ePac Flexible Packaging, founded in 2016 as the world’s first all-digital flexible packaging company, has recently celebrated its 8th anniversary in May. The company has maintained an impressive growth trajectory, with consistent growth rates between 50% and 100% annually from 2016 to 2022. Despite a slight slowdown in 2023, ePac still achieved a 30% increase in units produced over 2022, demonstrating strong new customer acquisition. ePac’s sales have now reached approximately $200 million, establishing it as an international player in the flexible packaging market.
The flexible packaging industry faced significant financial challenges in 2023 and 2024 due to various factors such as inflation, higher interest rates, supply chain disruptions, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. To address these challenges, ePac undertook a strategic reassessment and implemented measures to mitigate the industry-wide impacts.
Since its inception, ePac has been committed to leveraging technology to enhance productivity and improve customer experience. The company’s Software and Services group developed innovative solutions for its ERP and CRM systems, online quoting, automated job routing, data mining, pre-press automation, and advanced digital printing. These technological advancements have enabled ePac to streamline its operations and prepare for future growth.
One key strategic decision was the consolidation of ePac’s US operations into 11 manufacturing plants, down from 15, alongside expanding its footprint to include 3 plants in Canada and 8 locations in Europe, Asia/Pacific, and Africa. This consolidation, facilitated by ePac’s digital infrastructure, has been successfully completed.
Additionally, ePac is investing in upgrading its digital printer fleet to the new HP Indigo Gen 5 200k technology, which is expected to increase productivity by up to 45%. The company plans to upgrade all 58 of its HP Indigo presses over the next 24 months.
Central to ePac’s technology platform is ePacONE, a proprietary tool that connects all 58 digital presses and enables automated job routing and management across all 22 ePac locations. This system acts as a conductor, orchestrating job flow as a unified virtual package printing platform.
Furthermore, ePac has expanded its product portfolio by adding new capabilities, such as the recent acquisition of a flat-bottom pouch machine from Totani. This expansion enhances ePac’s offerings in the coffee, sports nutrition, and pet food markets.
Virag Patel, CEO of ePac, emphasized the company’s focus on technology: “Our commitment to technology will position ePac for the next phase of growth and serve larger, more complex customers – serving brands of all sizes.” With a solid infrastructure and a customer base expected to reach 4,500 to 5,000 this year, ePac is poised for continued success in the flexible packaging market.