Impressions from the International Gravure Days 2025

A Landmark Gathering in Istanbul

From 20–22 October, the Global Rotogravure Association (GRA) held its International Gravure Days 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Florya in the vibrant city of Istanbul, Türkiye. For the first time after almost seven decades under the name ERA, the event took place under the new global banner of GRA — marking the beginning of a new chapter for the international gravure community.

The three-day event opened with the association’s 90th Management Meeting, followed by an informal evening get-together overlooking the Marmara Sea. The atmosphere was lively and international, with participants joining from Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond.

The main conference on 21 October offered a rich programme of presentations and discussions on the future of gravure. Topics ranged from sustainability and regulatory developments to digitalisation, and the GRA’s ongoing work on gravure standardisation. Speakers from around the world contributed valuable insights, reflecting the truly global nature of today’s gravure industry.

One of the key moments of the event was the election of the new GRA Board. Simon Sonn of 4Packaging Africa was elected as GRA President, succeeding Davide Garavaglia, who continues to serve as a Board member. Dr. Marius Wittke of Windmöller & Hölscher was elected Vice-President and Treasurer, following Max Rid, who also remains on the Board after many years of dedicated service. Two new members joined the Board for the first time — Kaku Kohli of Kohli Printing & Converting Machines, representing India, and Mandy Wang of Weinan Zhengqi Printing & Packing Machinery from China. The evening of the conference day featured one of the highlights of the Istanbul gathering — the International Gravure Award 2025 ceremony during the gala dinner.

Gold in the Innovation category went to Bobst for its smartGravure system. In the Packaging category, Janoschka received Gold for its Japris project. Silver Awards were presented to Enulec for its AST Technology and to Korozo for its Recyclable Mono PE Pouch, while a Special Award went to Windmöller & Hölscher / Siegwerk / Saueressig for its Recyclable Coffee Packaging. The festive evening celebrated innovation, quality, and sustainability — values at the heart of GRA’s mission. On the final day, participants enjoyed an exclusive plant visit to Schattdecor, where they were able to experience high-end gravure printing and design production in practice. An optional visit to the Eurasia Packaging Fair offered additional insight into the region’s fast-growing packaging industry.

Our sincere thanks go to all participants, speakers, and sponsors who contributed to the success of this year’s International Gravure Days in Istanbul. Your engagement and enthusiasm made this event truly special.

We look forward to welcoming the global gravure community again next year — in Munich, the headquarters of the GRA, where we will celebrate not only our next International Gravure Days but also the 70th anniversary of the association.

See you in Munich in 2026!