In flexible packaging, milestones only matter when they reflect something bigger than the number itself. And reaching 30 installations worldwide by 2025 does exactly that: it signals that industrial packaging is moving toward a new baseline premium quality, higher productivity, and measurable sustainability, without asking converters to sacrifice costs or reliability.
The platform behind that milestone is the Comexi Offset CI Evolution, commercially launched in 2015 and built around a clear idea: deliver the highest resolution the market demands while moving away from traditional solvent-based constraints.
Why 30 installations matters (and why repeat orders matter even more)
By itself, “30” is a strong figure. But what really catches the attention of the market is how those installations are happening: the platform has logged four recent repeat orders, and two of those came in the last year a pattern that usually appears only when a technology has moved from “interesting” to proven, scalable, and profitable.
Repeat orders are rarely emotional decisions. They are operational decisions. They typically mean:
- the technology is stable over time,
- the quality is consistent across jobs,
- the workflow fits real production constraints,
- and the ROI stands up under day-to-day pressure.
That’s what this milestone represents: not a “launch story”, but a market validation story.
One supplier, three printing technologies: Flexo, Offset and Digital
Another angle that makes this milestone relevant is the broader portfolio behind it. With Offset CI Evolution’s growth, Comexi reinforces a unique position in the flexible packaging industry: offering the three main printing technologies Flexo, Offset and Digital.
In practice, that means Comexi can approach projects with a consultative mindset matching the right technology to each converter’s needs, rather than pushing a single answer for every challenge.
Where converters are using Offset CI Evolution today
Offset CI Evolution isn’t limited to a single application niche. Users are leveraging it across a diverse range of end products, including:
- Flexible packaging: pouches, sachets, wrapping and lidding
- Labels: shrink sleeves, wrap-around labels and In-Mold Labeling (IML)
This versatility matters because it reduces risk: converters don’t invest in a platform that only makes sense for one narrow use case. They invest in platforms that can support different job types as customer demands evolve.
The practical value of automation: fewer interruptions, faster setups
One of the most noticeable shifts in the latest Evolution model is the focus on automation designed for uptime and profitability.
The improvements are concrete and production-oriented:
- Rapid changeovers: highly automated systems reduce setup times between jobs
- Faster color matching: reaching color targets quicker to reduce substrate waste
- Unrivaled color consistency: stability and register accuracy across the full production run
In other words: less time “getting ready”, more time producing and fewer unpleasant surprises mid-run.
EB curing and solvent-free printing: sustainability that shows up in operations
Sustainability becomes meaningful when it changes the way production behaves. Offset CI Evolution uses VOC-free Electron-Beam (EB) curing technology, eliminating traditional solvent-related challenges and reducing energy consumption by avoiding heat-based drying.
This has two major operational advantages:
1) Printing thin films without heat, with stable register
Because no heat is applied to substrates, the system can print even the thinnest PE or PP films while maintaining perfect register at higher speeds.
That opens the door to an area growing fast in the market: mono-material recyclable structures, increasingly demanded in response to regulatory and brand pressure.
2) A clearer path to PPWR-aligned packaging goals
The move toward mono-material solutions aligns with the direction of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requirements referenced in the original announcement.
For converters, the key is not the acronym—it’s what it implies: packaging that is easier to recycle, while keeping shelf impact and print quality at a premium level.
Global sourcing, safer transport, and a more efficient ink story
There’s also a supply-chain reality that often gets overlooked. EB inks and coatings can be sourced from multiple suppliers worldwide, and since they contain no explosive solvents, they are easier and safer to transport.
Additionally:
- EB inks feature 100% solid content, requiring lower consumption to achieve high-quality results compared to solvent-based alternatives
- The use of affordable, recyclable aluminium offset plates supports low prepress costs, making premium output accessible for both short runs and large-scale production
These are not “nice to haves”. They directly influence cost structure, planning flexibility, and day-to-day purchasing decisions.
Comexi reinforces its offset structure to support the market trend
The milestone also comes with a clear internal message: Offset is not being treated as a side bet. Comexi has reinforced its internal structure to provide comprehensive support for Offset projects and services—from installation to long-term technical service.
That matters because technology adoption is rarely just about the machine. Converters buy into:
- response capacity,
- expertise,
- service continuity,
- and long-term partnership.
The takeaway: premium quality, lower footprint, and savings can coexist
For years, the industry has been asked to believe that you can’t have everything at once: quality, speed, sustainability, and cost efficiency. Offset CI Evolution’s market traction suggests otherwise.
The platform is positioned around a simple, practical idea: sustainability shouldn’t be a luxury it should be a production advantage.
And judging by 30 installations, plus repeat orders, the market seems to agree.
