Fedrigoni Group, one of the world’s leading global manufacturers of speciality papers for luxury packaging and other creative solutions, as well as premium labels and self-adhesive materials, is launching an Innovation Center to reinforce its R&D capabilities and to continue pioneering the development and production of sustainable, recycled and recyclable premium papers and self-adhesive materials.
The 3,000 sqm space, located next to the Group’s Verona-based office, Italy, will centralize operations, ensuring collaborations between companies, universities, innovative start-ups and users of products and services are seamless, and will work harmoniously to co-create high-performing products and solutions that are more befitting of a modern, sustainable and tech-optimized world.
The Fedrigoni Group has engineered some of the most advanced technological solutions for speciality papers, packaging, creative communications and premium labels including RFID sensors for smart papers and labels, and durable paper alternatives to plastic that are tear-resistant, grease-proof, water-resistant and translucent. These papers are made from renewable fiber sources and many of them are made from completely recyclable raw materials. The Innovation Center will enable the Group’s customers to participate more effectively in the creative process, enabling them to inform solutions which support them in the environmental transition. A dedicated area within the Center provides the capability to immerse oneself within the Fedrigoni world by touching the products, using augmented reality and developing prototypes.
Marco Nespolo, CEO, Fedrigoni Group, commented: “This ambitious project facilitates a multi-faceted collaboration between our suppliers and strategic partners to create a significant impact on the entire ecosystem in which we operate. Without continuous innovation, there is no future. Improvement not only comes through R&D but also through the exchange of experiences and insights between different parties with complementary skill sets. This helps broaden our perspectives to think of bigger and better solutions for our industry and the sectors we serve.”
The Innovation Center will consist of four complementary areas for the practical implementation of innovative concepts:
Research, Development & Innovation – encompassing laboratories for analyzing new raw materials including recycled fibers and alternatives to cellulose; machines for testing and prototyping new treatments which minimize environmental impact; printers for digital printing tests including a HP Indigo 7K Digital Press printer, and a first-of-its-kind fully automated sample warehouse with over 8,000 samples of speciality papers.
FedLab – Fedrigoni Group’s incubator-accelerator ensures new ideas can be transformed into highly sustainable products, services or processes within an ecosystem underpinned by formidable partnerships already forged between research centers and global universities including the Universities of Milan, Naples and Pisa, the International Paper Engineering School of Grenoble Inp-Pagora, and the Pulp and Paper Research & Technical Center (CTP).
Customer Experience Center – an interactive and immersive space enabled by screens and “touch tables” providing stakeholders, brands, creatives, graphic designers, printers, converters, educators and students with the capability to design and configure a customized product in real-time. Through a crowdsourcing system, those who wish to can also contribute their own ideas and insights to the development of new solutions.
Customer Academy – a learning/training and events space for the entire Fedrigoni community (colleagues, customers, partners and university students) which aims to become a point of reference for the entire world of speciality papers and self-adhesive materials and a collaborative space for sharing expertise to fuel sustainable growth.
The Innovation Center is expected to be fully operational in Q1 2024.
