From the creativity of Spazio Di Paolo to partnerships with converters across Europe and North America, CARTES invests in an international network that brings together design, materials and technology.
Ideas that transform packaging emerge when different areas of expertise come together.
Designers envision new forms of expression, material manufacturers explore effects and surfaces, and converters turn concepts into industrially produced packaging: through collaboration, new opportunities emerge for brands.
CARTES, the Italian manufacturer of converting and embellishment technologies, has long invested in building these connections.
Alongside technological development, the company creates opportunities for dialogue across the supply chain and supports initiatives that bring the creative and manufacturing worlds closer together, both in Italy and internationally.
Il Vino Cambia Forma: creativity and technology in dialogue
Wine is a key focus of this approach. In a sector where a label often conveys the identity of both a winery and its wine, distinctive design is essential.
This vision is shared by Spazio Di Paolo, the creative force behind “Il Vino Cambia Forma” (“Wine Changes Shape”), an exhibition presented during Milano Wine Week 2026, with CARTES as its technology partner.
The exhibition brought together 35 wine packaging and label design projects exploring new creative possibilities for the wine sector.
During the event, Enrica Lodi, Chief Marketing Officer of CARTES, joined a panel discussion moderated by agency founder Mario Di Paolo, reaffirming the importance of dialogue between the creative and manufacturing worlds.
The collaboration between CARTES and Spazio Di Paolo offers a concrete example of this approach: high-end labels conceived through Mario Di Paolo’s creative vision and produced by CARTES and its partners through repeatable, scalable manufacturing processes.
The agency’s international presence, with offices in Italy, Napa Valley in California, and Reims, in the heart of Champagne, connects its projects with some of the world’s most iconic wine regions.
“When a creative idea pushes the boundaries of technology, it presents a new challenge for our research and development team,” says Enrica Lodi. “Our role is to turn these ideas into practical solutions. That is why we champion relationships between people with different areas of expertise, who exchange perspectives, challenge one another and experiment together.”
The gala evening also welcomed numerous CARTES customers and partners, including Amonn Print, FE Group, Grafica Metelliana, Grafiche Pradella, Multistampa, Perruccio, Prismart, SanFaustino Label, Seriprint and Tikedo, alongside Labelys, KURZ and its Italian partner Luxoro, all three of which sponsored the event.
These companies embody the savoir-faire of a supply chain built on technical expertise, aesthetic sensitivity and the ability to turn ambitious ideas into tangible results.
This wealth of expertise and relationships is part of CARTES’ DNA.
An international community extending beyond labels
This philosophy also takes shape through partnerships with converters around the world. In California, for example, Paragon Label has chosen CARTES GEMINI laser technology to develop intricate wine labels.
In Germany, WIR has invested in the GT360 platform with JET D-SCREEN to expand its digital embellishment capabilities.
In France, LP2i Étiquettes has opted for a hybrid solution to integrate multiple processes and broaden its offering.
In Spain and Portugal, leading companies such as Graficas Tomelloso and Etiquel operate multiple CARTES lines to produce high-end labels efficiently and consistently.
These different experiences share a common ambition: to combine quality, production flexibility and creative freedom.
CARTES supports numerous industry awards and initiatives, from the Vinitaly Design Award to international competitions celebrating excellence in printing and embellishment, helping to showcase its customers’ work and bring greater visibility to innovative projects.
In 2026, the “Oro del Sol” label, created in collaboration with Basile ADV, received recognition at both the Vinitaly Design Award and the FSEA Gold Leaf Awards.
At the latter competition, a further eight labels won awards across various categories, through projects involving FE Group, Sovemec, Multistampa, Brazicolor, Seriprint and Tonutti & Alliance Etiquettes.
Wine remains a key sector, but CARTES is also exploring new areas of packaging, where materials, surfaces and effects can become tools for differentiation.
From Milan to Napa Valley, and from Champagne to markets across Europe, CARTES remains committed to connecting the people and expertise that make the packaging of tomorrow possible.
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