The central role of human decision-making in a market reshaped by Artificial Intelligence, geopolitical developments and energy interdependencies, new automation solutions and sustainability: these were among the key topics explored during the eighth edition of the Print4All Conference, a forum for the printing and converting supply chain.
Held July 1-2 at Ville Ponti in Varese, Italy, the event, organized by ACIMGA – the Italian Manufacturers’ Association of Machinery for the Graphic, Paper, Converting and Related Industries – and ARGI – the Italian Association of Graphic Industry Suppliers – in collaboration with Fiera Milano, welcomed 340 participants, 72 international delegates from 22 countries, 240 companies, 22 speakers, with the support of 23 national and international media partners and 18 industry associations.
Human Vs. Machine
The two-day event was guided by the theme Humans Print the World, developed around the Human+Machine and Human+Life pillars. Discussions focused on the relationship between people, technologies, materials and production processes, highlighting how the industry’s competitiveness will increasingly depend on its ability to integrate innovation, sustainability and skills throughout the entire value chain.
Opening the conference, Marco Calcagni, President of Acimga; Marco Marangoni, President of Argi; and Enrico Barboglio, Director of both associations; announced a major development: the creation of PACTA – Printing & Converting Technology Alliance, an organization that brings together the two industry associations, creating new synergies to support the market and companies across the supply chain.
In printing and converting, the integration of human expertise and advanced technologies, starting with AI, is now one of the primary drivers of change. One message emerged particularly strongly and can be summarized in a key concept: intelligence cannot be delegated. AI can provide forecasts, recommendations, analyses and insights that improve production efficiency, optimize workflows and support decision-making. However, responsibility for evaluation, interpretation and final decisions remains firmly in human hands.
Creating Value
Value is therefore created through the interaction between technological recommendations and the human ability to contextualize, assess and translate them into action. From this perspective, the issue is no longer whether to use artificial intelligence or not: AI is already an established and increasingly widespread reality. The real challenge lies in developing effective governance models capable of maintaining control while maximizing its potential.
Testimonies from numerous companies confirmed that people remain at the center of the industrial process. Skills play a crucial role in a landscape where technologies are gradually becoming standardized. In this context, the key differentiator is not the technological solution itself, but the ability to manage and effectively integrate it within an organization.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in production and management processes, its effectiveness depends on data quality, accumulated experience, workforce training and companies’ ability to continuously monitor results. As highlighted during the conference, AI must be constantly trained, verified and improved — a process that once again confirms the central importance of the human factor.
