Board Converting News/AICC have announced the winners and finalists of the 2026 Innovator of the Year Competition, recognizing organizations whose contributions have advanced innovation within the paper-based packaging industry.
First Place – Two10 Technologies: A Photo-based AI Quoting Application
Second Place – EFI: A Cloud-based Print Data Collection System
Third Place – Arden Software North America: Mobile Estimating System for Fast, Accurate Quotes
Mike D’Angelo, President of AICC shared: “Congratulations to the 2026 Innovator of the Year winner and finalists. AICC and BCN are proud to recognize the companies leading innovation for AICC members and the paper-based packaging industry. We appreciate the work of all the entrants.”
The AICC & Board Converting News Innovator of the Year Competition was established more than twenty years ago to recognize innovative solutions developed by both AICC box plant and supplier members. The competition was designed to highlight advancements that enhance efficiency, productivity, product quality, and bottom-line profitability for the independent box maker. Over the course of two decades, the contest has evolved into a highly competitive arena, showcasing technological innovations across production, material handling, manufacturing, training, and administration.
Finalist entries for the non-machinery category were determined by the AICC Plant Innovations Committee following a call for submissions from AICC members. Winners were subsequently selected through a vote conducted among the attendees of the AICC/TAPPI 2026 Corrugated Week in Fort Worth, Texas.
Additional finalists include:
Aurum Intelligence Inc. – Leveraging AI to Streamline Order and Data Input
Quadrant5 – A Mobile Space Saving Workstation
Amtech Software – Efficient and Fast AI-driven Quoting for Box and Carton Makers
Forest PKG – An AI Assisted Packaging Intelligence Platform
The competition continues to rotate its focus annually across four categories, reflecting AICC and Board Converting News’ ongoing commitment to recognizing innovation across the full scope of the converting industry.
