We have completed our new flexographic range and are working to extend our technologies to the world of coating, laminating, and hybrid flexo-digital printing. At the same time, we aim to consolidate our international presence with a glocal service network, that is global in expertise and reach but close to customers in day-to-day operations”.
The market is showing increasing interest in the hybridization between flexo and digital printing, and Uteco is at the forefront. “The trend is growing because digital printing offers flexibility and speed, but it still has limitations in terms of width, speed, and production costs. Hybridization with analog printing helps overcome these barriers, creating a virtuous balance between productivity and efficiency. In this sense, we are pioneers: today, we are among the few on the market, perhaps the only ones, with a wide-web hybrid machine that is fully operational. We truly believe that the future of printing lies here”.
Services and digitalization: value beyond the machine
In Uteco’s transformation journey, the “service” component is taking on an increasingly central role. “Today, the machine is only the first step. Customers want a partner who can support them over time with technical assistance, maintenance, and continuous updates”, explains Carpinetti. From this vision comes Active Pack, a package of integrated hardware and software solutions designed to continuously enhance machine performance. “Customers who have already installed it can receive updates and performance upgrades remotely, without on-site intervention. It’s an evolution that boosts efficiency and reduces downtime”.
Sustainability and materials of the future
The transition toward more sustainable materials is a challenge that Uteco addresses through an open innovation approach, in collaboration with major players across the value chain.
“We test new materials, inks, and coatings directly on our machines. For example, we are working with Siegwerk, which also took part in a presentation at our stand during K about next-generation barrier coatings. We are assessing their applicability on different substrates, using the elements of the central drum to apply the coating. The goal is to validate technically efficient and sustainable solutions, providing customers with concrete tools for the ecological transition”. In this regard, Uteco’s Converdrome is increasingly becoming a meeting point for industry partners to test new technologies, materials, and innovative solutions.
From a geographical standpoint, Uteco is paying close attention to the fastest-growing regions. “South America, Middle East, and Africa are showing great dynamism: these are technologically younger markets, but full of opportunities and highly receptive to innovation. In Europe, by contrast, we operate in mature markets, where added value increasingly comes from efficiency, automation, and sustainability”.
Trends and perspectives: sustainability and automation as key drivers
“In the coming years, the industry will be driven by two major forces: sustainability and automation. The push for more recyclable, lower-impact packaging is coming from brand owners and is cascading throughout the entire supply chain, influencing even machine design. At the same time, the shortage of skilled operators requires us to develop increasingly intuitive technologies that support machine operators and minimize downtime”. And there is no shortage of practical applications, Mattia continues saying that “we’ve already installed advanced automation systems for automatic sleeve replacement, a solution that eliminates ergonomic risks and improves safety, especially on large-format machines. It’s a tangible example of how we aim to lead innovation: technology at the service of efficiency and people”.
