Reporting from Porto, Ben Daniel, Chief Editor of Packaging MEA, brings insights from the SisTrade International Conference 2025 — a milestone event where global industry leaders explored how SisTrade’s MS|ERP and AI-powered platforms are redefining smart manufacturing, sustainability, and competitive advantage for the packaging and printing sectors worldwide.
On the scenic banks of Porto’s Douro River, SisTrade marked its 25th anniversary with an event that was as much a forward-looking forum as a celebration of past achievements. The SisTrade International Conference 2025, held at the Pestana Douro Riverside Hotel, brought together leaders from the printing, packaging, labels, and converting sectors to explore how Industry 4.0 technologies are transforming the global manufacturing landscape.
From Legacy to Leadership
Founded in Portugal in 2000, SisTrade has evolved into a global partner for the printing, packaging, and converting sectors. Its cloud-based MIS & ERP platforms unify financial management, MES, SCADA, supply chain, CRM, scheduling, and business intelligence, giving converters real-time operational visibility, reducing waste, improving planning with AI-driven tools, and ensuring regulatory and sustainability compliance.
ATLAS: AI-Powered Business Intelligence for Packaging
The conference spotlighted ATLAS, SisTrade’s next-generation management platform. Designed to unify quoting, MRP, supply chain, production orders, and AI-driven scheduling, ATLAS streamlines operations by eliminating inefficiencies. Delivering real-time KPIs and enhanced collaboration, it enables faster quoting, optimized material usage, reduced downtime, and greater agility — critical for compliance-intensive packaging environments.
Global Voices, Local Insights
Industry leaders including Mike Turner (ECMA), Sante Conselvan (FTA Europe), Pedro Paes do Amaral (APIP), and Sérgio São João (Valora) explored future-focused strategies across circular manufacturing, eco innovation, traceability, and security printing. Delegates participated in interactive workshops addressing 2030-ready workflows, high-security requirements, and digital transformation roadmaps.
Success Stories: Siam Toppan Packaging
Thailand’s leading offset-printed packaging manufacturer, Siam Toppan Packaging, showcased how adopting SisTrade’s MS|ERP transformed its operations. Senior executive Anon Chotikttiporn highlighted the system’s ability to unify operations: “We needed a system that could unify all our processes — from quoting to scheduling — in one platform. With SisTrade, we now have real-time visibility across all production stages, transforming how we plan and execute workflows.”
Regional Spotlight
Firas Masri, Director of Country Managers & Partners at SisTrade, emphasized the company’s growing role in the Middle East and Africa, where he has been instrumental in expanding SisTrade’s presence and driving digital transformation.
“For 25 years, our mission has been to empower industries across 40 countries with integrated software solutions — and now, we look ahead to a future that is digital, data-driven, and sustainable.” — António de Sousa Ribeiro, CEO of SisTrade noted.
As Sante Conselvan noted, “The Middle East and Africa are at a turning point for digital adoption in packaging. The right moment for converters to embrace MIS and ERP solutions is now. Those who adapt quickly will be best positioned for sustainable growth.”