Episode 322 - Polytype: Precision, Packaging and the Journey to Digital. A conversation with Julien Bianchi, CEO
In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson speaks with Julien Bianchi, CEO of Polytype, to explore the remarkable evolution of a company whose roots stretch back more than a century.
Originally emerging from Switzerland’s precision engineering tradition and the newspaper press industry, Polytype has transformed itself into a global leader in direct-to-shape packaging decoration. Julien explains how the pivotal founding of Polytype in 1962 marked the moment the company shifted its focus toward packaging, applying high-speed printing expertise to aluminium tubes, plastic packaging and other complex three-dimensional surfaces.
The conversation explores why Polytype deliberately chose the technically challenging path of direct-to-shape printing, and how that decision has shaped the company’s engineering philosophy and competitive advantage over decades.
Marcus and Julien also discuss how Polytype balances its long-standing expertise in dry-offset analogue printing with the growing opportunities of digital inkjet. Rather than viewing the technologies as competitors, Polytype sees them as complementary tools within a broader decoration toolbox.
The episode also delves into Polytype’s digital ecosystem strategy, including the development of its proprietary CALMAR inkjet platform, its open approach to ink supply, and the company’s partnerships with research institutions such as the iPrint Institute in Fribourg.
Finally, Julien shares insights into Polytype’s global footprint, the importance of service and long-term customer relationships, and how the company is preparing for the future through investments in automation, sustainability, and digital manufacturing.
A fascinating discussion on innovation, leadership, adaptability, engineering culture, and the evolving future of packaging decoration.
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