When flexography meets the kitchen, the result is… deliciously strategic! Andrea Vergnano (Roveco) and Carlo Carminati (Carminati) challenged each other in the kitchen, with laughter and traditional recipes (Monzese risotto vs. taragna polenta), to playfully celebrate a partnership that is not a joke. Their mouthwatering video tells the story of a collaboration built on technical expertise, a shared vision, and a willingness to take risks, even in the kitchen. Because when the chemistry between people works, it shows both in prepress and cooking. And here, the understanding is perfect
After years of quiet synergy, two leading players in the world of flexo prepress, Roveco, specialized in flexible packaging, and Carminati, a benchmark in corrugated board, have decided to make their collaboration official. This move signifies far more than just an operational alliance: it’s the declaration of a shared vision for the future of prepress, built on quality, innovation, and collaboration. The landscape has changed: customers are increasingly aware of critical issues and demand certainty, expertise, and reliability. And now Roveco and Carminati are answering these needs, together.
“The market’s needs are changing, and so is our approach”, explain Andrea Vergnano, CEO of Roveco, and Carlo Carminati, CEO of Carminati. “This is no longer a collaboration based on temporary needs but a structured relationship, with a shared research and development program. Today, we have a unified vision, and we want to communicate it clearly: our clients can count on two solid companies that invest in flexography and quality”. Concretely, the two companies have signed a three-year investment plan in R&D, focused on competitiveness, sustainability, and innovation. This R&D initiative is called R&C (Roveco & Carminati).
A real value-add for clients: different worlds, compatible DNA
“This synergy is, above all, to the benefit of our clients”, they state without hesitation. In the past, production issues that might have taken days of internal analysis were solved within minutes, thanks to a phone call or a quick video meeting. Constant collaboration, the ability to rely on one another for technical consulting, color evaluations, or operational challenges, translates into a more effective, timely, and reliable service.
What makes the difference is their similar technical and production foundations. From shared software platforms to the use of often identical, or at least very similar, technologies, the two companies have developed an infrastructure and operational language that enables instant communication, cross-backups, and mutual support for top quality service.
But that’s not all: there is also a deep alignment in values, professionalism, integrity, a sustainability-driven entrepreneurial vision, and strong respect for the client. After all, these are two long-established companies, firmly rooted in their respective industries, known for their ethical standards and professionalism. And in this shared journey, they will continue to uphold that philosophy.
A concrete case of a successful collaboration
An emblematic example involves a major multinational company in the hygiene and sanitation sector, a shared client. The two companies worked side by side to ensure color consistency between primary flexible packaging and secondary corrugated cardboard packaging.
The complexity of the project required a single, transparent interface. This led to the development of a shared online tool, built in-house using compatible databases (thanks to the adoption of the same ERP system, another recent joint decision). The tool allows the client to monitor the progress of work in real time, both for the flexible packaging managed by Roveco and the corrugated board packaging supplied by Carminati.
This platform has drastically reduced emails, phone calls, and operational issues. “But to make this work”, they explain, “technology and shared databases alone aren’t enough. You need trust and alignment. You need to deeply understand how the other company operates. And we do that every single day”.
The challenges of the future? Not settling for mediocrity
Prepress is constantly evolving, and the biggest risk is a race to the bottom, where price becomes the only differentiator. “Our challenge is to keep raising the bar and invest where others stop”, say Andrea and Carlo firmly.
“Quality is not just a goal; it’s a daily choice. Our strength lies in the fact that we’re not copies of each other, but two complementary companies sharing goals and resources”.
The collaboration is real and tangible. In emergencies, production has already been transferred between sites without issues. To make that happen, you need not only compatibility, but also transparency and open communication.
“We often discuss machinery, investments, production flows”, they add. “In some cases, we’ve purchased similar or identical equipment; in others, we’ve divided technologies based on need. Our mindset isn’t ‘I buy for myself,’ but ‘we buy to create value for the client’”.
With this partnership, especially when dealing with major brands that prefer working with strategic, well-structured suppliers, both Carminati and Roveco are fully equipped to step up to the challenge.
An alternative to mergers and acquisitions?
Roveco–Carminati partnership aims to remain at the top in terms of quality and reliability. But technology alone is not enough. The truth is that craftsmanship and true expertise are still what makes the difference today.
Anyone can produce plates. But customizing prepress solutions for each client, knowing exactly what’s needed and how to achieve it, is a skill that requires passion and deep technical knowledge. In today’s market, mergers and acquisitions are increasingly common, with companies adopting various strategies, and this is natural in a free market. But here, we’re looking at a very different path-
“Our synergy is based on respect and loyalty, not on control or power dynamics. We’ve built a shared vision, a demanding approach, but more solid and authentic”. The collaboration between Roveco and Carminati didn’t start yesterday. Years ago, the founders of both companies had already begun working together, making joint purchases and sharing booths at trade fairs. Today, that story continues with a new generation and a more structured organization.
“Respect, dialogue, listening, these are the values we inherited and continue to cultivate”, they conclude. “Sometimes, even just having the chance to talk openly as entrepreneurs is a value in itself. When you share challenges and solutions with someone who speaks your same language, you feel less alone. And that’s one of the things that makes our partnership so strong”, say Vergnano and Carminati.
Two different but complementary companies, chose to combine know-how and infrastructure without losing their own identities. In the kitchen, as in business, it takes balance to achieve the best result. And Andrea and Carlo show that it’s possible to do business with seriousness, without ever losing sight of the human side of things.
Because sometimes, the best alliances are born around a table… and in front of a steaming plate of food, just like during this interview, and especially in the video we invite you to enjoy.
