İsmail Yılmaz

Vice President of Sales and Corporate Strategy  

Toyo Printing Inks Inc.

Interview at Eurasia Packaging 2026

1. How did you find Eurasia Packaging 2026 in terms of interest from local and international visitors and the overall performance of the event?

Eurasia Packaging Fair is an important platform that brings together different stakeholders across the packaging and printing industries and provides us with an opportunity to showcase our products and technology solutions. Although the adverse weather conditions this year made the fair more challenging for both exhibitors and visitors, we consider such events important for strengthening our existing business partnerships and supporting our activities in international markets.

As Toyo Printing Inks, we place great importance on sharing our strengthened production infrastructure and expanding product portfolio with industry professionals, while also gaining a deeper understanding of our customers’ needs across different applications.

2. What were the key topics that stood out in visitors’ needs and demands? What role do sustainable solutions play among these demands?

Sustainability, food safety, compliance with evolving regulations, and recycling performance are among the key issues that need to be addressed in the packaging industry. In line with these priorities, we are developing inks suitable for use in food packaging, water-based solutions, and formulations compatible with recycling processes.

Through our ongoing work, we continue to contribute to our customers’ sustainable packaging goals by developing solutions tailored to the intended use and technical requirements of each packaging application. We also prioritize providing on-site support and training to our customers through our teams of technical experts. We believe that our strong R&D infrastructure, combined with the long-standing expertise of artience Group, provides a significant advantage in our work in this field.

3. Considering the demands from the packaging segments you serve, did you observe any notable changes at this year’s fair? Which segments are currently more active in terms of production? Has there been any change in the visitor profile?

The technical requirements of different packaging segments shape the direction of our product development efforts. In flexible packaging, flexo and gravure inks and laminating adhesives are among our key product groups. In offset printing, food-safe systems are an important area of focus, while BPA-NI coating technologies are among our key solutions for metal packaging.

We shape our product development approach around the technical requirements of each industry and the specific application needs of our customers.

4. In light of your discussions at the fair, are there any particular points you would like to highlight regarding the new products you introduced?

One of the key product groups we highlighted at Eurasia Packaging 2026 was the LP-9000 Toyo Life Premium Food LO/LM Series, developed with the support of TÜBİTAK. Approved by the ISEGA Institute in Germany, the series stands out for its suitability for food packaging applications, low-odor properties, high print stability, and consistent color performance. The series has also received INGEDE 11 certification for its suitability for the deinking process.

At the fair, we also highlighted our BPA-NI Gold Varnish, BPA-NI Pigment Varnish, and BPA-NI Clear Varnish product groups, which attracted significant interest from visitors. Together with our conventional and UV metal packaging inks, these solutions focus on key technical requirements such as strong adhesion to metal surfaces, high chemical and mechanical resistance, and the barrier properties required for food packaging applications.

On the flexible packaging side, our NC-free and PVC-free ink series for mono-material PE and PP structures form part of our approach to developing alternatives compatible with recycling processes. Our next-generation laminating adhesives are also among the prominent product groups in our portfolio.

5. What are your thoughts on the direction the industry will take in the coming period?

We believe that the future direction of the packaging industry will be shaped by the combined impact of the circular economy, resource efficiency, and technological transformation. In particular, food safety, recycling performance, and compatibility with mono-material packaging will continue to be key considerations in the development of ink and coating technologies.

In line with these priorities, we are working on food-safe systems, water-based inks, vegetable oil-based offset solutions, and recycling-friendly coatings. In digital printing, we are focusing on developments in water-based and UV systems, formulations that provide high color stability, and products compatible with different substrates.

Our new USD 70 million production facility in the Manisa Organized Industrial Zone has doubled our production capacity, strengthening our local manufacturing capabilities and supply flexibility. This infrastructure supports the transfer of our R&D developments into production while also contributing to Türkiye’s manufacturing and export capabilities serving European and neighboring markets.

Trade fairs are important to all of us as platforms for bringing new technologies together with industry professionals and developing international business partnerships.

İsmail Yılmaz

Vice President of Sales and Corporate Strategy  

Toyo Printing Inks Inc.