Three days in Chicago. 11 presses sold, nine live RFP demos, and championship belts for the converters who stepped into the ring first.
The crowd at the Rotocon USA booth during the press conference at LOUPE Americas 2026.The Challenger Arrives
Ask any converter what’s broken about buying a press in North America and you’ll hear many of the same frustrations. Lead times measured in seasons, not weeks. Legacy line-shaft equipment driving up substrate waste, increasing operating costs, and making it harder to remain competitive. And a limited selection of modern press alternatives from the same familiar names, often carrying price tags that put a realistic return on investment out of reach.
Meanwhile, the work keeps changing. Runs are shorter, SKUs keep multiplying, and brand owners want more for less. A press built for long, steady runs starts costing money the minute a changeover begins.
That’s the gap Rotocon USA stepped into at LOUPE Americas 2026. September 15 to 17 in Chicago marked the official North American launch of Rotocon USA, and the theme set the tone from the opening bell: Meet the New Flexo Challenger.
The Fight Card
Rotocon USA came to Chicago with one message: A modern servo press shouldn’t come with a price tag that puts ROI out of reach or force converters to compromise.
The RFP series is built around that idea:
- Servo-driven with multiple servo motors for precise, repeatable control
- Ultra-short web path that cuts waste by up to 70% compared to line shaft
- UV LED drying built in
- Speeds up to 650 ft/min
- Expandable configurations that grow with the shop
And converters get to pick the platform that fits their work. The RFP-C for cylinder printing. The RFP-S for sleeve-based setups. The RFP Hybrid, which pairs flexo with digital inkjet on a single line.
“Converters have been looking for an alternative, and I think the response we received in Chicago speaks volumes,” said Jeff Haddad, National Sales Director of Rotocon USA and Q360 Group. “Modern servo technology shouldn’t be financially out of reach, and investing in a new press shouldn’t require compromising on performance, capability, or support. That’s exactly what we’re challenging. We’re bringing something fresh to the industry, backed by people who understand the business from the pressroom floor up. The excitement, conversations, and equipment orders coming out of LOUPE have given us incredible momentum. Now it’s about building on that momentum and showing the industry what Rotocon USA can deliver.”
Inside the Ring
From the first morning, the Rotocon booth was where the crowd gathered. Printers packed in to watch the RFP run live and ask the hard questions. How fast is changeover? What does waste really look like? Who services it here?
Those were exactly the right questions, and the team had real answers, backed by a partner that’s been in flexo since 1993.
A highlight of the week was the Rotocon USA press conference, where the team formally introduced Rotocon USA to the North American market in front of a crowd of converters, partners, and industry press.
The numbers tell the rest. 11 presses sold during the show. Nine live demonstrations. Hundreds of conversations with converters from across North America.
“What we experienced in Chicago was more than a successful product launch,” said Cooper Ludwig, Vice President of Rotocon USA and Q360 Group. “It validated what we believed from the beginning: the North American market is ready for a new challenger. We’re not simply introducing another press manufacturer. We’re building a complete North American infrastructure around Rotocon, bringing together advanced technology, local expertise, parts, service, and a dedicated demonstration and training center. The momentum coming out of LOUPE Americas has been tremendous, and we’re just getting started.”
Sold on the show floor at LOUPE Americas 2026.Championship Belts for the First Contenders
Every great challenger story needs a few believers in the corner. When a customer signed on the show floor, they didn’t just walk away with a press. They walked away with a championship belt.
Congratulations to Sev-Rend, Tri-State Media, Labeltec, KDM, Next Gen Label, and every converter who stepped into the ring with us. You bet on the challenger, and we plan to make it the best call you made all year.
The first contenders to take home the belt at LOUPE Americas 2026.
Two Booths, One Corner
Rotocon didn’t fight alone. Q360 Group was right there as a Platinum sponsor of the show, with its own booth and a steady stream of converters moving between the two all week.
That pairing is the whole point. Buying a press is only round one. Behind every Rotocon in North America is Q360’s 40,000 sq ft facility, in-house engineering, and a full team for parts, supplies, pre-owned equipment, and services like installation, training, field service, and financing.
New press, real support, one partner. That’s the corner every converter wants.
Round One Is in the Books
LOUPE Americas was the opening bell, not the final round. Rotocon USA is in North America for the long haul, and the next stretch is about delivering: getting new presses installed, running, and earning their keep on the pressroom floor.
To every customer, partner, and friend who stopped by our booths, sat in on a demo, or just came to see what all the noise was about: thank you. You made our debut one to remember.
Missed the fight in Chicago? Our corner is always open. Talk to the Rotocon USA team.
