FuturePrint Podcast
FuturePrint is dedicated to and passionate about the power of print technology to enable new opportunities and create new value. This pod features deep-dive discussions with the people behind the tech as well as market analysis, trends, marketing and storytelling!
FuturePrint Podcast
#262 Digitising the Box: How Domino Aims to Disrupt Corrugated Printing
Michael Strehlow brings over 35 years of print industry expertise to his role as Account Manager for Corrugated EMEA at Domino Printing Sciences. Having joined the company in April 2025, he's on a mission to expand Domino's digital corrugated printing footprint across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The corrugated packaging landscape is undergoing seismic shifts. Major consolidations have reshaped the market as industry giants like International Paper, Smurfit Kappa, and Stora Enso expand through strategic acquisitions. These developments follow post-COVID overcapacity issues and reflect companies' desires to strengthen regional market positions amid economic uncertainty.
Despite the corrugated industry's traditionally conservative approach to new technology, digital printing offers compelling advantages. Domino's X630i single-pass digital press with water-based ink technology eliminates the complexities of plate production, press preparation, and color setup while enabling QR codes, personalization, and serialization. For jobs ranging from 1 to 50,000 pieces, digital can be significantly more efficient, though manufacturers must analyze their job mix to identify where digital creates the most value.
What makes Domino particularly strong in this space? With inkjet expertise dating back to 1978 and now backed by the Brother Group, Domino develops and manufactures critical components in-house, including inks and printheads. Their Swiss-made X630i press directly addresses modern sustainability and productivity requirements.
The EMEA region presents diverse opportunities, with Germany leading European production, followed by Italy and Spain. Middle Eastern markets, particularly Saudi Arabia and UAE, show greater appetite for innovation and investment in new technologies. Meanwhile, Domino pursues ambitious sustainability goals, having reduced emissions by 44% since 2015 and aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050.
Want to learn more about digital solutions for corrugated packaging? Connect with Domino at upcoming industry events including FEFCO Rome, Fachpack Nürnberg, and various regional packaging shows throughout EMEA.
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FuturePrint TECH: Industrial Print: 21-22 January '26, Munich, Germany
Well, hi there and welcome to this week's Future Print podcast, and I'm very pleased to have someone new to us, which is always exciting and interesting Michael Strelow, who is Account Manager for Corrugated for EMEA, for Domino Printing Sciences. So, yes, I had to get all that into one piece, but Michael's got a very interesting history and he's going to tell us a bit more. Michael, good to speak to you, hi.
Speaker 2:Fraser, nice, to meet you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, thank you very much for joining us today. New to the role and Domino are doing lots of interesting things at the moment and I know you're going to share some of that with us. Let's just start with you, because it's always interesting for the audience to know a bit about you and, as I said, you've got an interesting history. So let's kick off, introduce yourself to the audience and just describe what you're doing at Domino and just cover off the kind of the responsibilities I mentioned EMEA. So just give us that kind of outline of what you're about with Domino at the moment.
Speaker 2:Yeah, fraser, hi, yes, of course, it's a pleasure to be here. Thank you very much. Thank you, and I joined Domino on April 1st and I'm responsible for our single-pass inkjet press for corrugated packaging, and so far, the EMEA region that's, europe, the Middle East and Africa hasn't been fully developed when it comes to selling our digital print engine. So and that's now my mission yeah, to build and grow this market together with our local teams and our distribution partners, and this includes much more than just sales. I'm heavily involved in training our sales teams, preparing and producing tailored print samples for customers, organizing virtual demos on our press and planning, participation in trade shows, events and local industry associations like sheet plant association, fevcor or Fachpark Nuremberg. It's a hands-on role, I would say, and it's an exciting opportunity to really drive the growth of our technology in a very promising sector.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, thank you. Thank you for that introduction. As I said at the beginning, you've got quite an interesting background. Tell us a little bit more about your experience. I'm not going to give away your age, but let's say you've been in the industry for quite a long time. You will know the age when I talk about me, but, um, just just tell us a bit more about your experience yeah, absolutely, I'd be happy to.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my journey in the graphic art industry began back in 1986, so you might remember the legendary 1984 apple mackintosh commercial that year during the super bowl. Yep, I heard about it, with a sentence on january 24th apple computer will introduce mackintosh commercial that aired during the Super Bowl. Yep, I heard about it, with a sentence on January 24th Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like 1984.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:When that campaign, produced by Ridley Scott, made a huge impression and not just on me, right. And then I started working with a company in Bremen called Systematics and where we delivered and installed Apple computers complete with software like PageMaker Version 1, macpaint and HyperCard, and that's where all it started. So I went on to work for Baumann Grafische Systeme after my training and studies and back then we were selling computers to firms from Aqua and of course, a lot of Mac, lot of systems to the graphic design world. And as the industry evolved, so did the technology. You know, sun server, silicon, graphic workstation, other unix bank systems started becoming relevant.
Speaker 2:Later I spent 13 years at heidelberger Druckmaschinen where I was responsible for all things IT, specifically around the pre-nect workflow and pre-press systems. And after that I moved into digital printing, spending six years at Konica Minolta working across sheet, fat and large format printing, and from there I transitioned to Esco Kongsberg, where I stayed another six years Yep. At Esco Kongsberg I focused on packaging software, cad system and software like ArtPro and ArtJuiceCut workflow, cnc cutting tables for prototyping, signage and even the CDI flexible plate imaging. So it's quite been a long journey, always close to the cutting edge of print and packaging technology.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. And I love the fact in this podcast we've managed to get the amazing Ridley Scott, the director himself in there.
Speaker 2:About 1984, the Orville and he's still going, isn't he?
Speaker 1:He's still an amazing director, yes, um. So, yeah, let's. Let's just explore a bit more. New to this role? Um, I'm always interested in when, when people are new to a role and they've kind of had a couple of months getting into it what, what do you think about this so far? What do you think about the product offering and why? Why do you think there's something special about domino?
Speaker 2:yeah, good question. There are several aspects that really stand out. So first of all, domino itself. We've been active in inkjet since the very early days in cambridge, uk, in 1978 and over the decades we've built tremendous expertise, so we are also a major player in coding and marking. What adds even more strength in the fact that Domino is part of the brother group from Japan. So behind our 3,000 employees at Domino, it's a very strong, technology-driven parent company. What makes a huge difference is that we develop and manufacture key components like ink and many of our printheads in-house. For example, our continuous label printers and the print engine for corrugated press, the X630, are produced in our own factory in Switzerland. And in terms of product benefits, it all comes down to this. Domino has deep in-house expertise, a longstanding reputation. Inkjet and our X630 directly addresses current market needs. It's a single-pass digital press for corrugated running, water-based ink, an ideal solution for today's sustainability and productivity requirements.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, and it's an amazing bit of kit and we've seen it in action. I guess you're going to have a few of those. Are you going to have one of those machines? Are you running it at Label Expo or not?
Speaker 2:No, no, the machine is too big, so too heavy. It's 28 pounds, that's a fairly big piece of kit isn't it Big?
Speaker 1:footprint. Yeah, so I'm interested to hear more about your view, your kind of view of the market. It's always interesting for me to get an understanding of someone kind of coming from sideways in. What are you sensing the corrugated market? You know it's been talked about for quite a long time as an opportunity. How easy is it to move from analog to digital? What's your view?
Speaker 2:Ah, yeah, great question, and quite a few in one go right. So let me start with the current state of the market and after, after covid, so I can go back to covid time. After, the corrugated packaging sector experienced major overcapacity in high inventory levels, yeah, and this led to falling prices and a slowdown in investment. And on top of that, the economic uncertainty has triggered a wave of mergers, acquisitions and internal restructuring. So I give you just a few examples Seike acquired Schumacher's Polish plants October 2020, for more than the announced. Acquire Schumacher's Western European operations for roughly 600 million.
Speaker 2:The German Timms Group sold the packaging system business to Japan's Rango Group. Ip International Paper acquired DS Smith. Smurfit Kappa merged with Westrock. Stora Enso acquired the Jong Packaging. Fime Group has successfully completed acquisition of five corrugated packaging plants from International Paper again, complete acquisition of five corrugated packaging plants from international paper again. And, for example, the vpk group expanded significantly in italy through setacarton. They bought ribly in uk. Arctic paper in portugal. So, as you can see here, the corrugated industry is undergoing massive consolidation. Yeah, so these mega deals are reshaping the European and global landscape, with key players targeting regional expansion to strengthen their footprint.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And now to your next question how easy is it to shift from analog to digital and corrugated? You asked me so. Well, let's be honest, the packaging industry tends to be very conservative, right? You know this? Yeah, yeah, investment cycles are long and new technologies are often met with skepticism. So if customers are considering digital, they still expect the same visual quality they are used to have from Flexor or Offset.
Speaker 2:But the reality is the technical hurdle isn't that high. So, in fact, digital printing simplifies the process significantly. So there's no need to produce plates, manage registration accuracy, manage conditions of the blanket or ink viscosity or fine-tuning zones like flex or offset. But the key factor is here your job structure must be suited to digital. So if you're running a four-color job as an example here let's say from 1 to 50,000, the digital press can be much faster and more cost efficient. The real task for customers is to analyze their own job mix and identify where digital can bring value. We are not trying to replace Flexo entirely, but there are many preprint or laminated jobs where digital is simply a smarter option, both economically and logistically.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, as you said, they're quite conservative, aren't they by their nature?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:You know and.
Speaker 2:Long investment terms and yeah, yeah, they're kind of like.
Speaker 1:Also, there's a sense and I've heard this mentioned before that they kind of their supply system that everything is in place, everything is in place and therefore disrupting with a digital. Yeah, you know, it's quite tricky and so, yeah, I think but you've laid it out quite clearly the commercial viability of it there, um, yeah, it's a very difficult one, isn't it? It's a difficult one. So, um, in terms of that kind of if we, if we're talking to someone and trying to point to those benefits, those clear things that will benefit production with digital, what are they? What does digital offer?
Speaker 2:Ah, yeah, yeah. If you look at the entire workflow, right from the customer's online order or job entry in the MIS, the management information system, through pre-press and workflow file handling, everything flows smoothly into digital. Yeah, and there's no need for plate production, no time spent preparing the press, no lengthy color setups or last minute changes from the customer. Yeah, that's no problem, right, you can be implemented right before printing. And, of course, digital also opens up new possibilities. So QR codes, personalization, serialization these used to be complex and expensive with analog, but with digital they're just part of the workflow, right? Yeah?
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, do you sense that digital does solve problems?
Speaker 2:Yeah, essentially all the challenges we just mentioned with conventional processes, digital will solve them. Yeah, it removes complexity, speeds up the production, reduce waste. Yeah, and in some industries the shift to digital is already complete. Yeah, but in corrugated things move slower. So perhaps in 15 years we will look back and ask why did it take so long? Right, yeah, by then the market, it take so long, right. By then the market leader, for example, may not be the same ones we know today. So think about Nokia, the market leader from 1998 to 2007. Then came Apple and the iPhone, and the rest is history. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the same kind of disruptions possible in the corrugated market also. Hopefully, hopefully, I would say. But putting philosophy aside, right, digital provides real answers to modern challenges short runs, time to market, customization, individualization and these are not new concepts, you know. But in packaging, they are still gaining ground, and so that's where digital can make a real difference.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I love those examples of when we look at companies like Nokia.
Speaker 2:Yes, amazing, right there was money globally and then nobody knows them. I asked a children or young guy about Nokia. They never heard about it.
Speaker 1:But even Nokia is an example, if I remember rightly and maybe I've got this wrong but I've got a vague recollection that Nokia used to make boots. That's what they originally. They made boots before mobile phones, I think they made. I might be wrong on that, but I'm pretty sure I remember that story of someone saying here's this you know, back when Nokia were the big ones, yeah, they originally had been making something completely different, and that's's what's disruptive, isn't it? I mean that interesting point about looking for that sort of disruption and something unique and innovative. Obviously, you'll be at some shows, some trade shows, some events in the next few months. What will you be showcasing? What will Domino be showing? What will you be talkingasing? What will domino be showing? What will you be talking about?
Speaker 2:yeah, yes, yeah, yeah, we've really stepped up our presence in the industry to increase dominance, visibility in the corrugated space, because we are not really really well known. But we've already participated, and will continue to do so, in key industry associations and trade events. So, for example, we are active member of the Sheet Plant Association in the UK. We joined the meetings there, we will join the FEFCO event in Rome and the GIFCO Association in Italy, and we are in discussion with associations also in South Africa and Turkey as well.
Speaker 2:So our goal is to be where the corrugated community is right To connect, to share and to showcase what we do. So you will also find us at Fachpark in Nürnberg, label Expo in Barcelona or Pro Paper Dubai, gulf Premium Pack Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and other regional packaging shows. Yeah, sure, and while our press is too large to exhibit live, because it's 23 metres long and 28 tonnes heavy, we do bring a lot of value to the stand, from printed samples to technical presentations and even parts of our own printed system, which we've developed in-house with advanced features for optimal printability. But most importantly, it's all about engaging with people face-to-face and starting meaningful conversations. So that's an important thing to talk to people, convince them, discuss the product and show them the benefit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, sure, so all these events would be a good place for people to come and see some of your tech and also have a chance to speak to you guys.
Speaker 2:What you're doing.
Speaker 1:Just explain when we start this. You mentioned that your responsibility covers EMEA. I'm always interested about markets and geographies, geographies, different markets. What do you sense about Europe versus Africa versus Middle East? What are you seeing? Emea is quite an interesting region.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's right, emea is also a diverse region, right? So first there's the market structure, what I have already mentioned, the consolidations and how some big players operate across multiple countries, but there are also many strong local manufacturers, so reaching all of them requires different strategies. So in terms of volume, I can say in, germany is by far the largest producer of corrugated boards, followed by Italy and Spain, but don't underestimate, for example, countries like Turkey, and its corrugated output is roughly half half of that of germany, which is quite significant yeah, in africa.
Speaker 2:So in africa, south africa stands out with a well-developed paper and packaging industry. For example, almost major packaging players like impact, coroceal, boxmoreamore or Golnira and other countries like Egypt, nigeria, morocco and Kenya also have grown markets, but they are on a small scale so they are not really relevant. So relevant countries in Africa is South Africa for us and, looking at the Gulf region, saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates dominate the packaging industry in that whole area. So these two countries are the big player. So the regional differences are clear and each market requires a tailored approach.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. Would you add anything to that in terms of your tailored approach to a difference between a European market and a Middle Eastern market?
Speaker 2:Yeah, the Middle East guys are more innovative today and more interested in ideas new factories, new plants. Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. They have more money. I think Probably Emirates they have more money.
Speaker 1:I think probably, and I think you're right. It may not just be about the money, it may be about optimism yes there feels in Europe a little bit of not stagnation, but kind of we're in a tough place at the moment. There's a lot of uncertainty and yeah. So maybe risk averse, maybe people are a bit more risk averse, maybe middle east is a bit more kind of.
Speaker 1:Let's go for it so I think that's yeah, yeah um, talking about kind of opportunities, um, sustainability key, key issue um, do you want to talk a little bit about that? You guys, domino, we're really pleased to get you working with Futureprint on our sustainability manifesto. You're one of the major partners. We've got a lot of support for that and sustainability still continues to be important. I mean, actually in corrugated. It's crucially important, isn't it? Yeah?
Speaker 2:you're right, it's one of the big.
Speaker 1:USPs. So tell me what's Domino's view.
Speaker 2:Right, absolutely. Sustainability is the top priority for both for.
Speaker 2:Domino and our parent company, the Brother Group. Yeah, because we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and that reflects in several key initiatives. So we operate closed-loop systems for tone on ink cartridges, for example, including our inkjet cartridges in europe. Since 2024, we have introduced remanufactured consumables and we have achieved the blue angels certification for our environmental standards right, yeah, standards right. And between 2015 and 2022, we reduced our scope one and scope two emission by 44% and we aim to reach a 65% reduction by 2030. So, with full carbon neutrality by 2050, that's the goal from Domino. Yeah, pretty impressive. On the sorry.
Speaker 1:yes, on the R&D side. That would be impressive if you achieved it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we would see all right On the R&D side we are actively developing plant-based ink, for example, with reduced consumption. Domino's goal is to deliver environmental-friendly digital inks, especially sustainable, nature-derived ideas for packaging, while Brother supports this with circular production models, energy-efficient manufacturing, ceo reduction targets, globally recognized sustainability certifications. So, yeah, there's a lot of a bunch of things to solve and to reach until 2050. Yeah, it's a good target, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah yeah, absolutely, michael. Interestingly, it's a good target, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely, michael. Interestingly, on that sustainability story, I was having a conversation with someone this morning about boxes, corrugated boxes, and they were saying that part of the issue with corrugated boxes is they often are bigger than the required product. That is in size.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1:And that is not good, is it? That's not good.
Speaker 2:But I think that's not the problem of the digital printing. It's more than of the die cutter, because you need always a new plate, a new setup for the die cutter if you change the size of the boxes. So to print different stuff on a boxes with digital is not the problem, but to to change it all the time, the size, that that's a challenge.
Speaker 1:I would say yeah, but you're, you're with your esco connie's burg background. Uh, you, you understand about cutting and splicing and you know, yes, yeah, yeah, but there's no solution for digital die cutting because the Hi-Con is not available anymore. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And there are no any companies that produce a digital die cutter.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a shame, really, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, maka works a little bit, but it's a really slow machine and big size so it makes no sense in the corrugated factory of this machine.
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah, no, I understand what you're saying, it's just it is. It's a bit of a shame really, isn't it? Because what then happens is the box is filled with other stuff like plastic. Yeah, you know, which is crazy, but your point is right actually environmental approach, and then they put some plastic in there yes, crazy, but, um, like you said, hycon were were the innovators on that and that was, um, yeah, very interesting.
Speaker 1:Um, michael, is there anything else? We come to the end of the conversation and actually it's been really interesting hearing some of the points you made. Um, I just must tell everyone that ridley scott is 87 years of age, so he is still very much going, which I think and and Nokia, just on that point, did make Wellington boots rubber boots that was made um, yeah, no, I um.
Speaker 1:I found it interesting what you said because you you were very good at just consolidating the kind of corrugated you know, explaining to us what's going on with the market and what's happened, so that was useful to hear. Is there anything else you wanted to add? As we come to the end of the conversation, is there any other point you think is worth mentioning?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I hope that the digital, because I know that HP has some issues with the digital printing, also the C550 or something, but I'm a good new to bring our machine into the market. So, yeah, that's my goal for the next year or the next month and, yeah, we will be joined a lot of events and fairs and association meetings to to bring domino as a well-known corrugated company.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think. I mean you've definitely got a very, very strong story, haven't you and Domino's doing some amazing things, not just in corrugated I know you're very focused on that but in labels obviously as well. There's lots of interesting stuff going on. So, yeah, hopefully we will see each other at some point in the future, maybe at Label Expo or one of the shows. Good to meet you and thank you for your time. Really appreciate that and hopefully you've enjoyed the interview.
Speaker 2:Thank, you very much. Yeah, thank you, fraser. I really appreciate the conversation and the questions and I hope I was able to share some valuable insights right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, absolutely. Thank you very much, Michael. Thank you very much.
