At Eurasia Packaging Istanbul 2025 – the 30th International Packaging Industry Fair, Toyo Printing Inks introduced its production capacity and technological investments by presenting the promotional film of its new factory inaugurated in April 2025. The company also highlighted its regulation-compliant coating and ink series in the categories of metal packaging, liquid inks, and offset applications. 

Throughout the fair, the artience booth attracted significant attention, where the company’s Strategic Planning Manager, Pınar Demir Altın, shared insights with us.

Eurasia Packaging Istanbul 2025 is a recurring fair that gains prominence each year with both its exhibitors and visitors. However, some participants express concerns that an annual cycle can be both demanding and costly. What is your view on this?

- I have previously conveyed this to TÜYAP officials as well; in my opinion, under the current conditions in Türkiye, participating in this fair every year is indeed challenging.

However, when we say, “We wish it were held every two or three years, like Interpack or Drupa,” TÜYAP officials rightfully emphasize the exceptionally high demand for the event. This year, they mentioned that they were unable to allocate booth space to 386 companies and that a significant number of participants remain on the waiting list. Given this level of interest, TÜYAP’s decision to hold the fair annually is understandable. Even so, my personal view is that organizing the event every two years could enhance overall effectiveness, as booth designs and content often remain similar from one year to the next. Nevertheless, the fair provides clear advantages.

Our R&D managers and sales executives are all present here; over the course of four days, we held meetings with numerous visitors from Gaziantep, Ankara, and İstanbul. Under normal circumstances, visiting this many customers individually would require a schedule spanning several months. Thanks to the fair, however, we are able to meet with all our stakeholders at the same time and conduct meetings that are intense yet highly productive. For this reason, the Eurasia Packaging Fair is a platform that enables us to engage with many stakeholders in a short period of time both efficient and enjoyable. 

Which of your products did you highlight at the fair? What kind of requests did you receive, and how are you responding to them? 

- This year at the fair, as Toyo Printing Inks, we emphasized our R&D strength and our innovative product approach. We presented our innovative solutions to visitors, including our ink series formulated with recyclable raw materials, low migration, water and vegetable oil-based systems, BPA-free inner coatings for metal packaging, and UV-blocking coatings with oxygen barriers that can be used as alternatives to aluminium in flexible packaging. As is known, in 2024, our parent company Toyo Ink Group was rebranded as artience Group. At last year's Eurasia Packaging Fair, we shared this brand transformation and our new philosophy that combines “art” and “science” with the visitors. This year, on April 14, we inaugurated our new factory in Manisa. We invited many stakeholders from the industry to our inauguration and hosted approximately 1,000 attendees. Therefore, Eurasia Packaging 2025 was not only a fair where we showcased our products, but also a platform through which we were able to present our new factory and communicate the transformation of our company. 

What value has the new factory added to your operations? 

- Our new factory was designed with a production approach entirely focused on technology, efficiency, and sustainability. This investment has elevated us to the next level through the use of advanced technology and environmentally friendly practices. In our facility, thanks to fully automated production lines and building automation systems, we are able to monitor and manage all processes digitally. Our next-generation machinery and vertical production structure provide both high efficiency and energy savings. A major advantage of the new facility is the modern and ergonomic working environment it offers our employees. Every detail from layout to materials was planned with efficiency and sustainability in mind. In short, our new factory in Manisa is a sustainable, high-tech investment that not only meets the needs of today but also responds to the production approach of the future.

The previous factory is still operational, is that correct?

 - Yes, our existing factory remains fully operational. In our new factory, we produce solvent-based liquid inks and lamination adhesives. Both of our facilities have been structured to support each other, and we are carrying out a phased integration process to enhance the efficiency of our production operations. 

At first glance, the printing ink industry may appear to be lacking in innovation. However, for those involved in the industry, the reality is quite different. What kinds of inquiries did visitors focus on this year?

- I have been working in this industry for twelve years. Before entering the industry, I knew ink primarily as a material used in pens or printer cartridges. However, over the course of this journey, I realized how extensively ink is used in nearly every aspect of life from metal packaging systems to flexible packaging, from offset printing inks to book and perfume boxes, and even in the money in our pockets and the colour pigments on television screens. The newspaper industry is shrinking, but there are also growing segments such as flexible packaging, carton packaging, and labels. This year at the fair, unlike in previous years, discussions extended beyond our products and covered digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Visitors asked questions such as: “How are you integrating artificial intelligence into your production systems? Do you use it in your R&D processes?” This demonstrates that the industry is evolving not only through colour, but also through technology and data-driven systems. 

What are the emerging trends in ink consumption? Which types of inks stand out in your portfolio, and what do the sales trends indicate? 

- The overall trends in the industry have become quite clear in recent years. The declining trend in newspaper inks is continuing. Although offset inks have declined in volume depending on their areas of use, they still represent a stable market. The flexible packaging segment experienced significant growth, particularly during the pandemic, due to increased demand for cleaning and hygiene products, and it continues to be one of the most dynamic areas in the industry today. Both global and local studies support this outlook. Packaging and label inks, particularly in flexo and rotogravure systems, continue to grow. Specifically in Türkiye, there has been a noticeable increase in demand for flexible and food-packaging segments, which are developing more rapidly compared to publication printing. 

What is the situation in terms of exports? 

- On the export side, alongside our established position in the European and Middle Eastern markets, we see strong growth potential in Africa and Eastern Europe. In these regions, there is a growing interest in environmentally friendly product groups, particularly water-based inks, and lamination adhesives. 

How would you evaluate the visitor profile from both domestic and international markets? 

- Last year, the international visitor volume was relatively limited from our perspective. This year, the picture was significantly more positive. In addition to our business partners from various regions of Türkiye, we welcomed customers and potential business partners from Egypt and several African countries at our booth. Overall, both the visitor profile and the quality of meetings made this year’s fair more promising in terms of exports.