Perego Carta has created an innovative space where brands, designers and creative professionals can transform ideas into realistic packaging prototypes. At the heart of this experiential environment, Summa V Series Invicta enables the creation of high-quality samples, combining paper expertise, digital technology and creative experimentation.

A century of paper expertise, evolving through innovation

Some companies build their identity around products. Others build it around knowledge, relationships and the ability to anticipate market changes.

Founded in 1895 in Sesto Fiorentino (Florence, Italy), Perego Carta represents more than a century of experience in the paper industry. Managed by the Perego family for five generations, the company has grown into a reference point for printing and packaging professionals, combining deep material expertise with a strong focus on innovation.

Today, the company employs around 20 people and generates a turnover of approximately €12 million (2022), with half of its business coming from the distribution of papers for printing and packaging applications.

For Perego Carta, paper is not simply a product: it is a material capable of expressing values, emotions and creativity across different markets and customer needs.

While standard paper products remain an important part of the business, premium papers and specialty cardboards are increasingly central to the company’s growth strategy.

To strengthen its position in the high-end segment, in 2022 Perego Carta introduced Mondi Pergraphica black and coloured papers into its portfolio, becoming the exclusive distributor for Italy. Following the success of this initiative, the company expanded the commercial agreement to include the distribution of Pergraphica white papers as well.

This strategic focus on premium materials led Perego Carta to develop a new concept: a space where paper, printing and technology could come together to transform ideas into finished products.

This vision became Paper Wonder Lab.

From paper distributor to innovation partner

The paper distribution industry has always been built on expertise, tradition and strong relationships. However, changing market dynamics have created new challenges, with customers increasingly looking for inspiration, technical support and guidance throughout the creative process.

Perego Carta decided to move beyond the traditional role of paper supplier, creating a dedicated marketing and customer care team that today includes five specialists focused on training, storytelling, consultancy and product development.

“We invest in training, product research and storytelling, offering consultancy to brands, designers and converters,” explains Lorenzo Perego, Managing Director of Perego Carta.
 “This is the only way we can differentiate ourselves from competitors and become a real reference point for our customers.”

By analysing market trends, seasonal demands and cultural influences, Perego Carta selects materials, develops collections and creates initiatives designed to inspire professionals to explore new creative possibilities.

Every week, the marketing team develops and distributes hundreds of samples to agencies, printers and creative departments within companies.

“From cosmetics companies to hotel chains, wherever there is a paper communication project, informed decisions need to be made,” adds Perego.
 “Being in the right place, at the right moment, with the right people requires significant effort, but it is an investment that generates long-term value.”

Why Paper Wonder Lab was created

Over the years, through continuous dialogue with designers, brands, printers and converters, Perego Carta identified a recurring challenge: creating convincing prototypes for complex paper projects.

Today’s creative concepts often combine multiple elements: premium papers, printing effects, special finishes, die-cutting and structural design.

However, many designers struggle to present their ideas through realistic prototypes, while printers and converters often do not have the time or resources to manage complex sampling processes.

“Too often, projects combining paper, printing, special finishes, die-cutting and other complex techniques are difficult to present in a convincing way,” explains Perego.
 “We decided to equip ourselves to create realistic mock-ups using the same materials and achieving the same quality expected from the final product, supporting designers and reducing the workload for printers.”

This philosophy gave birth to Paper Wonder Lab: an experiential space designed to replicate the complete workflow of a graphic and packaging project, from material selection to final prototype production.

The team behind the Lab combines deep knowledge of paper characteristics with technical expertise in printing and converting processes, helping customers identify the most suitable materials and production solutions.

To provide maximum creative freedom, Paper Wonder Lab offers access to around one hundred different substrates, including a significant selection from the Mondi Pergraphica range.

Inside Paper Wonder Lab: where creativity meets production

Located next to Perego Carta’s converting centre and logistics hub, Paper Wonder Lab occupies a 400 square metre space designed around collaboration, experimentation and production.

The environment includes:

·       welcoming and inspiration areas;

·       a consultation space for material selection and project development;

·       a dedicated workspace for the creative and marketing team;

·       a production area where ideas become physical prototypes.

At the centre of the Lab is the production department, equipped with a Ricoh Pro C7500 digital printing system featuring five colour channels (CMYK plus optional white, clear, invisible red, gold, silver, fluorescent yellow or fluorescent pink), allowing the simulation of special effects and spot varnishes.

Completing the workflow is Summa V Series Invicta, a compact digital cutting system equipped with interchangeable tools for:

·       cutting;

·       kiss cutting;

·       creasing;

·       marking.

The system can also be equipped with a camera for accurate print-and-cut registration alignment, allowing precise processing of digitally or traditionally printed sheets.

Together with the M3 software and V Studio software, the workflow enables the Paper Wonder Lab team to quickly move from concept development to a finished prototype.

From concept to prototype in one immersive experience

A visit to Paper Wonder Lab begins at the Paper Wall, where visitors can physically explore dozens of papers, cardboards and specialty substrates, all available and pre-cut in SRA3 format.

During our visit, we are welcomed by Sofia Taiti, Graphic Designer at Paper Wonder Lab, and together we develop a potential project: a custom case for a deck of playing cards.

Starting without a ready-made file, the team accesses the parametric model library available through the M3 software, selects the appropriate structure, adapts the dimensions to the product and reviews the three-dimensional rendering.

Once the structure is approved and the paper selected, Taiti prepares the artwork using Adobe Illustrator, adding the Paper Wonder Lab and Pergraphica logos, printed using only white toner.

After completing the imposition and adding registration marks, the sheets are printed and transferred directly to Summa V Series Invicta for cutting and creasing.

Approximately half an hour later, the prototype is complete: a fully assembled box, filled and ready to be presented to a potential customer.

This experience demonstrates how reducing the distance between concept and physical product can accelerate decision-making and improve collaboration between brands, designers and production partners.

Technology and expertise enabling new creative possibilities

The value of Paper Wonder Lab does not come from technology alone, but from the combination of material knowledge, creativity and digital production capabilities.

With Summa V Series Invicta, Perego Carta can create realistic prototypes that accurately represent the final product, helping customers evaluate structures, materials and finishing options before moving into production.

The flexibility of the system allows the Lab to experiment with different applications, from packaging prototypes to displays and customised paper products, while maintaining speed and precision.

By integrating digital cutting into its workflow, Perego Carta has transformed the traditional role of a paper distributor into that of an innovation partner capable of supporting the entire creative journey.

Inspiring the future of packaging through collaboration

Through Paper Wonder Lab, Perego Carta offers brands, designers and converters a place where ideas can be tested, improved and transformed into tangible products.

Anyone can request a session at the Lab, starting from an existing file, a creative idea or even an object that needs to be packaged.

Depending on the complexity of the project and the required services, the Paper Wonder Lab team develops a production path designed to deliver the final product on the selected substrate, together with the digital files required for printing and die-cutting.

By combining paper expertise, digital technology and creative consultancy, Perego Carta is redefining the role of the paper supplier and creating new opportunities for the future of premium packaging.

At the heart of this evolution, Summa V Series Invicta provides the precision, flexibility and reliability needed to transform paper concepts into real experiences.