Carl Joachim Inducted into Ben Franklin Honor Society
07 Octubre 2024 - 1:00AM
ePac Flexible Packaging is proud to announce the induction of
long time printing industry veteran and co-founder, Carl Joachim,
into the prestigious Ben Franklin Honor Society, recognizing his
decades of leadership in digital printing technology, marketing
innovation, and his transformative role in the packaging industry.
Joachim’s contributions to the founding and growth of ePac Flexible
Packaging have enabled small-and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to
compete on a global scale by leveraging digital printing
technology.
Carl's career began long before ePac's inception, rooted in
decades of developing markets for digital technologies at Xerox,
Ocè, and Ricoh. His vision materialized in 2016 when he co-founded
ePac through a collaborative effort with California Polytechnic
State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo and Jack Knott, also
an ePac co-founder and CEO (retired). The goal was clear: to create
a packaging company that could serve SMBs in ways traditional
converters could not, offering short-run, quick-turn flexible
packaging solutions at scale. Today, ePac boasts 22 locations
globally, each embodying the mission Joachim helped establish—to
empower SMBs to compete against global brands by providing them
with access to high-quality, digitally printed packaging.
Reflecting on his time in the industry, Joachim shared: “It’s an
honor to be recognized for the small role I had in the digitization
of printing, culminating in the creation of ePac, the world’s first
all-digital flexible packaging company. It’s been
heartwarming to see the thousands of brands we’ve worked with over
the years achieve success, knowing we helped them along the
way.”
Cal Poly Professor Emeritus, Dr. Harvey Levenson, said "I
nominated Carl for induction into the Ben Franklin Honor Society
for his intellectual and practical contributions to the greater
world of digital printing and packaging. It was exciting to work
with him and Jack as they charted the way forward for digital
packaging.”
A key milestone in Joachim's career was his development of the
digital platform that forms the foundation for ePac's “WHY”—the
company’s driving philosophy to make a difference for both
customers and communities. This platform not only revolutionized
how packaging is produced but has also empowered SMBs to scale up
quickly with access to flexible packaging that is both affordable
and eco-friendly. Under the guidance of ePac’s three co-founders:
Jack Knott, Virag Patel (current ePac CEO), and Carl Joachim, ePac
has become a disruptive force in the industry, focusing on creating
tools that give smaller brands the same advantages as global
giants.
After 40 years of innovation and leadership, Carl recently
stepped into retirement, leaving behind a legacy marked by the
dedication of ePac’s Austin, Texas facility, one of the company’s
flagship plants. "Our Austin facility holds a special place in my
heart," said Joachim. "I live in Austin and it represents ePac's
commitment to making a meaningful impact, not just for our
customers but for the community and our people.”
Looking to the future, ePac remains on the cutting edge, with
several new developments underway. Among these is a focus on
serialization technology in response to the FDA’s new
track-and-trace regulations, set to take effect in 2026. This
cutting-edge solution will offer unprecedented transparency and
security across the supply chain, allowing brands to meet
compliance requirements while enhancing consumer trust.
As ePac moves forward, it carries the vision that Carl helped
shape—one of constant innovation, customer empowerment, and a deep
commitment to sustainable, efficient, and digital packaging
solutions.
Carl can be reached at cjoachim@epacflexibles.com.
About ePac Flexible
Packaging:
ePac’s founders began with a mission to provide locally based
consumer packaged goods companies the ability to compete with large
brands with great packaging. ePac’s customers are predominantly
small and medium-sized CPGs, many of whom are focused on creating
natural and innovative products for their consumers. Since opening
their first manufacturing facility in 2016, our mission has been
clear – to help small brands obtain big brand presence, give back
to the communities we serve and contribute to the creation of a
more sustainable, circular economy. Today, ePac serves thousands of
customers each year in North America, Europe, Indonesia, and West
Africa.
- Carl Joachim
- Car Joachim Inducted into Ben Franklin Honor Society
Jeff Jacobs
ePac Flexible Packaging
224-279-4945
jjacobs@epacflexibles.com