The Digital Pinnacle of Corrugated Packaging at Pack Expo 2025
Hanway, a part of the HanGlory Group, previews its digital inkjet technology for the corrugated market that it will be showcasing at Pack Expo 2025. Sponsored by HanGlory.
The global packaging industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by an accelerating shift toward digital manufacturing and intelligent automation. At the forefront of this evolution stands Hanway, a company that has dedicated a decade to pioneering digital inkjet technology for the corrugated market. This article details Hanway’s journey, its proven track record, and the innovative solutions it will showcase at Pack Expo 2025: the Glory 160X HD and the Ultra 2500W Pro. These machines represent a strategic vision to empower businesses to navigate the modern market, from rising costs and environmental pressures to the increasing demand for personalized packaging. Attendees visiting booth SU-28037 will have a firsthand look at how Hanway, a part of the HanGlory Group, is setting a new benchmark for packaging production.
The Corrugated Market at a Crossroads: Navigating a New Industrial Revolution
The landscape of the global manufacturing sector is being fundamentally reshaped by a wave of digital transformation. This is not an isolated phenomenon but an overarching economic trend. Projections indicate that the global digital transformation market is poised for explosive growth, with a forecast to expand from $594.5 billion in 2022 to an astounding $1.5489 trillion by 2027, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.1%. This data underscores a core reality: digitalization is no longer a competitive advantage but an essential requirement for building a resilient, modern enterprise.
This macro-trend of digital intelligence is directly influencing the packaging industry. According to a research report by Smithers, the global demand for packaging printing is expected to continue its upward trajectory, reaching $551.3 billion by 2027. Within this robust market, the most significant expansion is coming from the digital print packaging segment, which is forecast to grow at a rate of over 10% by 2027. The rapid adoption of digital inkjet technology, particularly for large-format applications like cartons and corrugated boxes, signifies that businesses are recognizing the inherent scalability and versatility of these solutions. Direct inkjet printing on corrugated cardboard offers key advantages, including high production efficiency, low material consumption, and a process that is favorable to environmental protection. The move toward digital printing is a direct investment in the core principles of intelligent manufacturing, where automation, data-driven insights, and integrated workflows are paramount. Hanway's strategic focus on providing end-to-end solutions—including equipment, software, inks, and service—is perfectly aligned with this industry-wide movement, offering a holistic ecosystem rather than an isolated piece of hardware.
The Pain Points of an Analog Past: Why Traditional Methods No Longer Suffice
For decades, the traditional corrugated printing industry has operated on a foundation of long runs, high-volume orders, and analog processes. However, this model is now under immense pressure from a trifecta of challenges: market competition, rising costs, and a fundamental shift in customer demand. The homogeneity of traditional printing has led to fierce price wars, eroding profit margins for many businesses. Simultaneously, increasing environmental regulations have made the management of waste, such as spent inks and chemical residues, both costly and complex. While flexo printing often uses water-based inks, the process still generates significant waste during plate creation and setup, and conventional solvent-based inks can interfere with the de-inking process during recycling.
Perhaps the most disruptive force, however, is the growing demand for fragmented, personalized, and multi-version orders. Traditional printing presses, optimized for long, uninterrupted runs, are inherently inefficient at handling a high volume of short-run jobs. Time wasted on labor-intensive tasks like plate-making, washing plates, and ink adjustments represents a significant operational burden, increasing both labor and material costs. A survey of corrugated board processors reveals that the top concerns are “order changeover time” (30%), “order tracking” (20%), and the ability to handle a “high volume of short-run orders” (12%). These concerns highlight a critical shift in market value. The modern customer is not just seeking raw speed but is willing to pay a premium for agility. The data shows that 20% of customers are willing to pay extra for 48-hour delivery, a service that is a natural strength of digital color printing. By addressing these pain points with automated, flexible solutions, digital inkjet technology allows businesses to transform a once-unprofitable segment into a high-margin opportunity. The value proposition of Hanway's solutions extends beyond mere speed; they enable a fundamental re-engineering of the business model, allowing companies to capture new, high-growth revenue streams while simultaneously reducing operational friction.
Another key challenge for flexo printing on corrugated is the nature of the substrate itself. Corrugated cardboard is more porous and has a rougher surface than other materials, which can lead to high ink penetration and dull, washed-out colors. Dirt particles released by the substrate can also clog the ink cells of the aniloxes, disrupting the ink flow and affecting print quality. Achieving the correct color density on a non-absorbent surface is also a challenge. The end result is often a softer image with less definition compared to the crisp, clean lines and defined edges that can be achieved with digital printing. Digital printing with its non-contact, on-demand approach, circumvents these issues and provides a solution for achieving vibrant, high-quality results.
Hanway and the HanGlory Group: A Decade of Digital Leadership
Hanway’s journey to the forefront of the digital corrugated market is a story of foresight, unwavering dedication, and relentless innovation. This year marks a significant milestone: the 10th anniversary of Hanway’s commitment to this specialized market. A decade of operational history provides a powerful testament to stability and technological maturity.
As a key part of the HanGlory Group, Hanway benefits from substantial resources and expertise. HanGlory Group is committed to continuously enhancing intelligent technology for high-end printing equipment across various industries. Hanway’s R&D team, which comprises over 30% of its total employees, works on advancing printhead driving technology, high-precision control systems, and real-time data software processing. Key members of the technical team bring seasoned expertise from esteemed high-tech enterprises like Huawei and ZTE, reinforcing the company’s commitment to core independent intellectual property rights.
The company’s pioneering spirit became tangible in 2016 with the launch of the Glory1604, the first domestically developed industrial-grade Single Pass corrugated board digital inkjet printer. Since 2017, Hanway has installed more than 200 presses worldwide. This accelerating adoption rate is a powerful indicator of market momentum, signalling that early adopters are seeing a strong return on investment and encouraging a new wave of customers to adopt the technology with confidence.
The Glory 160X HD: The New Standard for Premium Packaging
The Glory 160X HD is engineered for customers who require both premium print quality and large-volume production. This Single Pass High-Definition Corrugated Digital Inkjet Printer serves as a new benchmark for the industry, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in packaging production. Its core innovation is a new 1200x1200 dpi inkjet technology, which is twice the resolution of the previous 600 dpi standard. This technological leap allows the Glory 160X HD to deliver a level of detail, color fidelity, and lifelike texture that rivals traditional offset printing.
The Glory 160X HD marries this exceptional quality with impressive speed. It boasts a maximum mechanical speed of 150 m/min., with a standard production speed of 76 m/min. at its full 1200x1200 dpi resolution. This allows customers to produce premium packaging at a pace that keeps up with modern production demands. Engineered for continuous, reliable production, the Glory 160X HD incorporates a printhead water cooling system that supports 24/7 uninterrupted operation. Its advanced automation systems enable a maximum order changeover time of just ≤2 minutes, allowing for seamless job switching without the need for manual intervention.
The Ultra 2500W Pro: Redefining Flexo for Short Runs
If the Glory 160X HD sets a new standard for quality and volume, the Ultra 2500W Pro is a multi-functional alternative to traditional flexo printing, specifically designed for short-run, high-variability orders, including corrugated and folding cartons. This industrial-grade, modular digital inkjet printer is built to be a high-volume workhorse, with a maximum productivity of 1050 sq.m/hr.
The key to the Ultra 2500W Pro’s efficiency is its automated “Load-Printing-Unload” process, which streamlines the entire production cycle. This system includes a fully automated feeder that can handle cardboard of varying thicknesses and a vacuum suction system for precise board transportation. By seamlessly integrating the entire workflow—from paper delivery to printing and unloading—the system drastically reduces the need for manual labor, minimizes errors, and decreases waste. This end-to-end automation directly addresses the operational friction points that plague traditional printing, such as rising labor costs and inefficiencies. The machine’s multi-pass technology offers greater flexibility and a streamlined workflow for a wide range of applications.
Beyond the Machines: The Hanway Ecosystem
Hanway’s value proposition extends far beyond the impressive hardware it produces. The company positions itself as an “Industrial Digital Printing Solution Provider,” offering a complete, integrated ecosystem that supports every aspect of a customer’s digital journey. This comprehensive approach is a strategic move that simplifies the customer’s supply chain and fosters a reliable, single-vendor partnership.
The company’s commitment to independent research and development has resulted in a suite of proprietary technologies that serve as the backbone of its solutions. This includes a self-developed intelligent Manufacturing Execution System (MES), an integrated control system, and independent printhead driving technology. Hanway has also established an independent ink supply chain, cultivating an ecosystem that extends to its consumables. The company's proprietary high-density pigment inks are not only environmentally friendly, using a water-based formula, but also deliver color vibrancy that is on par with offset printing.
Hanway also has a robust global service system, with a presence in over 60 countries, offering a remote online service network that provides efficient, 24/7 support, including equipment installation, training, and troubleshooting.
The Invitation to Innovation: Join Us at Pack Expo 2025
The digital revolution in corrugated packaging is not a distant possibility—it is here, and it is happening now. The challenges facing traditional printers represent a monumental opportunity for businesses that embrace innovation. Hanway’s commitment to pioneering digital inkjet technology for the last decade, coupled with its proven track record of over 200 successful installations, positions it as the ideal partner for this transition.
At Pack Expo 2025 in Las Vegas, attendees will have a unique opportunity to witness the future of packaging in action. We invite all industry professionals to experience these transformative solutions firsthand and discuss how Hanway’s digital ecosystem can empower their businesses for future success.
Our US Agent: TeamEPS
In the United States, we have established a strong partnership with TeamEPS, the company that serves as the master distributor for Hanway’s corrugated packaging printers in the US. TeamEPS has been serving the printing industry since 1993, and has partnered with many reputable and long-standing companies in the industry, including the HanGlory Group. TeamEPS's address is 2610 Arbor Tech Drive, Hebron, Ky., 41048. In addition to providing advanced equipment, TeamEPS is known for its excellent service and support, which includes first-class equipment installation, operator training, and on-site service. They also have a dedicated showroom for the Glory 160X HD in their US location, providing customers with the opportunity to experience our cutting-edge technology firsthand.
Event Details
Event: Pack Expo 2025
Dates: September 29–October 1
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas
Hanway Booth: SU-28037
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This article is originally from WhatTheyThink
