• Prototypes of Siegwerk and Prismade's interactive boxes. Image supplied by Siegwerk.
    Prototypes of Siegwerk and Prismade's interactive boxes. Image supplied by Siegwerk.
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Ink manufacturer Siegwerk has teamed up with Prismade Labs to develop interactive folding boxes that can be used with smartphones.

Thanks to Prismade’s printed electronic structure technology, users can place the packaging on the screens of their smartphones, enabling interaction by swiping their fingers on the boxes.

"The possibility of communication between the product and the consumer is certain to have an impact on the future of the packaging sector due to the increasingly digital world in which we live," said Christoph Barniske, head of digital business at Siegwerk.

"Smart packaging or the 'Internet of Packaging,' which uses integrated digital tags to interact with the consumer, are just two examples of new packaging concepts of the future."

According to Barniske, Siegwerk and Prismade complement each other well, and will be able to work together and combine their areas of expertise for long-term development.

“Through our collaboration with Prismade, we have the opportunity to actively participate in the development of digital applications in the packaging sector. Their process consists of a successful combination of product authenticity and interactivity," said Barniske.

Dr Karin Weigelt, managing director of Prismade Labs, said the collaboration with Siegwerk would help the startup grow its business and expand into other packaging applications.

"With Siegwerk as a development partner at our side, we can successfully scale our technology, secure the functionality of our process with ink systems developed specifically for us and strengthen our application potential," she said.

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